Deployment of the 3 groove server components questions

[infinitiguy]

I have a few questions. I had started to evaluate the groove server this
summer, but had some things sidetrack me a bit, and now I'm thinking about
re-evaluating this... My first main question is, what is the point of the 3
components... i.e. what does each one do?

Groove Manager Server
Groove Relay Server
Data Bridge server

Do I need all 3 servers to properly have a server based groove environment?
All I really want to achieve is automatic account creation(i.e. integration
with my AD domain) and I want to have all workspaces in the company synced up
to the groove server so if there are 2 members of a workspace, and both
members machines die at the same time, they can re-instate their accounts
(since it's AD based) and recover their workspaces.

Any help is most appreciated.

 

[SBC]

There's lots of information here regarding Groove 2007 Server -
http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/grooveserver/FX101674161033.aspx

Based on your question - I think you may want to consider a Office Groove
Server 2007 Manager

For more information regarding Server vs Services (your own deployment vs.
Hosted Services) - see here:
http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/grooveservices/FX101674141033.aspx

SBC
-------------------
Microsoft MVP - Groove

weblog:
http://weblogs.asp.net/sbchatterjee

sbc111 at gmaildotcom

Pickup Groove Developer workspaces:
http://www.ctdotnet.org

 

[Gregg Johnston [MSFT]]

Hey infinitiguy,

For your purposes, and because you want to back up spaces, you would need
all three servers. For managing and deploying your users, you would need the
Manager - which means that you would need the Relay (they go hand in hand and
you can not have one without the other). For backing up all of your spaces
you would need the Data Bridge.

Gregg

 

[SBC]

@Gregg -

From the Groove Server site:
How does Office Groove Server Relay relate to Office Groove Server Manager?
"Office Groove Server Manager is required to support the deployment of one
or more Office Groove Server Relays. Office Groove Server Manager enables
administrators to assign Office Groove Server Relays to individual users and
to manage access and track usage. Office Groove Server Manager also supports
multi-relay provisioning, enabling client-side failover."

I can see GDB for archiving (there are other backup tools from 3will,
dicodemy, etc) and GSM for account management & deployment. My question is
why you can't do without the Relay Server in this case? Based on the Groove
Server website - it appears the Relay Server is primarily for creating
"private Groove networks".

Thanks,
SBC
-------------------
Microsoft MVP - Groove

weblog:
http://weblogs.asp.net/sbchatterjee

sbc111 at gmaildotcom

Pickup Groove Developer workspaces:
http://www.ctdotnet.org