domänkontrollanten

A domain controller, or domänkontrollant in Swedish, is a server that manages security and access control for computers on a network. It acts as the central authority for authentication and authorization, verifying user identities and determining what resources they can access. In essence, it holds the security database for the entire domain.

When a user logs into a computer within a domain, the domain controller verifies their username and password. If the credentials are valid, the domain controller issues an authentication token, allowing the user to access network resources such as files, printers, and applications. It also enforces security policies defined by network administrators.

Domain controllers are fundamental to Microsoft's Windows Server operating systems, particularly Active Directory Domain Services (AD DS). AD DS is a directory service that stores information about network objects, including users, computers, and groups, and provides services for locating and managing these objects. Multiple domain controllers can exist within a domain to provide redundancy and load balancing, ensuring continuous availability of authentication services. The absence of a functioning domain controller can render users unable to log in or access network resources.