1. Define the two types of backups supported by Active Directory. Describe the difference between each of these backup strategies; how they are implemented and what tools can be deployed to accomplish these tasks.
Active directory has two different types of backups. They are NTBACKUP and Windows Server Backup. The Windows Server Backup is the only “all in one” type of backup. It allows you to work with Volume Shadow Copy Service snapshots in Active Directory. The Window’s Server Backup lets you backup to direct-attached disk volumes, network shares, external hard drives and even DVD’s. You are also able to utilize Group Policy settings to help keep the files safe from people who should not have access to them. The next backup option is NTBACKUP which is a file based backup tool but it has been replaced with the Windows Server Backup. 2. Explain fragmentation. Compare and contrast online defragmentation and offline defragmentation.
Fragmentation is when parts of a file are saved in several different areas on the hard disk instead of all together. Online defragmentation is an automated defragmentation process that runs on a schedule. With online defragmentation the physical size of the database is not reduced. Offline defragmentation is just the opposite of online. Offline defragmentation is used to shrink the database size by removing the unused spaces. 3. What factors must be considered and planned to implement a successful Disaster Recovery Plan for a network using Active Directory?
A couple factors that should be considered are how long it will take to run the recovery, what information will need to be recovered and who will all be affected. 4. List and define four types of disasters than can occur to an Active Directory infrastructure. What strategies could be implemented if these disasters occurred?
Four types of disasters that could occur can include Database corruption, Data corruption, Domain controller hardware failure and also human error. The strategy I would use to fix these disasters would be to restore them from backup or completely reinstall them. 5. Define the Reliability and Performance Monitor. Explain the relationship between performance objects and performance counters.
The reliability and performance monitor is a MMC snap-in that makes older standalone tools useable all in one place. It also gives a graphical user interface for customizing performance data information. A performance object is what collects the data from the pieces of hardware that the computer utilizes like the memory and processor. A performance monitor comes built into the operating system but it is possible to have some programs install their own. Performance counters are built into the performance monitor. Performance counters represent data on specific parts of the system.

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/magazine/2008.05.adbackup.aspx?pr=blog http://msexchangeguru.com/2009/06/21/online-and-offline-defragmentation-what-it-does/ http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc755081%28v=ws.10%29.aspx
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc779960%28v=ws.10%29.aspx