Set Directory Access Changes through Group Policy

Directory Access Changes allows your servers to record (when possible) both the old and the new values of an object after a change. This means that if a value was incorrectly changed, the old value may be record in your audit log. To configure this, you would have to log into each server and type:

Auditpol /set /subcategory:”Directory Service Changes” /Success:Enable

For one or two servers, this is OK. For hundreds, this is a problem. You can utilize Group Policy to configure this on each of your servers/clients.

Either create a new GPO, or use an existing one that is scoped to your requirements.

Expand Computer Configuration \ Policies \ Windows Settings \ Advanced Audit Policy Configuration \ Audit Policies \ DS Access

Double click Audit Directory Service Changes.

Check Configure the following audit events.

Check Success and/or Failure

Click OK.

Once this policy is applied and your clients/servers refresh their Group Policies, you can test this GPO.

On a client/server that had this policy applied, click Start. Type cmd and press Enter.

Type auditpol /get /subcategory:”Directory Service Changes” and press Enter.

You should see the configuration that you set.

Comments

How to list all the AD LDS instances on a server

AD LDS allows you to provide directory services to applications that are free of the confines of Active Directory. To list all the AD LDS instances on a server, follow this procedure: Log into the server in question Open a command prompt. Type dsdbutil and press Enter Type List Instances and press Enter . You will receive a list of the instance name, both the LDAP and SSL port numbers, the location of the database, and its status.

How to run GPResult on a remote client with PowerShell

In the past, to run the GPResult command, you would need to either physically visit this client, have the user do it, or use and RDP connection. In all cases, this will disrupt the user. First, you need PowerShell remoting enabled on the target machine. You can do this via Group Policy . Open PowerShell and type this command. Invoke-Command –ScriptBlock {GPResult /r} –ComputerName <ComputerName> Replace <ComputerName> with the name of the target. Remember, the target needs to be online and accessible to you.

Error icon when creating a GPO Preference drive map

You may not have an error at all. Take a look at the drive mapping below. The red triangle is what threw us off. It is not an error. It is simply a color representation of the Replace option of the Action field in the properties of the drive mappings. Create action This give you a green triangle. The Create action creates a new mapped drive for users. Replace Action The Replace action gives you a red triangle. This action will delete and recreate mapped drives for users. The net result of the Replace action is to overwrite all existing settings associated with the mapped drive. If the drive mapping does not exist, then the Replace action creates a new drive mapping. Update Action The Update action will have a yellow triangle. Update will modify settings of an existing mapped drive for users. This action differs from Replace in that it only updates settings defined within the preference item. All other settings remain as configured on the ma...

Jason Yoder, MCT

Search This Blog