collision in Windows 2000

Collision, in windows 2000, is a condition that can occur during the replication of information in Active Directory.

What is Collision in Windows 2000?

In Microsoft Windows 2000, a condition that can occur during the replication of information in Active Directory. Because Active Directory uses a multimaster replication system, it is possible for multiple changes to be made simultaneously to the same object within Active Directory by users accessing different domain controllers.

How Collision Works

To minimize collisions, Active Directory records and replicates all updates to directory objects only at the property or attribute level. This allows different properties of the same object to be simultaneously modified without the worry of a collision occurring. However, if two users modify the same property of an object simultaneously, a collision occurs.

Using the time stamps and property version numbers for the property that was changed, Active Directory determines which update to the property has the later time stamp and uses this information to update itself.