I guess I'm just having a hard time with this. It sure feels like this is
an area that was not terribly thought out ...here's to .NET ..... so If I
store contacts in AD, my *sort-of* global information store, then I have
these contacts that are available in users Global Address list and through
LDAP queries etc .... However through Outlook users can not edit / view
these contacts, except by trudging through the Address book in outlook
...not very intuitive. Or, I can use a public folder that hold contacts.
So, my users will be able to see/edit the contacts like they are used to,
but inorder to get the list to auto check names for people, each desktop has
to change their adress book settings to include these folders ...ugh ... and
not to mention the contacts aren't stored in AD.
Now whats the point of having a global information store if it doesn't store
all your global informaiton ? I guess I would just like to see some
discussion of this topic in an article / white paper from MS so we can
understand the trade off's at hand including performancem, manageability,
accessability ,etc ...
Regards,
-eric
> If in Exchange 2K:
> We are dealing with the same questions. For now, I have implemented a
> solution with ASP and default forms registrations which will allow users
to
> add contacts. You just have to be sure to give the users rights to do so.
> This solution seems to be somewhat labor-intensive, however, the global
> searchability will likely be of sufficient benefit to make it worthwhile.
> > > I am hoping to find a source of information on the difference between
AD
> > > Contacts and a public folder in exchange that is setup to store
> contacts.
> > > I have found very little information in the Win2K resource Kit,
Exchange
> > > Administrators Companion, Exhcange Help, etc .....
> > > It sure seems to me that storing contacts in AD is the way exchange is
> > going
> > > to go in the future, but for now I'm not so sure which to roll out.
> > > It would be nice to have that common corporate information store (read
> > using
> > > AD contacts). I have found that names / emails of AD contacts will
> > resolve
> > > in the GAL, but I have not found a way for users to look at the AD
> > contacts
> > > the way they can look at contacts in public folders. On the other
side,
> > it
> > > is nice for users to be able to use the "find people" off the serch
> > command
> > > on their start menu and find the AD contacts.
> > Well, I would say the main advantage of using Contacts folders is
that
> > users can modify/add entries; AFAIK, you can't do that with AD contacts.
> > Furthermore, with a public folder, you can make the folder available
> offline
> > when using an OST. Again, I don't think that's possible with AD
contacts.
> > However, AD contacts do have the advantage of being searchable through
the
> > "Find People" menu option, as you mentioned. Which one to use? If you
> need
> > the ability to have users modify entries, I would suggest Contacts
> folders,
> > otherwise use AD contacts.
by