what is sysprep,active directory,VM snapshots,imaging,backup,workgroup domain,what is GAL,exchange server 2003/2007,what is SSL?

SYSPREP: Sysprep is the name of Microsoft's System Preparation Utility for Microsoft Windows operating system deployment. Desktop deployment is typically performed via disk cloning applications. Sysprep can be used to prepare an operating system for disk cloning and restoration via a disk image. Windows operating system installations include many unique elements per installation that need to be "generalized" before capturing and deploying a disk image to multiple computers. Some of these elements include:

Computer name[1] Security Identifier (SID) Driver Cache

Sysprep seeks to solve these issues by allowing for the generation of new computer names, unique SIDs, and custom driver cache databases during the Sysprep process. Administrators can use tools such as SetupMgr.exe (Windows XP) or the Windows Automated Installation Kit (Windows Vista/7/Server 2008) to generate answer files that Sysprep will process on new computer deployments.

active directory - Active Directory (AD) is a directory service created by Microsoft for Windows domain networks. It is included in most Windows Server operating systems. Server computers on which Active Directory is running are called domain controllers. Active Directory serves as a central location for network administration and security. It is responsible for authenticating and authorizing all users and computers within a network of Windows domain type, assigning and enforcing security policies for all computers in a network and installing or updating software on network computers. For example, when a user logs into a computer that is part of a Windows domain, it is Active Directory that verifies his or her password and specifies whether he or she is a system administrator or normal user.[1]

VM SNAPSHOTS snapshot preserves the state and data of a virtual machine at a specific point in time.

The state includes the virtual machines power state (for example, powered-on, poweredoff, suspended). The data includes all of the files that make up the virtual machine. This includes disks, memory, and other devices, such as virtual network interface cards.

IMAGING - disk image is a single file or storage device containing the complete contents and
structure representing a data storage medium or device, such as a hard drive, tape drive, floppy disk, optical disc, or USB flash drive. A disk image is usually created by creating a complete sector-by-sector copy of the source medium and thereby perfectly replicating the structure and contents of a storage device.

Workgroup Domain - In a workgroup:

All computers are peers; no computer has control over another computer. Each computer has a set of user accounts. To use any computer in the workgroup, you must have an account on that computer. There are typically no more than ten to twenty computers. All computers must be on the same local network or subnet.

In a domain:

One or more computers are servers. Network administrators use servers to control the security and permissions for all computers on the domain. This makes it easy to make changes because the changes are automatically made to all computers. If you have a user account on the domain, you can log on to any computer on the domain without needing an account on that computer. There can be hundreds or thousands of computers. The computers can be on different local networks.

GAL - The Global Address List (GAL) also known as Microsoft Exchange Global Address Book is a directory service within the Microsoft Exchange email system. The GAL contains information for all email users, distribution groups, and Exchange resources. Digital IDs certificates generated by Microsoft Exchange Server Advanced Security IIS or by Microsoft Exchange Key Management Server (KMS) are automatically published in the Global Address Book. Users of Microsoft Outlook can publish to GAL their externally generated PKI certificates that are used for secure e-mail.

SSL - SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) is the standard security technology for establishing an encrypted link between a web server and a browser.