1.3 Directory Replication and Synchronization

The GroupWise Directory is synchronized with eDirectory. GroupWise replicates the GroupWise Address Book information from eDirectory into the GroupWise Directory. The fully replicated indexed database on which the GroupWise Directory is built provides fast lookups for the GroupWise Address Book.

eDirectory is the "master directory" and pertinent data is replicated from eDirectory to the GroupWise Directory. Data is never pushed from the GroupWise Directory-it is read from eDirectory and written to GroupWise.

Administrator data is propagated from a domain's directory database to the system’s other domain and post office databases. This model allows for simultaneous operation of GroupWise 8 and GroupWise 2012 domains in an interconnected system and allows a GroupWise system to span eDirectory and non-eDirectory network nodes.

There are two methods by which information is synchronized from eDirectory to a domain database. The first is used when information is changed through ConsoleOne with the GroupWise Administrator snapin running. In this case, the GroupWise snapin simultaneously writes changes to both eDirectory and the domain database.

In the second method, the Administration Agent (ADA) checks eDirectory for changes that are not reflected in the GroupWise Directory. When a difference is detected, the data in eDirectory is used to update the GroupWise Directory.

This method detects both changes made by NetWare administration products that are not using GroupWise Admin Snapin, and changes made by any application which writes directly to eDirectory.

When an ADA is configured, the administrator defines the domains in which the ADA will do GroupWise and eDirectory synchronization. Only ADAs that run on platforms with eDirectory access are able to participate in the GroupWise/eDirectory synchronization, but all ADAs participate in the GroupWise to GroupWise synchronization.

1.3.1 Replication between GroupWise Domains

A GroupWise domain can be a primary, secondary, external, or foreign domain. The domain's type determines how it participates in the replication of directory data. The domain types are described below.

Domain Type

Description

Primary

There is only one primary domain in a GroupWise system. All directory updates must pass through this domain. Every change is sent to the primary domain from the originating domain. The primary domain then propagates the change to the rest of the system.

Secondary

A secondary domain participates fully in the replication of administrator data, but all changes made at the secondary domain are sent to the primary domain for propagation.

External

An external domain is considered a separate GroupWise system, and by default, receives no Administration data but can be configured to participate in a system’s directory synchronization. The GroupWise administrator specifies which objects to replicate from the external domain, and the administrator of the external domain specifies which objects can be replicated.

Foreign

A foreign domain is an external system that is not GroupWise. GroupWise does not replicate foreign domains because directory format is unknown. Many foreign domains can participate in directory information exchange through a gateway to GroupWise. Foreign domains are provided so addresses from outside systems can be published in the GroupWise Address Book.