Gartner: Microsoft looks to improve Active Directory in Windows 2002
Gartner tech perspective:
Microsoft looks to improve Active Directory in Windows 2002
“These LDAP-related changes represent progress, but they do not propel Active Directory to the head of the pack of all platform and LDAP directories. Microsoft cannot obtain market leadership based on technology alone. It must continue to recruit application partners to support and advance Active Directory, and it must come to grips with a programming community that is averse to proprietary interfaces (i.e., ADSI). As a result, Active Directory will not be widely deployed as a general-purpose LDAP application directory (as opposed to a platform directory) through the first half of 2003 (0.7 probability).”
“Windows 2000 was simply a jumping-off point for Active Directory. Microsoft continues to revise Active Directory to better address platform directory needs and general-purpose LDAP directory needs. However, enterprises should avoid a mixed Windows 2000/2002 Active Directory domain controller environment and should choose one release as the basis for their domain controllers. The operating-system releases for other types of systems (e.g., desktops, laptops, member servers) can be safely mixed.”
Gartner originally published this report on May 14, 2001.