3rd party tools for GAL distribution list management
- Hi,
I work for a large company which wants to allow authorized users to self manage their own distribution lists in the GAL.
How is this done?
3rd party tools?
Can you direct me some some documentation about this process and any suggested/recommended 3rd party tools information greatly appreciated.
thanks!
All Replies
- I am looking for the same thing. Did you find anything?
We looked at a product from Imanami, SmartDL that would combined with their WebDir product:
http://www.imanami.com/products/smartdl/default.aspx
However, it now looks like it needs far too much customizing to be useful. Here are some of the bugs and issues we found:
1. It will allow us to create a contact with the same email address as long as the name is different. This is a big problem that apparently will not be fixed until the new release of Webdir 5. Later this year (unknown date).
2. Search form to find contacts to add to the Distribution Lists returns too many results for our comfort. I could search for "A" and get a list of all contacts and accounts with an "A" anywhere in the name. 26 such searches and I could end up with an entire database. Unacceptable. We asked if we could limit the results to 25 max and they apparently did that, but apparently can't easily code the program to tell the searcher to be more specific if it results in more than 25 hits.
3. After the search, the user has the option to download all results into an Excel file. Totally uncool database security given the defect in #2. We are told that removing that option requres Imanami to do Professional Services (read: more $$).
4. When the results of a search show up, it does not show what was searched for (i.e. maybe the searcher mis-spelled the name and that is why no results are shown). We are told that this requres Imanami to do Professional Services (read: more $$).
5. We apparently succeeded in getting existing distribution lists from showing up in search results.
If anyone knows of a good web-based tool that allows us to create Distribution Lists and then authorize one or more people to manage them using a standard web browsers without being Exchange Server administrators, I'd REALLY like to hear it.
Mark Hunnibell
mark at hunnibell.net Mark,
You might try a company called Securitay (www.securitay.com). They have a DL management solution that is quite similar to the one that Microsoft uses internally.
The WebDir solution is probably the Big Daddy of the pile as far as provisioning and self-service tools. It does EVERYTHING and is very cool.
The problem with these types of tools is that they start out pretty basic, but over their lifecyle, every customer and potential customer wants it do to something slightly different. Pretty soon, the tool is complex and has a lot of configuration options. My company has a similar type "self service" tool for user account information. Everyone wants something different.
You might also look at tools by The DotNet Factory; they have a great toolset called EmpowerID. It also may be a bit more than you are looking for, though. http://www.thedotnetfactory.com/
HTH,
Jim
Hi Mark,
We also have a module that does a similar task called Distribution List Manager (http://www.activatelive.com/Product.aspx). It is also similarly based on what MS uses internally.
Activate is designed to be very flexible and works in most Enterprise environments. In addition to Distribution List Management we also do Shared Folder access, Password Reset, Service management (ie Software and Hardware) through to full Role based User Provisioning.
Feel free to contact us through the web site if you want more information.
Thanks,
Austin.
- If you are still considering a tool for user Self Service Management of Distribution Lists you may want to consider Ensim Unify.
It is a great Solution, and the comapnay is large enough to provide the product support you will require.
Here is the Web Site: http://www.ensim.com/products/ensim_unify/unify_enterprise_edition/distribution_group_manager
