Add an Alias to a Distribution Group in Exchange Online (Office365), and Removing one...

Looking back to BPOS, the only way to add an alias to a distribution group, was by using DirSync, as described here:

http://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/ar/onlineservicesexchange/thread/0dab060f-41a2-4ef2-926d-8b6e0b2464c8

With the arrival of Office365, and Exchange Online, time to see if it is possible now to have one distribution group with multiple email aliasses, even without using DirSync.

Goal = have a distribution group, with 3 email addresses: Sales@sir.onmicrosoft.com,Sales@vancriekinge.be, and info@sir.onmicrosoft.com

First I will create the new distribution group, using the Exchange Control Panel. I sign into OWA, and from there click on Options, and select to manage My Organization, and from there I create a new distribution group called Sales:

SNAG-00458

 

SNAG-00459

Now time to add the two other addresses…

Option 1. Use the Exchange Control Panel

SNAG-00460

When selecting the distribution group Sales, and clicking on Details, I can see there is currently one e-mail address, and no Add button:

 

SNAG-00461

But when going to the General options, I can see that I can change the e-mailaddress of the group, and that the existing addresses will be kept!

SNAG-00462

So I enter Info in the E-Mail address, and press Save:

SNAG-00463

When checking the E-Mail Options, I can see there are now two e-mail addresses for my distribution group:

SNAG-00465

But no option to remove any of these…

Option 2. Using the Exchange Management Shell

Easy Smile After connecting to Exchange Online, I will use a variable to add the e-mail address of info@vancriekinge.be to the distribution group.

PS C:\Users\ilse> $sales = Get-DistributionGroup sales
PS C:\Users\ilse> $sales.EmailAddresses
SMTP:Info@Sir.onmicrosoft.com
smtp:Sales@Sir.onmicrosoft.com
PS C:\Users\ilse> $sales.EmailAddresses += "sales@vancriekinge.be"
PS C:\Users\ilse> $sales.EmailAddresses
SMTP:Info@Sir.onmicrosoft.com
smtp:Sales@Sir.onmicrosoft.com
sales@vancriekinge.be
PS C:\Users\ilse> Set-DistributionGroup -Identity Sales -EmailAddresses $sales.EmailAddresses
PS C:\Users\ilse> Get-DistributionGroup sales

Name DisplayName GroupType PrimarySmtpAddress
---- ----------- --------- ------------------
Sales Sales Universal Info@Sir.onmicrosof...

PS C:\Users\ilse> Get-DistributionGroup sales | fl *emailad*

EmailAddresses : {smtp:sales@vancriekinge.be, SMTP:Info@Sir.onmicrosoft.com, smtp:Sales@Sir.onmicrosoft.com}
EmailAddressPolicyEnabled : False
WindowsEmailAddress : Info@Sir.onmicrosoft.com

Check via ECP, and it’s done Smile

SNAG-00467

Using the Shell, it’s different to remove an e-mail address:

PS C:\Users\ilvancri> Get-DistributionGroup sales | fl *emailad*

EmailAddresses : {smtp:sales@vancriekinge.be, SMTP:Info@Sir.onmicrosoft.com, smtp:Sales@Sir.onmicrosoft.com}
EmailAddressPolicyEnabled : False
WindowsEmailAddress : Info@Sir.onmicrosoft.com

PS C:\Users\ilvancri> Set-DistributionGroup -Identity Sales -EmailAddresses 'smtp:sales@sir.onmicrosoft.com','SMTP:info@sir.onmicrosoft.com'
PS C:\Users\ilvancri> Get-DistributionGroup sales | fl *emailad*

EmailAddresses : {SMTP:info@sir.onmicrosoft.com, smtp:sales@sir.onmicrosoft.com}
EmailAddressPolicyEnabled : False
WindowsEmailAddress : Info@Sir.onmicrosoft.com

A check in ECP reveals the e-mail address sales@vancriekinge.be is gone…

SNAG-00468

Option 3. Using the Exchange Management Console

As blogged before (http://blogs.technet.com/b/ilvancri/archive/2011/10/14/exchange-online-change-primary-smtp-address-without-changing-sign-in-address.aspx) it is possible to install the Exchange Management Console, and use it to connect to your Exchange Online environment, even if you do not have a Hybrid setup with an Exchange On Premises.

Using the Exchange Management Console, you can go to the properties of your distribution group, and add/remove e-mail addresses as you need:

SNAG-00469

 

SNAG-00470

 

Exchange rocks!

Ilse