what is the differnece between Active directory and Domain controller, is active directory holds domain controller OR domain controller holds an active directory. i was very confusing during reading self placed certification book 70-640 because i am beginner in this field please help me out....

Hello New Pasha,When you have a new Server with either Windows Server 2000, 2003 or 2008 Operating system that is just a Server that have an OS installed on it. Then, on that server, you can add an Active Directory Services Role and that server now becomes a Domain Controller. So to answer your question, Domain Controller is a server which have Active Directory role installed. If Active Directory role is added to a windows server, that server in effect becomes a Domain Controller and vice versa.Active Directory stores objects like users and computers etc while a domain controller is what the server running Active Directory is called.Isaac Oben MCITP:EA, MCSE

Hi, You may also refer to the following articles for more information: Domain Controller Roles http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc786438(WS.10).aspx A domain controller is a server that is running a version of the Microsoft Windows Server 2008, Microsoft Windows Server 2003 or Windows 2000 Server operating system and has the Active Directory directory service installed. Active Directory Collection http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc780036.aspx Active Directory directory service is the distributed directory service. It enables centralized, secure management of an entire network, which might span a building, a city, or multiple locations throughout the world. Hope the information is helpful.