Exchange 2007 Distribution List - User createable in GAL?

tribz · 12 Jun 2012 at 11:35

Is it possible for users to create distribution lists in the GAL?

And if they could, would it be wise? I can imagine the GAL getting quite cluttered.

Our admin department want to create distribution lists for various jobs that the company is doing and then to add in internal/external peope that are working on those jobs.

We dont want it to become something that we administor so are looking for something they can manage themselve.

Any tips?

Teledude · 12 Jun 2012 at 11:45

You need some form of IDM solution hooked into Exchange and AD that lets users create / manage dependant on approval level etc

droyden · 12 Jun 2012 at 12:37

with 2010 you can define the groups so that users can add/remove themselves, not sure about 2007 and not sure about external accounts

tribz · 12 Jun 2012 at 12:55

Thanks for the input. I cant really see how I can do this without us having to administor the groups/contacts/hiding the groups in the GAL.

sidethink · 12 Jun 2012 at 15:59

droyden said:
with 2010 you can define the groups so that users can add/remove themselves, not sure about 2007 and not sure about external accounts

And there are plenty of 3rd party addons that allow policy governed self service for Distribution Lists. (Quest being a major player in that arena).

Like all things self service, there are pros and cons to each case that only you can evaluate.

anything I don't mind · 14 Jun 2012 at 10:37

For distribution lists with external emails the only way to do it is through creating contacts within AD. You could delegate AD access to a user and show them how to create external contacts within AD and how to then add those to a distribution list. But that is realy a bad idea. Strangely exchange and outlook have no good facility for distribution lists that include external emails address within the GAL. What i did at one firm that worked quite well was to create a contacts page within public folders and then users can create distribution lists within there but since exchange 2007 and outlook 2007 this functionality no longer works. typical ms.