GroupWise 5.5 Enhancement Pack WebAccess Architecture

(Last modified: 03Apr2003)

This document (10081808) is provided subject to the disclaimer at the end of this document.

goal

fact

Novell GroupWise 5.5 EP

fix

GroupWise WebAccess uses several applications and protocols to bring the GroupWise mailbox to the browser. The applications and protocols used to communicate with each other are described in this document.

GroupWise WebAccess, like most web applications, uses an event model. An "event" begins when the user clicks on a button or a link. WebAccess sends the request to GroupWise and formats the response into a HTML document and sends that page to the browser. The event ends when the browser displays the new web page. WebAccess will then do nothing until the user clicks on another link.

The following URL (request) will be used to show the applications involved in each event:

Example URL: http://www.foo.com/servlet/webacc?action=Folder.Open&User.context=dktzUasshIJq&Folder.id=2&merge=msglist (this is not a real URL)

When a GroupWise user, logged into a WebAccess server running on www.foo.com, wants to return to their mail mailbox, they click on the "Mailbox" icon. The URL above is associated with this icon or link.

1. The Web browser
- recognizes "http" and knows to use the HTTP protocol.
- sees www.foo.com and looks up the associated IP address.
- sees that no port is specified and assumes the default port 80.
- Creates a connection to www.foo.com on port 80.
- Passes the rest of the URL to the web server.

2. The Web server
- recognizes "/servlet" as the path associated with a registered CGI called the servlet gateway.
- Launches the servlet gateway (on NetWare a servlet gateway thread is created).
- Passes the remainder of the URL to the servlet gateway.

3. The Servlet gateway
- Recognizes "/webacc" as the path associated with one of it's registered servlets.
- "runs" the webacc servlet using a locally installed and registered JRE (on NetWare the servlet is run using a JVM thread).
- parses the remainder of the URL and creates an array of variables.
- passes the variable list to the webacc servlet.

4. The Webacc servlet
- Recognizes the value (Folder.Open) of the variable action as a value associated with the GroupWise provider.
- Passes variable list to the GroupWise provider.

5. The GroupWise provider (GWAP)
- creates an IP connection to the GroupWise WebAccess Agent.
- Streams the variable list to the WebAccess Agent.

6. The WebAccess Agent
- creates an IP connection to the user's POA.
- requests the items in the "mailbox" folder.

7. The Post Offices Agent (POA)
- gets the list of items from the user.db.
- sends the results back to the WebAccess Agent via IP.

6. The WebAccess Agent
- runs any relevant filters.
- streams the results back to the GroupWise provider (GWAP).

5. The GroupWise provider
- parses the stream sent from the WebAccess Agent and populates the variable list with values.
- Passes the variable list to the webacc servlet.

4. The WebAcc servlet
- replaces the variables in the msglist template with the corresponding values.
- Passes the resulting web page to the servlet gateway.

3. The Servlet gatway
- passes the web page to the web server.

2. The Web server
- passes the web page back to the web browser.

1. The Web browser
- displays the new web page (items in the mailbox folder).

The protocol /API and the network encryption level is defined for each of these links.

1-2 Browser to Web Server
Protocol/API: HTTP
Security: 40 bit+ with SSL
None with out SSL

2-3 Web Server to Servlet Gateway
Protocol/API: CGI
Security: No network traffic

3-4 Servlet Gateway to Servlet
Protocol/API: JAVA objects
Security: No network traffic

4-5 Servlet to Provider
Protocol/API: JAVA Objects
Security: No network traffic

5-6 Provider to Agent
Protocol/API: Proprietary
Security: <40 bit

6-7 Agent to POA
Protocol/API: GroupWise C/S
Security: 40 bit

document

Document Title:	GroupWise 5.5 Enhancement Pack WebAccess Architecture
Document ID:	10081808
Solution ID:	NOVL88245
Creation Date:	03Apr2003
Modified Date:	03Apr2003
Novell Product Class:	Groupware

disclaimer

The Origin of this information may be internal or external to Novell. Novell makes all reasonable efforts to verify this information. However, the information provided in this document is for your information only. Novell makes no explicit or implied claims to the validity of this information.
Any trademarks referenced in this document are the property of their respective owners. Consult your product manuals for complete trademark information.