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Sharing GAL between two seperate forests/organizations (Windows 2000/Exchange 2000)

First off, I've searched alot on this topic, and all the info I've found has been primarily geared towards integrating Exchange 5.5 organizations with 2000 and 2003. Anyway, I manage a multi-site, multi-domain network which is all part of the same 2000 forest. Everything is Windows 2000/Exchange 2000, and working fine. We were recently bought out by another company which is also a multi-site Windows 2000/Exchange 2000 domain. We aren't really interested in sharing any resources or control over our respective networks, but we'd like to combine our Global Address Lists to make managing our contact databases easier. We are on seperate NATed networks seperated by Firewalls which can sustain site-to-site VPN links. I was hoping for a simple software solution, but I'm guessing I won't be so lucky. Any idea what the simplest solution to my problem would be?

NJComputerNetworks

Check this out: GAL Sync with the Identity Integration Feature Pack (IIFP) http://www.msexchange.org/tutorials/GAL-Sync-Identity-Integration-Feature-Pack-IIFP.html

NJComputerNetworks

Or you can try a third party solution like: http://www.msexchange.org/software/Misc.-Exchange-server-software/GALtoDB/Comments/

illmatix

ASKER

I was looking at IIFP, but it looks like you need a Windows 2003 Server to run it. Plus a SQL Server. Can you confirm? Have you ever used IIFP?

illmatix

ASKER

GAL to DB looks like it's only intended to export GAL data to unrelated databases. I'm trying to sync up the GAL between two Exchange 2000 organizations. We only have Windows 2000 Server and Exchange 2000 Server in both organizations.

Anybody else?

NJComputerNetworks

yes...you are correct: IIFP requires Microsoft SQL Server 2000 Standard Edition or Enterprise Edition as its back-end store and must be installed on a Microsoft Windows Server 2003, Enterprise Edition, server.

It is a fairly complicated GAL synch process but it is supported by MS. I have never used it but I have used www.msexchange.org documentation in the past and it is very accurate and easy to follow.

-later

NJComputerNetworks

You can manually setup a contact for each user in the remote domain... http://www.serverwatch.com/tutorials/print.php/10825_1469531_2 but this is time consuming and is not dynamic....

illmatix

ASKER

That's what I thought. That article you posted was the first one I found in my searches... unfortunately it's no good for my environment. I would have thought it'd be easier to find information on getting this done than it would be to find info on integrating Exchange 5.5 GALs... Argh! The search goes on.

illmatix

ASKER

We already have contacts set up in each domain... it's just becoming a pain to administer.

Anybody have any info on the question at hand?

illmatix

ASKER

I found a program that will do exactly what I want, but it's a bit pricier than I was hoping to pay. It's called Imanama DTM, but they want $7,000 for a base license.
http://www.imanami.com/products/dtm/default.asp

Anybody have any more cost effective solutions?

illmatix

ASKER

I've also found a program called Simple Sync by a company called CPS systems that will do what I want.
http://www.cps-systems.com/simplesync/

Unfortunately, this solution is even more cost prohibitive than the last. Does anybody have any custom solutions by any chance??

Anybody?

NJComputerNetworks

Wow...thats pretty expensive. Sorry...I couldn't find anything more on this subject. Maybe someone else will...good luck. You might want to post your question on these other sites as well: www.tek-tips.com or www.msexchange.org

-later

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