XADM: Could Not Modify the DL Membership of Object (167194)

SYMPTOMS

When you attempt to import recipients from a previously exported CSV file, the following error may be logged in the event log for 1 or more recipients:

   Event ID: 284
   Source: MSExchangeDSImp
   Description:
   Could not modify the DL membership of object <<DN of recipient>> because
   the directory service reported the following error:  Changes cannot be
   written to this directory object. Try connecting to a Microsoft Exchange
   Server computer in the same site as this object.

CAUSE

The above error occurs if you attempt to import a mailbox or custom recipient that includes a "Member of" attribute that points to a distribution list from a different site. The recipient gets created but import cannot add the recipient to the membership list for the given DL. This is because an object that does not belong to the directory on the local site cannot be directly written to.

This situation is common when you are using an exported list of users from a particular site. When you do this, the "Members" attribute is also exported. This attribute contains the distinguished name (DN) for any distribution list the recipient is a member of, including distribution lists (DLs) from external sites. As stated above, the local import function cannot modify attributes from external sites, so the function fails.

WORKAROUND

To work around this problem, do one of the following:

Manually add the users to the DLs through the external site,

-OR-
Create a new import file to add the users to the DL membership.