Using connectors installed remotely
In some cases, you need to configure a connection to an external data system which is separated by a firewall from the computer running Synchronization Service. To implement this scenario, you can install an instance of Synchronization Service and built-in connectors on a remote computer and switch this Synchronization Service instance in the remote mode. This will allow the Synchronization Service instance running in the local mode to communicate with the remotely installed instance and connectors via a single port.
Consider a scenario where you want to synchronize data between two Active Directory domains that are separated by a firewall. In this case, you can install one Synchronization Service instance in the local mode in the first domain, and then deploy another Synchronization Service instance in the remote mode in the other domain. Then, ensure the firewall allows traffic on the port used for communications between the Synchronization Service instances.
In this section:
Steps to install Synchronization Service and built-in connectors remotely
Steps to install Synchronization Service and built-in connectors remotely
To use connectors remotely, you need to install Synchronization Service and built-in connectors on a required remote computer and switch the installed instance of Synchronization Service to remote mode. For installation instructions, see Step 1: Install Synchronization Service.
To set Synchronization Service in remote mode
- Start the Synchronization Service Administration Console.
- Follow the steps in the wizard that starts automatically to configure Synchronization Service.
- On the Service Account and Mode page, do the following and click Finish:
- Enter the account under which you want Synchronization Service to run.
- Select the remote mode for this instance of Synchronization Service.
Creating a connection using a remotely installed connector
To create a connection using a remotely installed connector
- Start the Synchronization Service Administration Console.
- On the Connections tab, click Add connection.
- In the Connection name text box, type a descriptive name for the connection.
- From the Use the specified connector list, select the connector you want to use.
- Click to expand the Remote connector access element, and then use the following options:
- Use remote connector. Select this check box to use the connector installed on a remote computer.
- Connector host. Type the Fully Qualified Domain Name (FQDN) of the computer on which the Synchronization Service in the remote mode and the corresponding connector are installed.
- Port. Type the port number on which you want the Synchronization Service to access the remote connector. By default, this is port 8080.
- Connect using. Specify an account under which to access the remote connector. The account must be a local administrator on the computer where the remote connector is installed. Select one of the following:
- Synchronization Service account. Allows you to access the remote connector using the account under which Synchronization Service is running locally.
- Windows account. Allows you to type the user name and password of the account with which you want to access the remote connector.
- Verify Settings. Click this button to verify that Synchronization Service can access the remote connector using the settings you have specified.
- Step through the wizard to complete the connection creation.
Creating a connection
To create a connection
- In the Synchronization Service Administration Console, open the Connections tab.
- Click Add connection.
- On the wizard page that opens, use the following options:
- Connection name. Type a descriptive name for the connection being created.
- Use the specified connector. From this list, select the connector you want to use.
- Remote connector access. Expand this element to specify settings to access the connector installed on a remote computer. For more information, see Using connectors installed remotely.
- Follow the steps in the wizard to create a connection.
For information on the options you can use in the subsequent steps of the wizard, see the section for the connector you have selected.