Quest Software, Inc. (Nasdaq: QSFT), a leading provider of application, database and infrastructure management solutions, today announced the general availability of version 6.0 of Quest Spotlight on Active Directory, the latest release of its diagnostic and troubleshooting product for Active Directory that is known for its graphical, single-screen interface. As the core of all Windows operating system access, Active Directory must be consistently available. With the Quest Spotlight product, administrators can fix performance problems in both Active Directory and Domain Name Service (DNS) before they impact service availability.

Just as Windows relies on Active Directory, it in turn relies on a healthy DNS to operate. The new “Verify DNS Health” test in Spotlight on Active Directory alerts administrators to DNS problems, allowing them to anticipate and resolve these issues before they affect directory availability. This single test in Spotlight on Active Directory checks all aspects of DNS health and responsiveness, as well as ensuring that domain controllers are properly configured to use DNS.

“With Spotlight on Active Directory, administrators now have the ability to quickly diagnose and resolve problems within both Active Directory and DNS using a single product “ said Jackson Shaw, senior director of product management for Active Directory and Integration Solutions, Quest Software. “Spotlight improves Active Directory service availability and reduces administrative overhead by providing a comprehensive, graphical, real-time view of the directory environment with drill-down capabilities for quick problem resolution.”

Also new in this version of Spotlight is a Web-based reporting facility that provides access to trending information about Active Directory performance over time, making it easier to anticipate and prevent problems with critical Active Directory processes and performance. Spotlight on Active Directory is fully integrated with Microsoft Operations Manager (MOM), and is available as a MOM Troubleshooting Management Pack.

“Spotlight on Active Directory is excellent,” said Marcelino Campos, IT infrastructure manager, ADT Security Services, Inc. “It has helped us diagnose and solve replication problems between our domain controllers. We can see the problem - then solve it.” ADT Security Services, Inc., a business unit of Tyco Fire & Security, is the largest provider of electronic security, serving nearly six million commercial, government and residential customers throughout the United States.