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Product Support Article
Article ID: PSA200298
Using Directory Assistant
in a Clustered Environment
Table of Contents
1. How does
Directory Assistant work?
2. How do you
set up Directory Assistant in a clustered environment?
3. What is
modified on my server when Directory Assistant is installed?
4. What
do I need to back up with respect to Directory Assistant components?
5. How to restore
Directory Assistant
when a server fails
1. How does Directory
Assistant work?
Directory Assistant checks directory information
using the Microsoft DAPI or LDAP interface depending on
the version of Exchange you're using. Since Directory
Assistant
uses DAPI/LDAP to access the information stores, the exact
location of the data is not particularly relevant as the
Directory Assistant service does not require direct access to the database.
2. How do
you set up Directory Assistant in a clustered environment?
Run the Directory Assistant setup on the primary node of your
cluster. This should be an active node. In a clustered
environment, the service should only be installed on one server
within the cluster. The Directory Assistant service mailbox
should reside on one of the databases on the same server.
3. What
is modified on my server when Directory Assistant is installed?
The following items are modified on your server when
installing Directory Assistant:
- A file folder called "MADSDA" is created in the root of the
hard drive that you select.
- A network share called "MADSDA" is created that points to the
file folder that was created.
- A file folder under your web root called "DA" where the
Directory Assistant web files are placed.
<Microsoft Exchange 2000 only>
- A user for "MADSolutions DL Service" is created in the Active
Directory under the "Microsoft Exchange System Objects"
container.
- The user that was created is added to the ‘Account Operators’
and ‘Enterprise Admins’ security groups.
- An associated Exchange 2000 mailbox is created for the user in
the mailbox store that you select.
- The user that was created is given permission to logon as a
service on the server.
<Microsoft Exchange 4.0, 5.0 and 5.5 only>
- A mailbox for "MADSolutions DA Service" is created in the
recipients container on the server.
- A service called "MADSolutions DA" is installed on the server
and the proper service files are copied to the share that was
created.
- Extra information for the service is installed in the registry
in the section for services on the server.
- Policies, log files and any extra information or data
for Directory Assistant is stored in the network share that is created
on your server.
4.
What do I need to back up with respect to Directory Assistant components?
The "MADSDA" folder should be backed up on a regular basis. If a
failure should occur, the policies for your users can then be
restored from backup.
5. How to restore
Directory Assistant when a server fails
- Create a new file folder called "MADSDA" on the new server
and share this folder as "MADSDA".
- Copy all of the files and folders from the previous "MADSDA"
share to the new share.
- In the MMC Console for Directory Assistant, install the "DA Service"
and web files
again. You can install or reinstall the service and web files at any time. You
do not have to remove the mailbox, user, service or web files first. Your
policies and log files will not be affected by installing
or uninstalling the service.
- If you ran the main setup for Directory Assistant and you are
administrating the software through the MMC Console on the
server, you will need to run the main Directory Assistant installation
again. This will not affect your configurations, log files or
operation of the service. |
