What are Replication Objects in Active Directory?

In Active Directory, replication objects are directory objects that contain information about the replication process. There are several types of replication objects in Active Directory, including the following:

Connection Objects: Connection objects are used to define the replication relationships between domain controllers in an Active Directory forest. Each connection object represents a one-way, inbound replication relationship from a source domain controller to a destination domain controller.
Link Objects: Link objects are used to define the replication relationships between domain controllers in different Active Directory sites. Each link object represents a one-way, inbound replication relationship from a source site to a destination site.
Site Link Objects: Site link objects are used to define the replication relationships between sites in an Active Directory forest. Each site link object represents a two-way replication relationship between two or more sites.
Site Link Bridge Objects: Site link bridge objects are used to define the replication relationships between site links in an Active Directory forest. Each site link bridge object represents a two-way replication relationship between two or more site links.
Subnet Objects: Subnet objects are used to associate a specific range of IP addresses with an Active Directory site. Each subnet object represents a subnet that is associated with a site.

Replication objects are created and managed using the Active Directory Sites and Services console. They are used to define the topology of the Active Directory replication environment and control the flow of replication traffic between domain controllers and sites.

Mastering Active Directory

Understanding Replication Objects

1) When you create a domain controller, the Active Directory Installation Wizard creates a server object that is distinct from the computer object for that domain controller.

2) Although the server object contains a reference to the corresponding computer object, both objects refer to the same computer.

3) Server objects are children of site objects and reside inside the servers container object within the specified site object.

4) The parent site should contain the subnet to which the domain controller belongs.

5) The server object is the parent of an NTDS settings object.

6) The NTDS Settings object is a container for all connectino objects for that server object.

7) A connection object represents a one-way replication path between two server objects and points to the replication source.