Create distribution lists

Applies To: Windows Server 2003, Windows Server 2003 R2, Windows Server 2003 with SP1, Windows Server 2003 with SP2

To create distribution lists

  1. Open Active Directory Users and Computers.

  2. In the console tree, double-click the domain node.

    Where?

    • Active Directory Users and Computers/YourDomain
  3. Right-click the folder in which you want to add the group, point to New, and then click Group.

  4. In the New Object – Group dialog box, type the name of the distribution list under Group Name, select the group scope that you want to use, and then select the group type Distribution.

Notes

  • To open Active Directory Users and Computers, click Start, point to All Programs, point to Administrative Tools, and then click Active Directory Users and Computers.

  • You can choose to give your distribution list universal, global, or domain local scope, as follows:

    • Universal. Members of universal groups can include other groups and accounts from any domain in the domain tree or forest and can be granted permissions in any domain in the domain tree or forest.

    • Global. Members of global groups can include other groups and accounts only from the domain in which the group is defined and can be granted permissions in any domain in the forest.

    • Domain local. Members of domain local groups can include other groups and accounts from Windows Server 2003, Windows 2000, or Windows NT domains and can be granted permissions only within a domain.

  • Message Queuing distribution lists are distribution group objects in Active Directory.

  • When you create a distribution list (group) in Active Directory, you are prompted to specify the minimal information needed to establish the object in Active Directory. Each distribution list (group) has many more properties (attributes) that can be set. After a distribution list (group) is created, the values of many additional attributes can be viewed and modified. For information on how to do this, see Related Topics.

  • For information on how to add and remove members from distribution lists (groups), see Related Topics.

  • With distribution lists, a single operation sends the same message to multiple destinations, and does so by duplicating packets from senders to receivers. For best security practice, consider security permissions for the distribution list object in Active Directory — who is authorized to manage it and use it.

Information about functional differences

  • Your server might function differently based on the version and edition of the operating system that is installed, your account permissions, and your menu settings. For more information, see Viewing Help on the Web.

See Also

Concepts

Distribution lists
Working with MMC console files