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Microsoft Exchange Distribution Lists and ADS Account Templates Using Strong Synchronization

Microsoft Exchange uses Active Directory Server for its directory. Microsoft Exchange distribution lists are implemented as Active Directory groups. Because the groups are defined in Active Directory, the members of these groups are subject to Active Directory account templates.

If an Active Directory account template does not list the Microsoft Exchange distribution list, which is now an Active Directory group, in the Groups (Member Of) tab of the account template and the account template uses strong synchronization, the accounts that are synchronized by this account template will lose their membership in the Microsoft Exchange Distribution list. To prevent this loss of membership, you should add the Active Directory group that represents the Microsoft Exchange distribution list to the account template.

Sometimes you cannot add the distribution lists to the Active Directory account template. From the Exchange General tab of the Active Directory endpoint property sheet, you can select the Active Directory container used to store the Microsoft Exchange Distribution lists. During account template synchronization, the synchronization mechanism will not remove the account from a group that exists in the specified container or any container owned by the specified container. This lets you use current ADS strong synchronization account templates with having accounts lose membership in ADS groups used for Microsoft Exchange Distribution lists.