XFOR: Understanding F/B Flow Between GroupWise and Exchange Server

• Microsoft Exchange Server, version 5.5

SUMMARY

The Calendar Connector (Calcon) supports the exchange of Free/Busy (F/B) information between Exchange Server and Novell GroupWise. This article describes the underlying mechanism between both systems.

Exchange Server to GroupWise

1. The Calcon server continually monitors all F/B requests using an internal store-based mechanism. The Calcon server is also responsible for sending and receiving F/B information based on which mail system the F/B query originated at.



2. The GroupWise provider writes a MSG-Type=SEARCH type API file in the Togwise directory. The following is an example of the API file:

   
   WPC-API= 1.2;
   MSG-TYPE= Search;
   Msg-ID= AFJDHGOI:1998.11.26.1.5:1999.1.25.1.5:1998.11.26.1.5.54;
   From=
       WPD= Exchange;
       WPPO= WasteLand;
       WPU= BEDLAM-SA;
       CDBA= Exchange.WasteLand.BEDLAM-SA; ;
   To=
       WPD= BETA 5;
       WPPO= Petaling Jaya;
       WPU= efong;
       CDBA= BETA 5.Petaling Jaya.efong; ;
   Begin-Time= 26/11/1998 1:5 +0;
   End-Time= 25/1/1999 1:5 +0; 




3. The Microsoft Exchange Router for Novell GroupWise moves this API file from the Togwise directory to the Api_in directory on the NetWare server.



4. The API gateway then picks up the F/B query, sees that it is a SEARCH type message, and delivers the message to its internal GroupWise mail system for further processing.

GroupWise to Exchange Server (F/B Responses and Queries)

1. The F/B response or query is dropped into the API gateway's Api_out directory.



2. The GroupWise router picks up the message and moves it to the Freebusy directory on the Exchange Server computer. The GroupWise provider then picks this message up.



3. The GroupWise provider translates the F/B message into an Exchange Server format, and hands it off to the Calcon server.
   
   If this is an F/B response from the GroupWise system, the new information is updated in the F/B public folder. If the F/B response has timed out, the new data will be automatically written to the folder, refreshing the old data accordingly. This way, the next user that queries for this same GroupWise user will have the new F/B information without going through another complete F/B transaction.
   
   If this is an F/B query, then the Calcon server sends a request to the MAPI provider for the appropriate F/B information for the target recipients.

MORE INFORMATION

For further information on the installation and configuration of the GroupWise API gateway, please refer to the Novell Web site at:

http://www.novell.com

Additional query words: calcon, GroupWise provider

Keywords          : 
Version           : winnt:5.5
Platform          : winnt 
Issue type        : kbhowto 

Last Reviewed: May 6, 1999