Developing active directory applications without any Active Directory Services

Hi

I'm writing C# applications and working with the
System.DirectoryServices.AccountManagement namespace. I'm developing on a
standalone Windows Y2K8 server using VS2008 and I don't have Active
Directory installed.

My question is do I need to install full AD to effectively test my
application or is there a development version I can use? It may be necessary
to test the application with AD DS and AD LDS and the local SAM database.

What are my options?

Many thanks
Andrew

Take a look at AD LDS
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsserv...yServices.mspx

This can be installed as a service on a machine

--
Paul Bergson
MVP - Directory Services
MCTS, MCT, MCSE, MCSA, Security+, BS CSci
2008, 2003, 2000 (Early Achiever), NT4
Microsoft's Thrive IT Pro of the Month - June 2009

http://www.pbbergs.com

Please no e-mails, any questions should be posted in the NewsGroup This
posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights.

"J055" <> wrote in message
news:...
> Hi
>
> I'm writing C# applications and working with the
> System.DirectoryServices.AccountManagement namespace. I'm developing on a
> standalone Windows Y2K8 server using VS2008 and I don't have Active
> Directory installed.
>
> My question is do I need to install full AD to effectively test my
> application or is there a development version I can use? It may be
> necessary to test the application with AD DS and AD LDS and the local SAM
> database.
>
> What are my options?
>
> Many thanks
> Andrew

The caveat here is that there are significant behavior differences between
AD LDS and AD. Some stuff may work, but it is important to know the
differences very well if you want to have an idea that your code is really
going to do what you expect.

SDS.AM attempts to smooth out many of those differences which can help, but
it won't address everything.

It is probably your best bet (and a much better suggestion than using local
SAM db) but will require careful testing later.

--
Joe Kaplan-MS MVP Directory Services Programming
Co-author of "The .NET Developer's Guide to Directory Services Programming"
http://www.directoryprogramming.net
"Paul Bergson [MVP-DS]" <pbbergs@no_spammsn.com> wrote in message
news:%...
> Take a look at AD LDS
> http://www.microsoft.com/windowsserv...yServices.mspx
>
> This can be installed as a service on a machine
>
> --
> Paul Bergson
> MVP - Directory Services
> MCTS, MCT, MCSE, MCSA, Security+, BS CSci
> 2008, 2003, 2000 (Early Achiever), NT4
> Microsoft's Thrive IT Pro of the Month - June 2009
>
> http://www.pbbergs.com
>
> Please no e-mails, any questions should be posted in the NewsGroup This
> posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights.
>
> "J055" <> wrote in message
> news:...
>> Hi
>>
>> I'm writing C# applications and working with the
>> System.DirectoryServices.AccountManagement namespace. I'm developing on a
>> standalone Windows Y2K8 server using VS2008 and I don't have Active
>> Directory installed.
>>
>> My question is do I need to install full AD to effectively test my
>> application or is there a development version I can use? It may be
>> necessary to test the application with AD DS and AD LDS and the local SAM
>> database.
>>
>> What are my options?
>>
>> Many thanks
>> Andrew
>
>

Hi

also consider using a virtual environment e.g. virtualPC or hyper-V if your
hardware can meet
the requirements, I share Joe's reservation about the extent to which AD LDS
will reflect
AD DS experience.

Lee Flight


"J055" <> wrote in message
news:...
> Hi
>
> I'm writing C# applications and working with the
> System.DirectoryServices.AccountManagement namespace. I'm developing on a
> standalone Windows Y2K8 server using VS2008 and I don't have Active
> Directory installed.
>
> My question is do I need to install full AD to effectively test my
> application or is there a development version I can use? It may be
> necessary to test the application with AD DS and AD LDS and the local SAM
> database.
>
> What are my options?
>
> Many thanks
> Andrew

Hi

Thanks for all the advice. I installed LDS OK but I realize now, as you say,
it's not the same as DS so I'll have to go the Virtual PC or hyper-V
(whatever that is) route.

Thanks again
Andrew

You might want to try out some of the virtual machine images Microsoft has already preconfigured with Active Directory, Exchange, and test data.

For example here is Exchange 2010 VHD that has Active Directory installed on it, too.

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/d...3-31e514d69f02

Thanks,
Kamran
Active Directory Tools