Final answer:
Naming conventions in Active Directory are based on LDAP naming conventions, involving a hierarchical structure with elements such as domains and organizational units, and use of Distinguished Names and Relative Distinguished Names to uniquely identify objects.
Step-by-step explanation:
The naming (or addressing) conventions in Active Directory are based on the LDAP naming conventions. Active Directory uses a hierarchical structure for organizing objects such as users, groups, and resources, similar to a file system. This structure includes elements like domains, organizational units, and common names.
Distinguished Names (DN) and Relative Distinguished Names (RDN) are used within Active Directory to uniquely identify objects. A Distinguished Name includes the complete path through the Active Directory hierarchy required to reach the object, similar to a full file path on a computer. An example of a DN might be 'CN=John Doe,OU=Sales,DC=example,DC=com', which specifies the common name, organizational unit, and domain components.
Guidelines for creating these names often involve a mix of company policy and best practices to ensure there is no ambiguity in object names, which helps to maintain order and prevent confusion in a complex directory structure. Attributes like 'CN' for common name, 'OU' for organizational unit, and 'DC' for domain component are a part of these conventions used to define the structure and identity within an Active Directory environment.