Exchange 2k

[telexpress]

Does Exchange have an option that will allow users to add/delete themselves to a distribution list? If not, what would be a good solution for this task?

 

[Marcs41]

No, there is no such option and you would not really want it either!

Marc
[sub]If 'something' 'somewhere' gives 'some' error, expect random guesses or no replies at all. Please specify details.
Free Tip: The F1 Key does NOT destroy your PC![/sub]

 

[jbud]

If you have Advanced Features turned on, there will be a Security tab on the properties of the list. There is a permission called "Add/Remove Self as member".

Caveats:
1. I'm in an Ex2000/Sp3 environment and don't know when this feature was added
2. I've never used it

 

[zoeythecat]

You could do this by making the user or users an owner of the distribution list. For example if you have a distribution list called AllTekTips and you have a user called UserA and you make UserA an owner of the distribution list then UserA can add/remove members of this distribution list right from the outlook client. In outlook2000 you would simply click on the Address Book icon on the toolbar which will bring up your Global Address List. From here you can bring up the distribution list in question such as AllTekTips and click on the properties and then from here you can add and remove members.

To make the user an owner of a distribution list you need to open up your Active Directory Users on your server and find the distribution list in question and then from the properties of the distribution list there is a tab called Managed By. From here add the user you would want to manage the distribution list. You can only enter one user and not a group or multiple users. So only one user per distribution list.

 

[xmsre]

AutoDL from the E2K reskit.

 

[zoeythecat]

Xmsre,

Autodl looks like a great util and would do a lot more than my suggestion. Looks like Groups can be part of the owner as well with Autodl. Good find.

Zoey

 

[jbud]

I am under the impression that the "Managed By" field is purely for infomational purposes:

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;281489&Product=exch2k

There's also an update out for AutoDL, but I'm out of luck, since I don't have access to the ResKit for Exchange.

 

[zoeythecat]

Jbud,

This article notes my suggestion would work but with a lot of tweaking. Guess its not as simple as just adding the user here. So it appears the AutoDl is the best choice.

Good find on the article.

Zoey

 

[Marcs41]

Are you suggestin to telexpress to give all users access to the Resource kit options?
That is like give children a basketball to play in a porcelain store!
The last thing you should do with an Exchange Server is to have ANY user change anything beyond your control.

 

[zoeythecat]

Marcs,

No, i'm not suggesting anything. Just trying to provide an answer to his question that this can be done. Where are you seeing that I am suggesting to give all users access? He can give one user access or a group. No where is it noted that he will be giving all users permissions to manage the Distribution List. You may assign specific users or specific groups to manage the distribution list themselves. Its up to a department manager or whomever decides they want to have permission to manage the distribution list. But no, i'm not suggesting to give all users permissions. Maybe you can read my post a little more closely before commenting.

 

[Marcs41]

I read it all, and don't take it so personal please!

Since he wants his USERS (that is more than one, and maybe all !), to be able to perform these actions, it will involve more than one user (or all) to have access to this tool, if that option is chosen.

The permissions option is a safer approach.

So, all I was commenting on is the suggestion of having end-users use an Admin Tool!

 

[zoeythecat]

My understanding (correct me if I am wrong) is telexpress will be the one using this Autodl tool (not any user or users). This is a tool that is on the Exchange 2000 resource CD. He will use the Autodl tool to assign a user or group of users as an owner of the Distribution List. The benefit of giving the department user or group of users (meaning the departmtent manager would choose who would be responsible for adding/removing memebers from the DL) would be to ease the burden on the Network Administrator (This task was done at another Company I use to work with). Some Companies do this. Now in Exchange 55 it was an easy thing to do. You just went into Exchange 55 Admin, go to the properties of the Distribution List and give the user (could only be 1 user in this case) owner rights. Then this user could add/remove members. Now in Exchange 2000 I thought you could do this by using the "Manage by" tab of the DL properties. XMSRE pointed out an article that changed my mind and mentions about using the Autodl function.

I haven't tested this in my environment so I am assuming that the Autodl task can be done that would allow you to assign ownership to user or users. I could be wrong.

Zoey

 

[Marcs41]

On the Exchange Server, you can assign those rights without any tools, so even that is overkill.

But, I would suggest we wait until he posts back with what he really wants.
We are getting into a guessing game here and that helps no-one.