CHAPTER 23

MICROSOFT EXCHANGE 2000/MICROSOFT

WEB STORAGE SYSTEM

The Web Storage System supports advanced collaboration technologies, such as electronic

forms and store events. Because Exchange 2000 Server is based on semistructured databases

the Web Storage System can accommodate all possible data types, such as messages,

documents, contacts, appointments, audio, video, HTML files, and Active Server Pages

(ASPs).

Lesson 1: Microsoft Web Storage System

The Web Storage System consolidates file system, database, and collaboration services into

a single, comprehensive server system. You can access Web Storage System resources using

nearly any application, including Messaging Application Programming Interface (MAPI-based

clients).

HTTP-Based Interfaces

The Web Storage System relies on Windows 2000 Server and Internet Information Services

(IIS) 5.0 to support Web browsers and WebDAV applications by means of HTTP, WebDAV,

and XML.

NOTE: E-mail messages have an .eml suffix attached to the subject name, which must be provided

in the URL. Standard files, such as a Microsoft Office application files, are identified with their

file extension (.doc, .ppt, .xls). Contact objects and other special items do not have an extension

by default.

Data Rendering. When accessing data through Windows Explorer and Web Folders, you can

work with Exchange 2000 Server similar to a file server.

Item Properties. XML simplifies querying and modifying of item properties and other information

contained in the Web Storage System.

Database Interfaces.

The Web Storage System provides an Exchange OLE DB provider (ExOLEDB), which supports

ExOLEDB is a server-side component that is registered automatically during the installation of

Exchange 2000 Server.

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Exchange 2000 Server and Structured Query Language

ADO 2.5 gives you access to the Web Storage System similar to Microsoft Access or Microsoft

SQL Server. If you are familiar with developing structured query language SQL applications, you

can easily write Web Storage System applications using the same development tools.

NOTE: Database applications can access both Exchange 2000 Server and SQL Server simultaneously.

Constructing OLE DB URLs

The Exchange OLE DB provider supports HTTP and file URL namespace to identify items in the

Web Storage System. The HTTP URL follows the usual format, such as http://bluesky-srv1/Exchange/
Administrator/Inbox.

Exchange Installable File System

You can use standard Win32 applications to read and write files directly in the Web Storage System.

An Exchange Installable File System (ExIFS) driver allows you to access message steams using

functions from Microsoft Win32 file APIs, such as CreateFile, ReadFile, and WriteFile.

Sharing Exchange 2000 Server Resources

By default, Exchange 2000 Server maps the local M drive to ExIFS. If M is already in use, the

next available drive letter is taken.

Application and Data Repository

Direct file access through ExIFS allows you to store Web pages and other elements directly in

public folders and then launch them via URLs and HTTP. In this way you can implement and

deploy entire collaboration applications in the Web Storage System.

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Web Storage has these advantages:

• Access to applications can be managed using Exchange System Manager.
• All application services can be integrated in a single location, making it easier to find,

use and share information.

• Application installed in public folders can be replicated to other users.
• Backup and restore procedures and ongoing maintenance tasks are centralized.
• Collaboration applications can benefit from advanced system configurations, such as
• Windows 2000 active/active clustering.
• The Web Storage System supports transaction logging and ensures data integrity

through redundancy.

• Users can employ a wide variety of client applications to access collaboration applications.

Internet and MAPI-Based Messaging Clients

The Web storage System relies on the Information Store service, and for that reason, most Web

Storage System information is accessible for MAPI-based clients as well as Internet mail clients.

IMPORTANT The Web Storage System is not MAPI dependent.

Automatic Property Promotion

Information stores consist of an Exchange database (.edb) and an Exchange streaming database

(.stm) Data streams from non-MAPI applications are written to the Microsoft streaming

database in MIME format.

Lesson 2: Designing a Web Storage System Solution

Exchange 2000 Server supports a powerful set of authoring tools to allow developers to quickly

get started with Web Storage System applications. With Visual Basic and Visual C++, on the

other hand, you can develop COM components derived from OLE DB and ADO, which you

may then reuse in other applications.

Designing Web Storage System Forms

The Web Storage System is capable of handling electronic forms similar to Outlook 2000.

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Web Storage System Forms Adaptivity

The forms registry has a great influence in the behavior of customized Web Storage System applications.

Each registration item maps a certain set of circumstances through its properties to a specific form.

Every form registration item must contain the following basic properties:

• Content Class of the form registration
• Form’s content class
• Form URL
• Execute URL

Synchronous, Asynchronous and System Events

There are two types of events: Transport events and Web Storage System events. Both can be

async and synch. While transport events allow you to customize the behavior of the SMTP or NNTP,

Web storage system events, based on OLE DB enable you to implement workflow and process-

tracking logic.

Synchronous events occur before, and asynchronous events occur after, any changes are committed

to the store.

Synchronous event sinks fire first, followed by folder rules (if defined), and asynchronous event sinks.

Asynchronous events support priority values and fire in an arbitrary order. Unlike synchronous events,

asynchronous events do not block the event source and cannot obtain exclusive control over the item

that triggered the event. An item may be deleted before an asynchronous event is fired.

Chapter Summary:

• The Web Storage System relies on Microsoft Windows 2000 Server and IIS 5.0.
• You can intercept synchronous, asynchronous, and system events.
• Web Storage System events sinks must be registered in the IIS metabase.