Information Management Flow
As I mentioned earlier, MMS "pulls" the information out of each of the connected directory stores and then "pushes" that information around the enterprise by sending the data changes across to the directories that request the information.
Well, right-smack-bang in the middle of the information flow is a data repository known as the Metaverse. This is actually a placeholder for the information that is collected from each of the connected directories and stored within the Metaverse. Within the Metaverse, changes can be applied directly to the data stored there before it is replicated around the connected directories.
This offers you the ability to apply business rules to the information before the changes are pushed out into the enterprise.
MMS ships with a basic Web UI that can allow users to update their details before the information is replicated around the enterprise. For example, instead of the users updating their address information within the companies intranet, they actually update the information once it is on the Metaverse. The updated information is then replicated around the enterprise. BUT be carefulif the company's intranet is set as being the owner of the address information, all connected directories will be updated with the old information the next time a sync is run.
The key to MMS is to know which directory owns which piece of information, and ensure that the business rules are placed on the correct owner's information.