XADM: Can't Import Nested Container Recipients into DL (165319)

MORE INFORMATION

If you use the directory import process to create distribution lists, you have to make sure to use the correct distinguished name (DN) in the Members column of the Import file. If you have recipients in sub-containers, but you do not include both the top-level container and the sub-container in the distinguished name for recipients in sub-containers, the import will complete with no errors, but the distribution list will not work properly.

For example, say you have the recipient container "Recipients" and a sub- container of "Recipients" called "Other". The "Other" sub-container contains non-Exchange recipients.

You then create an import file in order to create a distribution list to send to some of the "Other" recipients. Call these "User1" and "User2". The distribution list is called "Users".

The following mock import file shows the incorrect way to create the import file for this example:

   Obj-Class Display Name Alias Name Directory Name Members
   --------- ------------ ---------- -------------- -------
   DL        Users        Users      Users          Other/cn=User1
   DL        Users        Users      Users          Other/cn=User2
				

After importing this file, you would receive no errors, and the distribution list would get created. However, the distribution list would not work because the names in the list cannot be resolved. Notice the Members column only specifies the Other container and not its parent container, so when Exchange tries to resolve the names in the list, it fails.

Here is the same import file with the correct information in it for this example:

   Obj-Class Display Name Alias Name Directory Name Members
   --------- ------------ ---------- -------------- -------
   DL        Users        Users      Users
   Recipients/cn=Other/cn=User1
   DL        Users        Users      Users
   Recipients/cn=Other/cn=User2
				

After performing an import using this file, the distribution list will be created and it will work properly. Again, notice the Members column has the parent container (Recipients) and the sub-container (Other) in the DN for each recipient in the list.

NOTE: If you have already created a faulty distribution list, you will need to use the Overwrite option when re-importing the list with the correct format, or you can delete the distribution list and re-import it using the correct format. Using the "Overwrite" option may not work in the desired fashion depending on how your import file is formatted.