The following section describes recommendations for configuring and implementing Connector for cc:Mail.
Configure directory synchronization The directory synchronization component of Connector for cc:Mail allows Microsoft Exchange and cc:Mail directories to be synchronized, which greatly reduces the directory administration burden. When directory synchronization is configured, cc:Mail addresses appear in the Microsoft Exchange global address book and appear as custom recipients. Microsoft Exchange addresses are exported into the cc:Mail messaging system and appear as if they were native cc:Mail addresses. In the cc:Mail system, Microsoft Exchange sites appear as if they were cc:Mail post offices.
Although automatic directory exchange (ADE) is not supported, the Connector for cc:Mail does export Microsoft Exchange Server addresses using the cc:Mail Prop option. If the post office directly attached to cc:Mail is configured to propagate addresses through cc:Mail ADE, the Microsoft Exchange Server addresses are repaginated throughout the cc:Mail environment based on the ADE configuration within cc:Mail.
Locate cc:Mail addresses in a separate recipients container When configuring directory synchronization, a Recipients container must be selected to designate the location for importing cc:Mail directory entries. For ease of management, configure a separate container in which to import cc:Mail users. Note that cc:Mail users will be displayed in the Microsoft Exchange global address book regardless of which container they are imported into.
Install cc:Mail address generator in nonconnector sites Each directory entry in Microsoft Exchange receives proxy addresses by default, including Microsoft Mail, SMTP, and X.400 addresses. The Connector for cc:Mail installs a cc:Mail e-mail address generator in the site in which it resides. The cc:Mail address generator creates a CCMAIL address-type (username at site proxy) for every recipient in the site. These are the addresses that are sent to the cc:Mail environment during directory synchronization. You must install the cc:Mail e-mail address generator on every Microsoft Exchange Server site that communicates with cc:Mail. A separate mode for cc:Mail e-mail address generator setup is used for Microsoft Exchange Server sites that do not have the Connector for cc:Mail installed. Note that Microsoft Exchange Server 4.0 sites must have at least one Microsoft Exchange Server 5.0 to have cc:Mail proxy addresses generated for users in that site.
Standardize Microsoft Exchange directory proxy address format When using the Connector for cc:Mail, you can customize Microsoft Exchange address formats to export Microsoft Exchange addresses into the cc:Mail environment. Be sure to configure the address export format so that it is consistent with the existing cc:Mail environment standards to minimize impact on the cc:Mail users during coexistence and migration. The cc:Mail proxy addresses can be customized by using Site Addressing in the Microsoft Exchange Server Administrator program.
Enable message tracking The Connector for cc:Mail supports the message-tracking feature, allowing administrators to track messages that have been submitted to the Connector for cc:Mail for delivery. This is useful in troubleshooting.
Use multiple connectors for load balancing and redundancy In many cases, a single Microsoft Exchange Server and Connector for cc:Mail can be used to connect Microsoft Exchange and cc:Mail messaging systems. However, for redundancy and load balancing, multiple Connectors for cc:Mail and cc:Mail hub post offices can be configured. Within Microsoft Exchange Server, equal costs and address space can be used to configure load balancing for Microsoft Exchange mail destined to the cc:Mail messaging environment. Mail flowing to the Microsoft Exchange environment from cc:Mail can be balanced by strategically defining the route to the Microsoft Exchange Server sites from within the cc:Mail directory. For example, three cc:Mail hub post offices can each be configured for a direct connection to a Microsoft Exchange Server site by defining the site as a directly attached post office ("P") in the cc:Mail directory. Then three cc:Mail connectors can be configured, one connecting to each of the cc:Mail hub post offices.
Optimize Microsoft Exchange Server for connector configuration It is very important that Microsoft Exchange Server computers in which Connectors for cc:Mail (or any other connector) reside are tuned properly. Use the Microsoft Exchange Server Performance Optimizer and select Connector/Directory Import to ensure proper system tuning to support the Connector for cc:Mail. In fact, prior to a large directory synchronization or import process, it is recommended that the Microsoft Exchange Server computer running the Connector for cc:Mail is tuned as a Connector/Directory Import computer only. This will increase the directory import performance several times. Be sure to tune the computer back to the desired production settings following the import using the Performance Optimizer.
Avoid setting directory synchronization schedule to always When configuring the directory synchronization schedule, a setting of Always will often cause unnecessary processing to take place on the Microsoft Exchange Server computer. This setting means that the directory synchronization process will occur every 15 minutes. The Connector for cc:Mail utilizes the cc:Mail import.exe and export.exe programs. When directory synchronization takes place, the entire cc:Mail directory is exported from the cc:Mail post office and then parsed. Note that if synchronization is required, a button is available on the Connector for cc:Mail Import page to request a directory synchronization cycle immediately. Also note that if you are viewing the schedule page by the hour and select a given hour, directory synchronization will take place four times during that hour. When scheduling is based on selected times, it is best to view the page in 15-minute intervals.
Avoid using the same name for a Microsoft Exchange Server site as existing cc:Mail post offices For message routing to work from cc:Mail to Microsoft Exchange, the Microsoft Exchange Server site name (by default) must be defined in each cc:Mail post office directory in the cc:Mail environment. If a cc:Mail post office exists with the same name as the Microsoft Exchange Server site, then you must use the Site Addressing tab in the Microsoft Exchange Administrator program to change the name of the default proxy addresses for Microsoft Exchange users. Then, define the Microsoft Exchange Server site using this customized proxy name. By default, proxy addresses are generated by using User at SITE.