Active Directory snapshots in Windows Server 2008 allow an administrator to create snapshots of the Active Directory database. By using them, you can view the data inside such a snapshot and use it to restore or inspect data without the need to start the server in Directory Services Restore Mode. These snapshots can be stored on the local hard disk of the Domain Controller (DC), or moved to an offline type of storage. You can read more about this topic on my upcoming "Working with Active Directory Snapshots in Windows Server 2008", "Automating the Creation of Active Directory Snapshots" and "Exporting Information from Active Directory Snapshots in Windows Server 2008" articles.

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