DirXML Engine and Drivers

The DirXML engine is an eDirectory module that enables you to synchronization eDirectory data with any outside data service. The DirXML engine is designed such that it can have several drivers running that describe how output and input is sent between data sources.

The DirXML Driver for Active Directory (included with ZENworks for Desktops 4) is specifically designed to synchronize data between Novell eDirectory and the Microsoft Active Directory directory service. The synchronization is bi-directional; you determine whether information should flow to and from both directories, or whether information should flow only from one directory to the other.

There are many other DirXML Drivers available for other data sources, including PeopleSoft, JDBC, any LDAP directory, Lotus Notes, SAP HR, and WebSphere MQ. Check out http://www.novell.com/dirxml for new drivers.

DirXML's architecture uses a publisher/subscriber model whereby the publisher's responsibility is to place information into eDirectory, whereas the subscriber's job is to reflect changes in eDirectory back into the external, synchronized data source. The behavior of the publisher and subscriber and the attribute mapping is determined by a set of rules that are housed in eDirectory as part of the DirXML driver. DirXML drivers can be customized through XML rules to deliver just about any data configuration desired. See http://www.novell.com/documentation for more details on how DirXML can be configured. Check out the DirXML Novell site (http://www.novell.com/dirxml) to determine how you can customize your installation.