Getting Started with MIIS 2003 Walkthrough

  • Article

Applies To: Windows Server 2003 with SP1

Download Instructions

This document is available for download as a Windows Installer package at https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=34336.

Overview

Microsoft Identity Integration Server 2003 (MIIS 2003) can synchronize data that is stored in different data sources. For example, an organization might maintain a database of all employee records that contains all personnel-related data such as job title, manager’s name, and office number. The organization might also have a separate system to manage employee telephones and maintain the master telephone list, and an e-mail system to maintain employee’s mailboxes. Each of these systems maintains some aspect of information related to each employee. MIIS 2003 consolidates that information into a single location so it can be easily referenced.

Synchronization of data across multiple data sources can also be problematic. Synchronization is the process that ensures that the correct values are stored in each data source based on the values stored in the other data sources and the rules defined in MIIS 2003. For example, an employee whose given name is Mary Ann is listed in the employee database as Mary Ann. In the phone system, her name is entered as Mary Anne and in the e-mail system it is entered as Mary. In this example, MIIS 2003 can be used to synchronize employee names across the three data sources to avoid the problem with Mary Ann’s name. The employee data can be imported from the employee database into MIIS 2003, the telephone information can be imported from the phone system, and the e-mail information can be imported from the e-mail system. MIIS 2003 can then export the employee name from the employee database out to the phone and e-mail systems. In this example, the name Mary Ann would be exported to the telephone and e-mail systems so her name would be consistent across all three data sources.

This import and export of data can work in different directions. In this example, the employee name from the employee database is used to maintain the correct name in the e-mail and telephone systems. It would also be possible to import the telephone number from the phone system into MIIS 2003 and export it out to the employee database. That way, the phone system can be used to maintain the correct phone information and the employee database always has current phone numbers for the employees. These are all examples of data synchronization.

Understanding how MIIS 2003 imports, stores, and then exports data helps you effectively plan and implement your deployment. This walkthrough is designed to help someone who is new to MIIS 2003 learn and understand these processes. It uses a simple synchronization of two data sources as an example to step a user who is new to MIIS 2003 through the entire process of importing data from two data sources, synchronizing it within MIIS 2003, and then exporting data back to one of the data sources. While stepping through the procedures, it discusses how the data is processed during each step of operation.

In this Walkthrough

The following topics are covered in this walkthrough:

  1. Scenario Design

  2. Lab Setup

  3. Implementation Steps

This walkthrough discusses the basic steps required to use MIIS 2003 to synchronize data between two data sources. The goal is to present a rudimentary scenario to help new users get acquainted with how data flows through MIIS 2003.

Topics Not Covered

The following topics are not discussed in this document:

  • Precedence

  • Object deletion

  • Provisioning and deprovisioning

  • Synchronization of more than two data sources

Prerequisite Knowledge

Users need to be familiar with basic computer operations such as creating files with an editor such as Notepad.exe, creating folders and copying files. However, no prior knowledge of MIIS 2003 or SQL  Server™ is required to perform the procedures in this walkthrough. Prior knowledge regarding the installation and use of Microsoft® Windows Server™ 2003, Enterprise Edition, makes the procedures in this walkthrough easier but is not required.

Audience

This walkthrough is intended for new users of MIIS 2003. No previous experience with the product is necessary nor does the user need to read any of Additional Resources listed below before completing the walkthrough.

Time Requirements

This walkthrough requires 60 to 90 minutes for a new user to complete. An experienced MIIS 2003 user can complete this walkthrough in 30 to 40 minutes.

Note

These time estimates assume the testing environment is already configured and ready for testing to begin and do not include the time required to setup the test environment.

Additional Resources

Next Step

See Also

Concepts

Getting Started with MIIS 2003 Walkthrough: Lab Setup