Forefront Identity Manager Synchronization Service (FIM Synchronization Service) includes a number of different management agents to connect to a variety of data sources. To enable you to connect to data sources that FIM Synchronization Service does not include a management agent for, it includes the Extensible Connectivity Management Agent (ECMA). To interact with a data source, the ECMA uses a connected data source extension. A connected data source extension is a Microsoft .NET Framework assembly that is implemented in the form of a dynamic link library (.dll) file.

You can create this extension by using any programming language and compiler that creates a .NET Framework assembly. For more information, see Creating Connected Data Source Extensions.

Types of Connected Data Source Extensions

You can create three types of connected data source extensions.

Connected data source extension Description

Import Only

Used for connected data sources that only export data to FIM Synchronization Service. For example, human resources (HR) databases are usually the authoritative data source for employee information at a given company. HR databases only export data; any changes to an HR database must be made within the HR database.

Export Only

Used for connected data sources that only accept synchronized data from FIM Synchronization Service. These data sources do not export any data to FIM Synchronization Service. A PBX database that obtains telephone information from FIM Synchronization Service is an example of a data source that does not export data. Any changes to this database occur in another connected data source.

Import and Export

Used for connected data sources that both export data to FIM Synchronization Service and accept synchronized data from FIM Synchronization Service. A database that runs on a mainframe computer is an example of this type of data source.

See Also