NEW  Implementing a star topology

The GCF supports communications between collaborating sites in a star topology. In this configuration, the collaborating sites do not communicate with each other directly but always go through a central site.

Offline scenario

All collaborating shares are defined on all sites but all peripheral sites appear offline to each other except the local site and the central site. In this scenario, users can transfer ownership directly by selecting a different site although the actual transfer will go through the central site. For example, assume there are three peripheral sites and one central site. At peripheral site 1, the GCF shares for that site and the central site are online, the shares for peripheral sites 2 and 3 are off-line.

For more information about offline shares, see Understanding offline shares. To implement this scenario, specify sites as off-line as described in Sharing the vault.

Design house scenario

Each peripheral site can only see the central site because they only define the local site and the central site. Only the central site defines all shares. Transfer of ownership between peripheral sites can be done in two steps: first to the central site and then to a peripheral site.

To implement this scenario, define the following VBScript function.

Sub StarTopologySettings
  Vault.Argument("GCFStarSettings_StarMode") = 1
End Sub

This configuration is recommended in environments where all sites are automatically enlisted for a document when starting collaboration, for example, upon document creation with the AutoEnlistAllSites function in VBScript:

Function AutoEnlistAllSites()
  AutoEnlistAllSites = True
End Function

Because of these and other business factors, the implementation of these details is left up to the system implementer. If you want to implement a star topology, please contact your BlueCielo Certified Partner or BlueCielo ECM Solutions.

To enable a star topology:

1. Open Meridian Enterprise Configurator.
2. Register the GCFEvents extension as described in the BlueCielo Meridian Global Collaboration Framework Configuration Guide.
3. Expand Environment in the configuration tree and select Vault Settings. The vault’s settings appear in property pages in the right pane.
4. Click the GCF Configuration tab. The GCF Configuration property page appears.
5. Click the Edit button in the lower right corner of the window. The page becomes editable.
6. Type the name of the central site in Hub.
7. Click OK to save your changes.