The Active Directory is a Windows based directory service developed by Microsoft for Network Management and Security. This tool distinguishes a normal user from the Administrator and helps in deploying the security policies. It consists of elements like Domain (DNS), Forests, Organizational Units, Sites which help in Active Directory reporting, group management, user management, defining group or user policies, etc. The Active Directory has become a huge subject in itself. The Microsoft Management Console (MMC) Snap in tool helps a user in performing certain operations like generating Active Directory Report (S) and Active Directory Management. This console can also be transmitted to other users over a Network. This tool helps in user management, group management, active directory reporting, etc. 

For creating the MMC console a user would have to run the mmc command from the start. After this, an empty console appears before the user where one needs to select and add snap-ins. More than one snap in can be added for different purposes. Close & exit the program after adding the snap – in tool. Note: An Administrator can also integrate different snap ins with other console snap ins.

An Administrator can also modify the layout of his console as per the requirement. Scroll to the left pane and right click the snap in icon. A New Window appears for displaying the newly rooted Window. Go to Windows menu, select Tile Horizontally or Cascade for modifying the layout of Console. Save the changes made in the layout. Provide a new name to the console menu.

Now, the Administrator can set the Console file options from Console menu options. Now assign the Author Mode, User Mode-full access mode, User Mode-limited access and multiple windows mode console options.

The Network Administrator can also set an MSC Icon in the Programs Folder. For this, the Administrator would have to right click the Open all Users option. Open the programs option. Right click the program and select Folder option. Select the Console Tools option, right click in the empty area of Console Tool and select shortcut. Browse the folders having console tool and click next.

Using a Console Snap–in tool for every different AD operation can be very difficult at sometimes. Using the MMC tools and integrating it with other consoles is not an easy task. the Lepide Active Directory Management and Reporting tool is a centralized platform from where all the AD operation can be performed i.e. user management, group management, network management, server management, OU management, generating Active Directory report (s), etc.

This is a unified console which helps in coordinating all the AD operations. It makes Active Directory reporting operation just a piece of cake. Using this tool is also quite easy as it has been embedded with an apprehensible interface. By using this tool an Administrator can create or delete users, define groups (or delete groups), implement policies. generate reports, restrict the users. This tool works very well on Windows 2000, Windows 2003, Windows XP, Windows Vista and Windows 7.

The author is CTO in a renowned organization, who is having a prior experience of 10 years. He has mentioned steps for using the MMC tool which helps in generating Active Directory Report (S) and Network Management. This tool also helps in Active Directory reporting and management.