Active Directory Browser (adsvw.exe)

Active Directory Browser is a tool that may be used to browse and modify objects and their properties in Windows 2000 Active Directory. Its alternative name is ADSI Viewer. It may also be used with Exchange 5.5 directories.
 

Using adsvw.exe with Windows 2000 Active Directory

• Launch adsvw.exe.
• Select File - New menu option.
• Select ObjectViewer and click on the OK button.
• Make sure the "Use OpenObject" checkbox is unchecked.
• Type LDAP: in the "Enter ADs path:" edit box and then click the OK button. Notice that you may either use LDAP:, LDAP://ServerName, or LDAP://DomainName for ADs path. If your domain is dot-separated ADSI Viewer is likely to work with full or partially qualified domain name. For example, in my case I had myresearch.ca domain name. ADSI Viewer was working fine with LDAP://myresearch, as well as with LDAP://myresearch.ca. However, when I tried LDAP://myresearch.com (non-existing domain for my local network) Active Directory Viewer reported ERROR_DS_SERVER_DOWN error.

Left pane of the viewer should now host an expandable Active Directory tree with the root node named LDAP: (if you used LDAP: ADs path) or DC=YourDomain. You can navigate in the directory, browse and modify object properties. Use double-click to expand nodes (see Figure below).
 

Using adsvw.exe with Windows 2000 Active Directory

Using adsvw.exe with Exchange Server 5.5 Directory

• Launch adsvw.exe.
• Select File - New menu option if necessary.
• Select ObjectViewer and click on the OK button.
• Make sure the "Use OpenObject" checkbox is unchecked.
• Type LDAP://ServerName in the "Enter ADs path:" edit box and then click the OK button.

Left pane of the viewer should now host your Exchange server directory (see Figure below).
 

Using adsvw.exe with Exchange Server 5.5 Directory

One final notice for the end of this section. You can specify alternate credentials (different from the currently logged on user) when using the viewer. You need to check the "Use Open Object" option and provide the data. Here is what worked for me when I tried the viewer against an Exchange server 5.5 directory.

Using alternate credentials with adsvw.exe.