Dirsync Tweaks Post Installation

Note

Please perform the below tweak in test before moving to Production.

After setting up sync between On-premise Active directory with Office 365, there are few tweaks which can help us get work done quickly and in a clean way.

Tweak 1: Changing time between sync cycles

Tweak 2: Limiting the number of synced objects

Changing time between sync cycles

By default, the sync cycles are set up for 3-hour intervals. To reduce the time between sync follow below steps:

  1. On the server, where the Dirsync tool is installed go to the location “C:\Program Files\Windows Azure Active Directory Sync folder”.
  2. Open the “Microsoft.Online.DirSync.Scheduler.exe.Config” file with the Notepad.
  3. Search the following string: <add key=SyncTimeInterval value=3:0:0 />
  4. 3:0:0 means 3 hours we have changes it to 0:5:0 means 5 minutes. (Change it accordingly)
  5. Save changes in the file and restart the Windows Azure Active Directory Sync Service in system services.

Now, the sync cycle will run after every 5 minutes.

Limiting the number of synced objects

On-premises can have large number of users and we want only a few users or groups to use Office 365. Below steps can help you to sync a specific OU only. It will be good if you create a separate OU (office 365) for user who will be using it.

So, let’s get started,

  1. On the DirSync server open the C:\Program Files\Windows Azure Active Directory Sync\SYNCBUS\Synchronization Service\UIShell location.
  2. Open miisclient.exe.
  3. Open the Management Agents tab

    miisclient.exe
  1. Right-click Active Directory Connector and select Properties.
  2. Navigate to Configure Directory Partitions and click the Containers

    Management Agent Designer
  1. In the next window enter credentials of the AD administrative user:

    Management Agent Designer

  2. Select the OU container of your choice and click OK.

    Management Agent Designer

  3. Click OK again to return to the Management Agents
  4. Right-click the Active Directory Connector agent and click Run.

    Active Directory Connector agent
  1. Select Full Import Full Sync and hit OK.

    Run Management Agent
  1. On operation tab, full sync will be running and you can check for the status.

Now, we have fully synced specific OU with Office 365. So, any change on active directory object will be synced to the cloud.

Hope it helps.

Happy SharePointing!!!