2.2 Address Book Synchronization Architecture

When performing address book synchronization, the MTA reads information in the GroupWise Address Book and in Active Directory. Information in the GroupWise Address Book is synchronized into Active Directory, and information in Active Directory is synchronized into the GroupWise Address Book.

2.2.1 Exchange Objects

In Active Directory, users, distribution groups, and resources can be located in one or more Active Directory contexts, typically under the Users context.

User list in Active Directory Users and Computers

When you configure address book synchronization, you choose the specific contexts from which you want to synchronize Exchange objects to GroupWise.

Distribution groups and resources are typically located in the same contexts with users, and are synchronized along with them.

2.2.2 GroupWise External Domain Object for Exchange Users

After address book synchronization, Exchange objects are organized under an External Domain object, which is located under the GroupWise System object in ConsoleOne. The original Active Directory context of each object is represented by an External Post Office object. As a result, Exchange objects are organized under the GroupWise System object parallel to how they are organized in your Exchange system.

Exchange users are represented as GroupWise External User objects.

List of Exchange users in ConsoleOne

Exchange distribution groups are represented as GroupWise External Distribution List objects.

List of Exchange distribution groups in ConsoleOne

Exchange resources are represented as GroupWise External Resource objects.

List of Exchange resources in ConsoleOne

2.2.3 GroupWise Objects

By default, all GroupWise users, distribution lists, and resources in the GroupWise Address are synchronized to Exchange, unless their visibility is restricted, as described in Object Visibility in the GroupWise Address Book.

If necessary, you can restrict this scope by creating a distribution list of GroupWise users, distribution lists, and resources to synchronize to Exchange.

Although GroupWise object information is synchronized into Active Directory, Exchange object information is synchronized into the GroupWise Address Book, not into eDirectory.

2.2.4 Active Directory Contexts for GroupWise Objects

After address book synchronization, GroupWise objects are organized under a new Active Directory folder that is created specifically to hold synchronized GroupWise objects. GroupWise domains are organized into subfolders under the GroupWise folder. GroupWise post offices are organized into subfolders under their respective domain folders. As a result, GroupWise objects are organized in Active Directory parallel to how they are organized in your GroupWise system.

GroupWise users, distribution lists, and groups shown in Active Directory Users and Computers

GroupWise users are represented in Active Directory as Exchange Contact objects.

GroupWise resources are also represented as Exchange Contact objects, rather than as Exchange Resource objects. Exchange resources have mailboxes just as GroupWise resources do, and a mailbox cannot be on both sides of the synchronization process. Therefore, GroupWise resources cannot be synchronized as Exchange resources.

GroupWise distribution lists are represented as Exchange Distribution Group objects.