REDMOND, Wash., Oct. 6, 1999 — Microsoft Corp. today announced availability of the second beta release of Microsoft® Directory Synchronization Services (MSDSS) and the Zoomit VIA 2.1 meta-directory product. Beta 2 of MSDSS, a technology which synchronizes data stored in the Active Directory TM directory service and Novell Directory Service (NDS), will include two-way synchronization six months ahead of schedule. VIA 2.1, originally expected for release next year, is being made available immediately through Microsoft Consulting Services and other trained Microsoft service providers.
“Customers are asking for ways to reduce the cost and complexity of managing heterogeneous directory environments,”
said Keith White, director of marketing in the Business and Enterprise Division at Microsoft.
“By delivering these technologies ahead of schedule, customers deploying Windows® 2000 will be able to adopt Active Directory earlier to reduce their management costs.”
“With this announcement, Microsoft has addressed a major customer requirement by delivering meta-directory and directory synchronization tools needed to effectively manage multiple directory environments,”
said Daniel Blum, senior vice president, The Burton Group.
“These interoperability tools will help customers accelerate Windows 2000 migration, while enabling coexistence with other directories and environments in the enterprise.”
Microsoft Directory Synchronization Services is an important interoperability technology that helps customers more easily integrate Windows 2000 Active Directory with Novell’s NDS, while consolidating network management. With the new two-way synchronization capabilities, administrators can manage shared data, such as user account information, from either directory. Easily managed via a Microsoft Management Console (MMC) snap-in, MSDSS supports all versions of Novell’s NDS and bindery directory services.
VIA 2.1 is the ideal technology for advanced directory interoperability requirements such as propagating changes between multiple directories, enforcing business rules and maintaining data integrity between multiple repositories. Microsoft is making VIA 2.1 available immediately and for no charge, several months ahead of schedule to customers that contract with a trained service provider such as Microsoft Consulting Services.
Availability
MSDSS will be delivered as part of Services for NetWare (SFNW), a comprehensive set of utilities that provide IT professionals with the tools to both interoperate with and migrate from Novell NetWare environments to Windows 2000. More information about Microsoft Directory Synchronization Services is available at http://www.microsoft.com/windows2000/guide/
server/strategic/netware.asp .
Microsoft will deliver new versions of the VIA technologies that integrate more closely with Active Directory after the release of Windows 2000.
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