How to create a global distribution list for exchange 2003/server 2003?

Posted by admin

I'm the network administrator for a small company (around 40 pc's) and i'm trying to make it possible for employees to send emails to everyone without having to create their own distribution lists via outlook. Obviously people leave some people out accidentally when they do this.

I would like to create a distribution list on the exchange server that will populate in their address books automatically so they won't have to make their own.

I'm aware of how to make query based distribution lists and the like, but that would create an email address for the group. It does the job, but unfortunately it creates a few problems for me. I'd have to email staff@company.com before it actually goes to each person on the staff list.

I'm not fond of this idea because I don't want spam email to accidentally go to staff and then get sent out to everyone, nor do I want a pissed off ex-employee have such an easy tool (not that that would probably happen anyway).

I was hoping there was something that was just a list, in the GAL, just like a normal list you can create in your contacts in outlook … but global obviously so everyone has access.

I can make distribution lists in active directory on the server, but then I don’t know how to attach that to exchange itself.

I’m a young admin kind of teaching myself as I go, so any help would be appreciated. If the email based way is the only way to go and it’s not so simple as to just have a list, then that’s fine too … I really just want to confirm it if that’s the case.

Gudrun

Related Articles:

    This entry was posted on Saturday, February 14th, 2009 at 2:02 am and is filed under Computer Networking. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.

    « How do I send a list of email addresses?
    How to send email to a list without listing each person individually? »

    2 Responses to “How to create a global distribution list for exchange 2003/server 2003?”

    1. Opaz Says:
      February 15th, 2009 at 7:45 pm

      You need to give the account SMTP properties on your domain.

    2. Michael182 Says:
      February 18th, 2009 at 11:50 pm

      Hello,

      Go to your exchange server and open up Active Directory Tools ( or from command prompt type dsa.msc) Go to your distribution groups and create your distribution group. Go through the steps of creating your group and make sure to assign an email address and exchange mail box to the group

      After you have done this wait a few minutes for exchange to replicate the changes.

      Open up outlook and check the GAL for your new group. You group may not show up right away if your users are using cached exchange mode.

      Hope this points you in the right direction.

      M



    www.sendbuttonprofits.com