Administering Windows Server Hybrid Core Infrastructure (AZ-800) Practice

When deploying the first domain controller in a forest, which option is configured by default?

1. RODC

2. Global catalog

3. DNS name

4. Forest functional level

The correct answer is: Global catalog

When deploying the first domain controller in a forest, the global catalog is configured by default. A global catalog contains information about every object in the Active Directory forest, which enables users and applications to locate and access directory resources efficiently. The first domain controller holds a complete replica of the directory data for its own domain and stores a partial replica of objects from all other domains in the forest. This functionality is crucial for enabling a range of Active Directory services, such as user logins and resource searches, which rely on the global catalog to find and verify objects across the entire forest. While options like RODC (Read-Only Domain Controller) and forest functional level are important aspects of Active Directory configuration, they do not apply to the initial settings established during the deployment of the first domain controller. The DNS name is also essential but is not enabled by default in the context of forest-wide services. The global catalog ensures that the necessary directory information is readily available to clients throughout the network, making it a fundamental component of Active Directory's operation from the very beginning.