In Active Directory, change notification is a process that allows domain controllers to exchange information about changes made to Active Directory data. This process helps to ensure that all domain controllers have an up-to-date copy of the directory data and enables them to handle client requests for directory information more efficiently. There are two main types of change notification in Active Directory:
- Intra-Site Change Notification: This type of change notification occurs within a single Active Directory site and is used to replicate changes between domain controllers in the same site.
- Inter-Site Change Notification: This type of change notification occurs between Active Directory sites and is used to replicate changes between domain controllers in different sites.
The change notification process works as follows:
- When a change is made to Active Directory data on a domain controller, the domain controller writes the change to its local copy of the directory database (also known as the "Directory Information Tree" or "DIT").
- The domain controller then sends a notification of the change to its replication partners.
- The replication partners receive the notification and request the updated data from the domain controller that made the change.
- The domain controller sends the updated data to the replication partners, which update their local copies of the directory database.
- The process continues until all domain controllers have an up-to-date copy of the directory data.
In summary, AD change notification helps to ensure that all domain controllers in an Active Directory environment have the same data,
which allows them to respond to client requests for directory information more efficiently.
