Address lists vs distribution groups? 2

[cajuntank]

Ok, I know what the first glance difference between the two are. I like address lists because I can link to A.D. attributes and the lists are automatically updated. The distribution groups will have to be manually maintained but I can have a bunch more of them (custom attributes max out at 15 for address lists).

So the question is I guess one of best practice. When is it better to have address lists and when better to do a distribution group?

 

[Cstorms]

You ever looked into dynamic distribution groups? You can use custom attributes on top of like 5 pre-defined common ones and it will scan each time a mail comes into that address to verify it is sending to the correct addresses?

Cory

 

[Cstorms]

sorry my lack of gramatical skills ended that sentence with a question mark and not a period

.. I was also curious when you are saying address lists, youre not necesarrily meaning to use them as a distribution mechanism are you? I assume you are using the address list to populate your users address book with other users information.. That would be pretty much the only reason to use an address list. (i could be misunderstanding your question though)

Cory

 

[cajuntank]

Well for instance, I have 10 school locations that I had created address lists for. Then under the AD user I created in the department property field a 2-3 letter designation for that school site. Then linked each address list created to that property field giving me my address lists for each school. This way, I can make the users at that school's default address book to be their respective school and not the GAL.

Now, I have to create other lists or groups for say like principals, secretaries, book-keeping, etc... Are you saying that I can create a dynamic distribution list that will also match against custom attributes within AD so I don't have to manually keep the lists updated everytime someone hires in or leaves?

Is my usage of the address list correct and would there be another occation to utilize it over creating a distribution group?

 

[Cstorms]

Ok I think I see, so you are just creating different address books to address your needs, placing the users in there, and then your users can navigate and select more granularily as they parse through their available address lists..

The way you would use distribution groups is to deliver mail to these particular users in these address books. With dynamic distribution groups I meant to say that you could use pre defined or custom attributes (such as your department or whatever) to dynamically keep these distribution groups updated. So if a new student comes in and you have a ddg created, you could place them in a "student" container. This way whenever mail comes into student@theschool.com they would also receive the mail.

Cory

 

[cajuntank]

Good thing is, I don't give students email accounts so I'm not too bad off. My boss is a very detailed person and she wants a group for every little thing. So I'm trying to create the easiest way to have to manage and maintain these. I created a few dynamic distribution groups and linked them to some custom attributes that I'll go back define in the user accounts (groups like Principals, Assistant Principals, Secretaries, etc...).

She wants to take it a bit further and have groups for 1st grade teachers, 2nd grade, 3rd grade, etc... Biology teachers, art teachers, etc... Needless to say, those groups could be pretty exaustive (with all those groups to search through, it might take as much time for her to search for the right group as for her to pick out the users from the GAL she wants to email) ;-)

 

[58sniper]

I usually create DDGs for those types of scenarios, then use something like

http://www.directory-update.com/

so that users can keep their info up to date. It makes for a fairly clean environment.

Custom address lists have their place, as you had mentioned, as do DDGs. Each has their benefits and intended uses.

Keep in mind, though, that as your GAL gets bigger, so does the download for the Offline Address Book used by cached clients.

Pat Richard
Microsoft Exchange MVP
Contributing author The Complete Reference: Microsoft Exchange Server 2007

 

[cajuntank]

Thanks guys, head was in a fog about his for some reason.