This glossary lists definitions for terms associated with Exchange 2000, including terms for equipment, software, operating systems, organizations, and general computer networks.

A-C

Access control

A mechanism for limiting use of some resource to authorized users.

Access Control List ( ACL)

A data structure associated with a resource that specifies the authorized users.

Access provider

A company that provides its customers a service whereby they can access the Internet. The user normally connects to the access provider's computer via a modem using a dial-up connection.

Active Directory

The Windows 2000 directory service. Active Directory consists of a forest, a domain, and organizational units.

Active Directory Connector ( ADC)

The service that replicates information between the Exchange 5.5 Directory Service and Active Directory. ADC uses Connection Agreements to define configurations for replicating mailboxes, custom recipients, and distribution lists.

Active Directory Users and Computers

An MMC (Microsoft Management Console) snap-in that allows administrators to manage objects in the domain.

Administrative Group

A collection of Exchange Active Directory objects that are grouped together for the purpose of permission management. An administrative group can contain policies, routing groups, public folder trees, monitors, servers, conferencing services, and chat networks. The administrative group defines the administrative topology of an organization.

ADO (Active Data Objects)

A programming layer built on top of OLE/ DB that allows high-level programming languages such as Visual BASIC and VBScript to access an underlying data store through a common query language.

ADSI (Active Directory Services Interface)