Syracuse University's
 Active Directory Project

Over the next 12 months, Syracuse University’s Novell desktop computing environment will be replaced with Microsoft’s Active Directory (AD). Novell and AD are technologies that enable people to connect to computing resources and services through their desktop computer, including e-mail, calendaring, shared folders, printers, and file storage space on the SU network. 

The transition to AD is a campus-wide, cooperative initiative. Technology leaders in the University’s schools, colleges, and departments are working through the Technology Leadership Committee (TLC) to share resources and information in order to ensure a smooth implementation of AD across campus.

AD will provide students, faculty, and staff more efficient and secure connections to their computing resources and services. In addition, AD will: 

• enable faculty and staff to switch from Novell’s GroupWise e-mail and calendaring system to Microsoft’s Outlook e-mail and calendaring system. Outlook will be more effective in meeting the diverse communications needs of the University and works more efficiently with smart phones and other mobile devices;
• provide students, faculty, and staff more space to store files on the SU network and more storage space for e-mail;
• enhance collaborative efforts by making it easier for students, faculty, and staff to share files; and
• make it easier for faculty and staff to connect to personal network space, files, printing services and other resources from any computer on campus. 
  

Moving to Active Directory

Microsoft Outlook e-mail system

Technical Information

AD Organizational Units--An Organizational Unit is a virtual container to which students, faculty, and staff are assigned to enable them to access the University's computing and network resources and services. Each OU is represented by a TLC member. Click the AD Organizational Units link for the complete list.