Creating a Distribution List (DL), also known as a distribution group, in Active Directory (AD) involves setting up a group that can be used to send emails to multiple recipients.
Here’s a concise guide to creating a DL in Active Directory:
Prerequisites
• Administrative access to Active Directory Users and Computers (ADUC) or PowerShell on a domain controller or a machine with Remote Server Administration Tools (RSAT).
• Permissions to manage groups in AD.
• An email environment (e.g., Microsoft Exchange) if the DL is to be mail-enabled.
Method 1: Using Active Directory Users and Computers (ADUC)
1. Open ADUC:
• Log in to a domain controller or a machine with RSAT installed.
• Open “Active Directory Users and Computers” (Run dsa.msc).
2. Navigate to the Organizational Unit (OU):
• Locate the OU where you want to create the DL (e.g., “Users” or a custom OU).
3. Create the Distribution Group:
• Right-click the OU, select New > Group.
• Enter a Group name (e.g., “MarketingDL”).
• Choose Group scope (typically Universal or Global for DLs).
• Select Group type as Distribution.
• Click OK.
4. Mail-Enable the Group (for Exchange):
• If using Exchange, open the Exchange Management Console or Exchange Admin Center:
• Navigate to Recipients > Groups.
• Find the group you created, select it, and enable it as a mail-enabled group.
• Set an email address (e.g., marketing@yourdomain.com).
• Alternatively, use PowerShell (see Method 2).
5. Add Members:
• In ADUC, right-click the group, select Properties.
• Go to the Members tab, click Add, and search for users or other groups to include.
• Click OK to save.
Method 2: Using PowerShell
1. Open PowerShell:
• Run PowerShell as an administrator on a machine with the Active Directory module or Exchange Management Shell.
2. Create the Distribution Group:
• For a non-mail-enabled group:
New-ADGroup -Name "MarketingDL" -SamAccountName "MarketingDL" -GroupCategory Distribution -GroupScope Universal -Path "OU=Groups,DC=yourdomain,DC=com"
• Replace "OU=Groups,DC=yourdomain,DC=com" with the appropriate OU path.
3. Mail-Enable the Group (for Exchange):
• If using Exchange, run:
Enable-DistributionGroup -Identity "MarketingDL" -PrimarySmtpAddress "marketing@yourdomain.com"
4. Add Members:
• Add users to the group:
Add-ADGroupMember -Identity "MarketingDL" -Members "user1","user2"
• Replace "user1","user2" with the SAM account names of users.
Additional Notes
• Group Scope: Use Universal for most DLs if they span multiple domains; use Global for single-domain DLs.
• Exchange Integration: If the DL is for email, ensure it’s mail-enabled and configured in Exchange.
• Permissions: You may need to assign permissions for who can send emails to the DL via Exchange settings.
• Testing: Send a test email to the DL’s email address to verify functionality.
• Management: Use Exchange Admin Center or PowerShell to manage email-specific settings like delivery restrictions.