Zoomit Corp.'s ZOOMIT VIA won the gold medal in our recent directory challenge by synchronizing all five of our messaging system directories quickly and accurately (see "Sync or Swim: Will Your Merged Mail System Float Together or Drift Into Chaos?," NetworkComputing.com/901/901f2.html). ZOOMIT VIA easily integrates NOS directories, security infrastructures, mail systems, human resources databases and other applications into a single logical view, called "The Join," resulting in one-stop information access and control.

ZOOMIT VIA also allows central management of some or all connected directories. As a result, different attributes can be mastered in various connected directories. Administration of entire directory zones or even individual attributes can be delegated to different responsibility centers, allowing granular, distributed and scalable access control and resolving the data ownership quandary so prevalent in large organizations.

Architecturally, ZOOMIT VIA Server is the core metadirectory engine; it also has MAs (management agents), the Compass client and a forms designer. VIA Server runs as a Windows NT service and contains a proprietary database and search engine. ZOOMIT VIA Servers communicate with each other by means of LDAP and can automatically discover each other across an enterprise. With sophisticated list management, deleting a user in the metadirectory will delete the user's entry in all connected directories that VIA manages. ZOOMIT VIA Server uses one highly secure store and multiple protocols to the same store to create one name space.

Zoomit developed VIA's generic MAs to be easily configured for any messaging platform or file format. This capability extends the reach of VIA to virtually all messaging systems, as well as to applications such as those for human resources, security and inventory systems. The code is so flexible that Zoomit built the All-in-One management agent on site in Network Computing's lab in less than 45 minutes. After studying the output to see exactly how the file was formatted, Zoomit customized the management agent to accommodate it.

ZOOMIT VIA provides a flexible and functional platform for developing in-house directory-enabled applications. ZOOMIT VIA includes the dynamic ability to add attributes and multimedia support, as well as a toolkit for building management agents for new directories and databases.

ZOOMIT VIA, $2,500 (includes client and server software, forms, toolkits, base security and all management agents)
Zoomit Corp.,
(800) 565-5156, (416) 703-7442.
www.zoomit.com