Microsoft® Windows Server 2003: Administrator’s Companion

Enabling Authentication

Among its many other tasks, the domain controller authenticates users to a network, using security policies and user authentication information stored in Active Directory. During an interactive logon event, a user logs on to a domain account with a password or smart card. The domain controller confirms the user’s identity with the information stored in Active Directory. After an interactive logon event to a domain controller has taken place, network authentication is performed for the user without any further effort on the user’s part. The user can access resources on the network without having to reenter a password or smart card personal identification number (PIN). An interactive logon event can also authenticate a ...