Question : Active Directory: What are CN and DC?

HI,

1. This is related to Active Directory.
2. This is related to REPLICATION's things.
3. I saw a reading as follows:
" Directory Partition[CN=Schema,CN=Configuration,DC=domain1,DC=boba]. Replicated because the Replication partner is a ring neighbor."
4. My questions: i) What are  the abbreviation of CN and DC ?, ii) Why they use CN (2 times) for Schema and Configuration; is there any FORMULA or REGULATION for using it?, iii) The same question for DC?, iv) What is a Ring neighbor?
5. Any help?
6. Thank you
Tjie

Answer : Active Directory: What are CN and DC?

See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Active_Directory#Naming - CN is common name and DC is domain object class, the whole expression is a Distinguished name (DN).