Final answer:
DFS (Distributed File System) is used to create a unified namespace for file shares, while Active Directory is a directory service that manages network assets and users. When integrated, DFS utilizes Active Directory for applying access policies and facilitating resource discovery across the network.
Step-by-step explanation:
DFS (Distributed File System) and Active Directory are both components of Microsoft Windows server technologies used to manage network resources efficiently. DFS is used to organize distributed shares into a single namespace, providing a simplified user access and management experience.
DFS can be integrated with Active Directory to utilize domain-based namespaces, which use the infrastructure of an Active Directory domain to provide fault tolerance and simplify the access to file resources scattered across multiple servers.
Active Directory, on the other hand, is a directory service that provides a central location for network administration and security. It stores information about the network's resources such as user accounts, computers, printers, and file shares, correlating this data with user identity and access rights.
When combined, DFS uses the Active Directory database to apply security policies and permissions, ensuring that users have access to the files and folders they are authorized for across various servers in the network.
The combination of both these technologies allows for a scalable, secure, and manageable network environment where users can easily locate and access shared resources, regardless of their physical location within the organization.