Auto-response from Distribution group (Exchange 2007 and 2010)

Introduction:

This post will explain you, how to configure e-mail auto response for any e-mail sent to a distribution group without using any third party tool. There is no such rule in transport in exchange 2007 and 2010 hence many use third party tool to achieve this.

Here I’ve presented an article that explains how to achieve this without any extra cost.

Query:
Any e-mail sent to particular distribution group needs to addressed with the customized auto response.

Steps:

Introduce a mailbox with the name that you wish to send the auto response.
Make the mailbox member of the Distribution group.
Configure outlook.
Create a outlook rule.
In the Rules and alerts select the Start from a blank rule – Check messages when they arrive option and click Next.
In the next screen choose the option sent people in distribution group and click next.
Select the action have server reply using a specific message. (you need to leave TO and CC blank) and create a customized message with appropriate subject and press save and close option on the left hand side top corner.
Now click next and finish the task.
Now we need to enable the auto replies in the remote domain to make this to work.
Go to exchange server Organization configuration and highlight Hub transport.
Now in the middle pane you have an option called Remote domains.
Now right click default underneath and go to properties were you need to go to the second tab with the name “Format of original message sent as attachment to journal report”
Here you need to check “Allow automatic replies”.
Now finally go to the distribution group properties and under option “Advanced” there is an option called “send out of office message to the originator” Please check this option.
Make sure hide the mailbox that you created for this task from GAL.