How Does aclEZ Work?

aclEZ is a tool that offers you robust features to facilitate ACL management, oversee and manage groups, and demystify your environment's security situation. Here, we would like to answer a few quick questions you may have about what's under the hood: How does it "work"? How (and where) is it installed? Are there any risks? Is there an "undo" button? Etc. Here you go!

What type of installation does aclEZ require?

aclEZ is installed on the client side ONLY, as are all of Ytria's EZ Suite solutions. There is no need to install anything on the server, and being a local install means no system downtime.

How does aclEZ "work"?

aclEZ is a standalone compiled application coded in an efficient, low-level language. When installed, its executable file (aclEZ.exe) is detached into your Notes Program Directory. Each time you start aclEZ, a new Notes session is created, independent from your Notes client session. This means that aclEZ runs parallel to your Notes client and thus will not interfere in any way. In fact, you can think of aclEZ as a special "Notes client" to consolidate your ACL and group management for faster, easier operation. You can even select which ID you want to work with—without having to switch IDs in your Notes client!

How does aclEZ affect security?

That's a good question! When working with ACLs, security IS a crucial subject. Although aclEZ offers you a multitude of features that surpass the functionality available in both the Administrator client and the ACL dialog box, our tools NEVER bypass Notes security. Certain key options, such as choosing which ID file you'd like to use for your aclEZ session or enabling Full Access Administration, require you to have the proper access rights in order to use them.

Are my modifications safe?

With aclEZ, you can modify hundreds of databases, ACL entries, or groups within merely a few clicks. With such power available, how can you know that you're making the right changes? Don't worry, we've got you covered! Your modifications are protected by a two-step saving process which allows you to review your changes before deploying them—regardless of the modification you've performed.

What about speed? Do I get all this info right away?

The fact that aclEZ is an independent, compiled program, puts it in the position to outperform built-in Notes and Domino solutions. But beyond that, aclEZ can handle tens (or even hundreds) of thousands of ACL entries, group memberships, etc., giving you a much better overview of your global access situation. Loading all of this information can take a bit of time. Don't worry though, we've built a bunch of pre-loading filter options into aclEZ so you can pinpoint the information that you absolutely need to load.

How does logging pertain to aclEZ?

aclEZ operates through the official Notes API channels; any changes that you perform are logged in the ACL history. However, we offer much more extensive history and log options than the native solutions. You have the option to create a special Modification Log database in which every single operation performed using our EZ Suite tools will be logged. You can place this database on either your local machine, or one of your servers. You can even use our licensing system to route logging for all EZ Suite users into a central log database.