Connector Filter Rules

When you run a management agent in import mode, connector filter rules are applied to an object first. Connector filter rules determine whether the management agent attempts to join or project a connector space object to the metaverse.

You define connector filter rules when you configure a management agent. You create connector filter rules per object type and they are based on comparisons of attribute values between a connector space object and value specified in the connector filter rule. A management agent can contain several connector filter rules per object type, and each connector filter rule can consist of multiple attribute comparisons. In the case of multiple attribute value comparison, all comparisons must evaluate to TRUE for the connector filter rule to be satisfied.

A connector filter rule consists of the following three parts: a data source attribute, an operator, and a value. Together, these three parts make up an attribute value comparison. The following table shows several examples of connector filter rules.

Data source attribute	Operator	Value
branchID	Does not equal	Seattle
givenName	Starts with	T
title	Equals	Administrator
hireDate	Contains	2002

If an object satisfies the connector filter rules, it becomes a filtered disconnector and is not processed any further by the remaining management agent rules. As a filtered disconnector, it remains unaffected by subsequent runs of the management agent. A filtered disconnector can only be changed to a connector by manually joining or projecting it by using Joiner, or by modifying the connector filter rule or the filtered disconnector object's attribute value so that the filtered disconnector object no longer satisfies the connector filter rule. If you do this, the filtered disconnector object is subject to all the management agent rules the next time the management is run with the run profile step type Full Synchronization or Full Import and Full Synchronization. For more information about configuring management agents and step types, see Create and Edit Management Agent Run Profiles.

Important

You should also review your connector filter rules together with your export attribute flow rules to ensure that they do not conflict with each other. Conflicting rules can cause an infinite loop in the synchronization process. For example, an attribute change may be flowed from the metaverse to a connector space object that will cause the connector space object to satisfy the connector filter rule. At the next full synchronization, the connector space object will become a filtered disconnector, and the attribute change will be recalled. After the attribute change is recalled, the filtered disconnector no longer satisfies the connector filter rule, and it will be rejoined on the next full synchronization where the attribute change will be flowed again.

The following flow chart shows the sequence in which management agent rules are applied.