Maintaining the Directory Database

The Active Directory database is stored in the Ntds.dit file. In addition to this file, the directory service uses log files, which store transactions before they are committed to the database file. Other than regular backup, the directory files require no daily maintenance.

Understanding Directory Database Operations

During regular operation, you will delete objects from AD DS. When you delete an object, free space becomes available in the database. AD DS regularly consolidates this free disk space through a process called online defragmentation, and the consolidated free space is reused when you add new objects to the directory. Although this automatic online defragmentation redistributes and retains free disk ...

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