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Is there a way to install lightweight Active Directory on Windows 7 for Development purposes without domain? I've downloaded the "AD LDS" for Windows 7 and installed it but it seems to require a actual domain server exist on the network. Isn't it possible to run a active directory on the domain called "localhost" ?

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If you're looking to develop against something that looks and smells like Active Directory, then AD LDS is no substitute - contrary to what you'd intuitively think from the name, it does not provide just a "slimmed down" AD.

Create a development domain with a real AD Domain Services install.

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Ok, thanks. Then, what is the purpose of "AD LDS" ? – djangofan Dec 15 '11 at 18:55
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@djangofan MS has a good overview here. – Shane Madden Dec 15 '11 at 19:02
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To answer the original question, you can install ADLDS for W7 without a domain present. A workgroup W7 machine will suffice. It need not be a domain member. The http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc731246(WS.10).aspx step by step guide might be useful to you.

ADLDS is a LDAP server and if your requirements are to test code for reading/writing LDAP intended for AD, then you could test againt ADLDS. You might find the http://directoryprogramming.net/ site and accompanying book useful.

If your requirements are more than simply a LDAP server, then as per Shane's recommendation you'd need to implement a lab environment with full AD installation.

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Yeah, I was having trouble because the LDS service doesn't give you any way of creating users. I think that is the case because it requires that you replicate/feed from a actual Domain Server. So, in other words, it only works if your on a domain or near one. – djangofan Dec 16 '11 at 20:53
You need to import the schema for creating objects using the objectclass of interest. The LDS Schema by default is very basic. MS-user.ldf is the file you need to import. – maweeras Dec 16 '11 at 22:11
As for the instructions on creating users, please see the step by step guide I quote earlier. Specifically, this section technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc730701(WS.10).aspx – maweeras Dec 16 '11 at 22:37
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