XFOR: Understanding Message Flow for New GroupWise Connector

ID: Q197723

The information in this article applies to:

Microsoft Exchange Server, version 5.5

SUMMARY

Prior to the new GroupWise connector (Web 3 C&M drop), basic messaging between GroupWise users and Exchange Server users was accomplished using SMTP or, in some cases, X.400. The new GroupWise connector will only support SMTP for messaging. This article describes the basic messaging flow between both mail systems.

MORE INFORMATION

Exchange Server to GroupWise

Exchange Server user composes mail, selects a GroupWise Custom Recipient (CR) from the global address list, then sends the mail.

The message transfer agent (MTA) routes it to the Internet Mail Service where it is delivered to the GroupWise SMTP agent. This step assumes that the Internet Mail Service is already configured with the new address type of GWISE.

The message is delivered using GroupWise's internal mechanism to the target recipient.

Additional note: The GroupWise custom recipient's SMTP proxy address is not the standard Exchange Server-based proxy address. The SMTP address is based on the configuration in the GroupWise connector, or pulled individually for each GroupWise user if their SMTP addresses are different

GroupWise to Exchange Server

GroupWise user composes mail, selects an Exchange Server user as a recipient, and sends e-mail.

API Gateway takes the message and drops it in the API_OUT directory on the Novell server.

The GroupWise Router for Novell takes the message the from API_OUT and rewrites the headers before dropping the message in the API_IN, for example: Header of original mail message from GroupWise to Exchange Server found in API_OUT:


   From=
       WPD= BETA 5;
       WPPO= PETALING JAYA;
       WPU= efong;
       FUA= efong@grpwise.petaling.com;
       FN= Eddie;
       LN= Fong;
       S= Fong;
       G= Eddie; ;
   To=
       WPD= Exchange;
       WPPO= WasteLand;
       WPU= EvilE;
       WPPONUM= 1;
       WPUNUM= 1;
       FUA= EvilE@WasteLand.com;
       FN= Evil;
       LN= Eye;
       Dept=  ;
       TTL=  ;
       TEL=  ;
       FAX=  ;
       S= Eye;
       G= Evil;
     CDBA= 0001:0001; ;

Header of modified mail message placed in API_IN:


   From=
       WPD= BETA 5;
       WPPO= PETALING JAYA;
       WPU= efong;
       ;
   To=
       WPD= Beta 5;
       WPPO= SMTP;
       WPU= "EvilE@WasteLand.com";
       ;

The API Gateway takes the message from API_IN, matches the alias "SMTP" as belonging to the GroupWise SMTP Agent, and hands it off accordingly. Note that the alias name was written by the GWROUTER program based on the configuration set in the GroupWise Connector.

The GroupWise SMTP agent then connects with the Internet Mail Service in Exchange Server to complete the delivery of the message back to Exchange Server.

Additional query words: messaging, SMTP, Exchange to Groupwise

Keywords :
Version : WINNT:5.5
Platform : winnt
Issue type : kbinfo