Using Management Agent Packager

You can use the management agent packager to create a custom management agent by adding information to a management agent for extensible connectivity. In addition, certain attributes of the management agent are disabled so that the user cannot change them. The packaged management agent is then installed to a folder on the server running Microsoft® Forefront Identity Manager (FIM) 2010 R2 where it will be displayed in the list of available management agents. For example, if the company Fabrikam created a management agent for their Human Resources department, the management agent type could be specified as Fabrikam HRMA, and could appear as (Fabrikam) Human Resources in the list of available management agents.

To create and distribute a packaged management agent:

• Create and define the connected data source extensions.

• Use Synchronization Service Manager to create a management agent for extensible connectivity.

• Use Synchronization Service Manager to export the management agent to an XML file.

• The XML output file is passed to Mapackager.exe, along with a customization file that assigns a list name, subtype, and help text.

• Mapackager.exe outputs the packaged management agent as an XML file.

• The packaged management agent and associated template file are copied to the InstallationDirectory\UIShell\Xmls\PackagedMAs folder on the server running FIM. The associated extension DLL, including any extra library files, is copied to the InstallationDirectory\Extensions folder.

• The packaged management agent is selected from the list of available management agents in Synchronization Service Manager.

• The user edits the configuration information and saves a new instance of the management agent.

For more information about the management agent for extensible connectivity, see Using the Management Agent for Extensible Connectivity. For more information about exporting management agents, see Export a Management Agent to File. For more information about Mapackager.exe, see Mapackager: Management Agent Packaging Tool.

File and disk structure

Synchronization Service Manager displays all the management agent files that are in the InstallationDirectory\UIShell\Xmls\PackagedMAs folder when FIM starts. It displays a management agent as type Packaged with the ma-listname value of the subtype element if a value is present, and it displays a management agent as type Extensible if no value is present.

Support files for a packaged management agent should be copied, either manually or programmatically, to the appropriate folder:

User configured information

When creating a new management agent from a packaged management agent, the user configures information such as the target data source and credentials necessary to connect. However, several fields cannot be edited:

• Input file-type

• Code page

• Extension filename

• Export mode

• Import enabled

• Export enabled

• Password extension filename