Scheduling Considerations

You can schedule directory synchronization to occur automatically whenever you want, and you can manually synchronize at any time.

How Often to Synchronize

Your choice of how often to synchronize is influenced by:

• The frequency with which additions or changes are made to directories.
• The estimated number of additions or changes in a given period of time.
• Peak message traffic times.

The greater the number of changes that need to be propagated, the longer the directory synchronization cycle. Also, because directory updates are sent over the same connection used for messages, directory synchronization impacts message throughput. When you choose a directory synchronization schedule, weigh the benefits of frequent updates against the impact that the cycle will have on system performance. Typically, directory synchronization occurs once a day during off hours.

When to Synchronize

Deciding when to schedule directory synchronization between Exchange and other messaging systems depends on several factors:

• Network availability.
• Business requirement for accurate directories. You can choose to synchronize as often as you like; however, directory synchronization typically occurs once each day.
• Other processes on the other messaging system.

The larger the number of changes that need to be propagated, the longer the directory synchronization cycle takes. Also, because delete and add transactions are processed individually, directory synchronization impacts overall performance. When choosing a directory synchronization schedule, weigh the benefits of frequent updates with the impact that the cycle will have on system performance.