Simulating Active Directory Login in Dev / Test Environment

Question

A WPF application is currently being created that will run in an environment where a user logs on to a Windows PC located in a domain (DC). The application will ask the user to enter their username and password again when it starts, and the username / password will be checked in the Active Directory (I apologize if my terminology is incorrect here).

Entrance is all or nothing; if their password is correct, there is no (current) problem with retrieving groups, rights, or the like.

The development environment is not based on AD and is not in the domain. Are there any options for simulating such a login without going through the process of setting up a domain controller and adding machines to it for development and testing?

During the project, it will be possible to test the deployment (IOW, create an application for logging in, deploy it for the user and make sure that the login works before the final deployment). At the same time, I will need to use some kind of implementation of the kind that works in the test / dev environment.

Any thoughts? Would you recommend not simulating this instead of setting DC?

Answer 1

Use ADAM (Active Directory Application Mode for Windows Server 2003)

For organizations that require flexible application directory support, Microsoft has developed Active Directory Application Mode (ADAM). ADAM is a lightweight Directory Access Protocol (LDAP) directory service that works as a user of a service, not as a service delivery system. The Active Directory Mode application represents a breakthrough in directory service technology that provides flexibility and helps organizations avoid infrastructure costs.

That is, Microsoft's free AD server, which you can run on your desktop.

Answer 2

If you are on Windows 8, you can go to "Add or Remove Windows Features" and check AD LDS. When you're done, run mmc and add Edit ADSI. It will be the default domain controller on the network, and you can populate your own AD instance.