What distinguishes Active Directory integration from local authentication in VMware?

Active Directory integration is distinguished from local authentication primarily by its capability to integrate with external data sources, such as directory services over a network. This integration allows organizations to leverage a centralized identity management system for user authentication and authorization, facilitating the management of users, groups, and permissions across multiple systems and virtual environments.

In contrast, local authentication relies on user accounts that are created and maintained directly on each individual VMware host or system. This means that user management is decentralized and specific to each host, making it more cumbersome to manage and scale, especially in larger environments with multiple hosts or data centers.

Furthermore, Active Directory supports group policies and various organizational units, enabling more sophisticated management and security practices. The centralized nature of Active Directory provides administrators with a single point from which they can manage user access across different applications and environments, leading to better compliance with security policies and a more streamlined user experience.

Understanding these distinctions highlights the advantages of using Active Directory for organizations that require robust, scalable, and flexible user management solutions in their VMware environments.