Programming Tutorials

Directory Synchronization tool in Office 365

By: Ashley in Office365 Tutorials on 2012-06-12  

The Directory Synchronization (DirSync) tool is used to synchronize the on-premises Active Directory with Office 365. This allows you to manage your users in one place and ensures that changes made on-premises are automatically updated in the cloud. Here are the steps to set up DirSync:

1. Check system requirements: Before you begin, make sure your system meets the minimum requirements for installing and running DirSync. For example, you need a server running one of the following operating systems: Windows Server 2008 R2, Windows Server 2012, or Windows Server 2012 R2.

2. Download and install the tool: Download the latest version of the DirSync tool from the Microsoft website. Double-click on the downloaded file to start the installation process. Follow the prompts to install the tool.

3. Configure DirSync: Once the tool is installed, you need to configure it. To do this, open the Directory Synchronization Configuration Wizard from the Start menu. You will be prompted to enter your Office 365 administrator credentials.

4. Select synchronization options: In the Configuration Wizard, you will be presented with several synchronization options. For example, you can choose whether to synchronize all user accounts or only a selected set of users. You can also choose to synchronize passwords between on-premises and cloud environments.

5. Start synchronization: Once you have configured the synchronization options, you can start the synchronization process. This will update your Office 365 directory with the information from your on-premises Active Directory.

6. Monitor synchronization: After you have started the synchronization process, you can monitor its progress using the Synchronization Service Manager. This tool allows you to view the status of the synchronization, as well as any errors that occur during the process.

Overall, setting up DirSync is a relatively straightforward process, but it is important to follow the steps carefully to ensure that the synchronization is configured correctly.