---
title: "Microsoft Active Directory - General"
canonical: "https://docs.infoblox.com/space/UniversalAssetInsights/1710162950/Microsoft%20Active%20Directory%20-%20General"
format: markdown
---
In the **General** step of the **Configure Discovery** wizard, configure the following:

- **State**: Toggle **Enabled** (green) or **Disabled **(blue). By default, Microsoft Active Directory discovery is **Enabled**.
- **Name**: Specify a name for the network discovery configuration. The name should only contain alphanumeric characters and underscore.
- **Description**: Specify a description for the network discovery configuration.
- **Discovery Agent**: Choose the discovery agent from the drop-down. You must install the agent before it is available to choose from the drop-down. For more information on installing the agent, see <u>*[Installing Infoblox Universal Agent](https://infoblox-docs.atlassian.net/wiki/pages/createpage.action?spaceKey=universalassetinsightsdraft&title=Installing%20the%20Infoblox%20Universal%20DDI%20Agent1&linkCreation=true&fromPageId=1572078017)*</u>.
- **Domain Controller**: Specify the domain controller. The **Domain Controller** field supports multiple identifier types when configuring or connecting to Active Directory, allowing flexibility based on how you want to target the directory service. You may enter the **forest name**, which refers to the entire Active Directory forest (for example, `corp.company.com`), or a **domain name**, which points to a specific domain within the forest (for example, `na.corp.company.com`). You can also choose to specify a **particular Domain Controller **directly, targeting a specific server responsible for authentication and directory services, such as `dc01.na.corp.company.com`. All entries must be provided either as a fully qualified domain name (FQDN) or an IP address to ensure accurate resolution and connectivity. Short hostnames (for example, simply `dc01`) are not supported, as they do not provide enough information to uniquely identify the target within the environment.
- **Port**: Choose the port from the drop-down. You can choose 636 (LDAPS) or 389 (LDAP) based own your requirement. The 636 (LDAPS) is the preferred method of connection.
- **Sync Interval**: Choose the sync interval from the drop-down. The default sync interval is 2 hours. Infoblox recommends a sync interval of  3 hours.
- **Credentials**: Choose the credentials from the drop-down. For more information on creating new credentials, see *[Creating Active Directory Credentials](https://infoblox-docs.atlassian.net/wiki/spaces/UniversalAssetInsights/pages/1693876284)* *.*
- Click **Next**.