Developing a Domain Plan

Once you determine how many forests are needed based on the current namespace and administration needs of the organization as a whole, you next need to determine the domain structure that needs to be implemented. Whether your organization has an existing Active Directory structure or is implementing Active Directory for the first time, this means assessing the current environment and determining what changes are needed.

You will need to thoroughly document the existing infrastructure and determine what—if anything—needs to be restructured, replaced, or upgraded. You will also need to determine if it is even possible or practical to update the existing infrastructure as proposed. In some cases, you may find that current design is not ideal for updating as proposed and you may need to revise your plans.