Add Distribution Group Member in Exchange Online

Question

Add Distribution Group Member in Exchange Online

A_Lop 41

Hello I was working on Migrate Distribution Groups from Exchange On-Premise to Exchange Online and somehow got stuck on one of the Exchange Online PowerShell commands. This is what I have so far:

PS C:\Users\AdminGlobal > Import-Csv C:\Users\AdminGlobal\Desktop\DistributionListProject\distributiongroups-and-members_modified.csv | ForEach-Object{

> $RecipientTypeDetails=$.GroupType
> $GroupSMTP=$.NEWGroupSMTP
> $MemberSMTP=$_.NEWMemberSMTP
>
> if ($RecipientTypeDetails -eq "MailUniversalDistributionGroup")
> {
> Add-DistributionGroupMember -Identity $GroupSMTP -Member $MemberSMTP
> }
> }

After running the command, I received these errors below:

Couldn't find object "NEWTEST_ALL_2@keyman .com". Please make sure that it was spelled correctly or specify a
different object.

CategoryInfo : NotSpecified: (:) [Add-DistributionGroupMember], ManagementObjectNotFoundException
FullyQualifiedErrorId : [Server=B7765,RequestId=d21e8a116-7dd04c3ac88a,TimeStamp=12/3/2021
6:59:07 PM] [FailureCategory=Cmdlet-ManagementObjectNotFoundException] 643B0EA0,Microsoft.Exchange.Management.Rec
ipientTasks.AddDistributionGroupMember
PSComputerName : outlook.office365.com

In my .csv file, I made sure that the object "NEWTEST_ALL_2@keyman .com" is available under the column header specified "NEWMemberSMTP"

I need help in figuring this out and hoping to get some answers.

My reference in this project is this website: https://www.catapultsystems.com/blogs/migrate-distribution-groups-from-exchange-on-premise-to-exchange-online/#

Not sure if anyone is familiar with this site and has used this, but I am currently on Step 3 Exchange Online: create “NEW” distribution groups, hide from GAL, and add members, Exchange Online: Add Members to Groups.

Thank you.

Dan Yedinak 1 Reputation point

2022-07-21T17:51:54.907+00:00

After running into this myself, I came across your post. Having solved it, I thought I'd contribute in case others find this later, just as I did.

The error message comes because the email address being added to the distribution group does not exist as a mail-contact or contact or other object in the directory.

To solve this, check for the existence of the mail contact first or O365 Mailbox. If it doesn't exist, then create the new object :

For a mail Contact :
if ((Get-MailContact -Identity "$MemberSMTP" -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue).Count) -le 0 {
New-MailContact -FirstName $fname -LastName $lname -DisplayName "$fname $lname" -Alias "$fname$lname" -ExternalEmailAddress $MemberSMTP -Name "$fname $lname"
}

For an office 365 Mailbox in the same domain :
if ((get-Mailbox -Identity $MemberSMTP -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue).Count -le 0 {
New-Mailbox -Alias "$fname$lname" -Name "$fname$lname" -FirstName "$fname" -LastName "$lname" -DisplayName "$fname $lname" -MicrosoftOnlineServicesID $MemberSMTP -Password (ConvertTo-SecureString -String 'P@ssw0rd' -AsPlainText -Force) -ResetPasswordOnNextLogon $true
}

Then you can add the new contact to the distribution group :
Add-DistributionGroupMember -Identity $GroupSMTP -Member $MemberSMTP

3 answers

Your answer

Dan Yedinak 1 Reputation point

2022-07-21T17:51:54.907+00:00

After running into this myself, I came across your post. Having solved it, I thought I'd contribute in case others find this later, just as I did.

The error message comes because the email address being added to the distribution group does not exist as a mail-contact or contact or other object in the directory.

To solve this, check for the existence of the mail contact first or O365 Mailbox. If it doesn't exist, then create the new object :

For a mail Contact :
if ((Get-MailContact -Identity "$MemberSMTP" -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue).Count) -le 0 {
New-MailContact -FirstName $fname -LastName $lname -DisplayName "$fname $lname" -Alias "$fname$lname" -ExternalEmailAddress $MemberSMTP -Name "$fname $lname"
}

For an office 365 Mailbox in the same domain :
if ((get-Mailbox -Identity $MemberSMTP -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue).Count -le 0 {
New-Mailbox -Alias "$fname$lname" -Name "$fname$lname" -FirstName "$fname" -LastName "$lname" -DisplayName "$fname $lname" -MicrosoftOnlineServicesID $MemberSMTP -Password (ConvertTo-SecureString -String 'P@ssw0rd' -AsPlainText -Force) -ResetPasswordOnNextLogon $true
}

Then you can add the new contact to the distribution group :
Add-DistributionGroupMember -Identity $GroupSMTP -Member $MemberSMTP

Answer 1

Andy David - MVP 157.8K MVP Volunteer Moderator

What is returned for in Exchange Online Powershell for :
Get-DistributionGroup NEWTEST_ALL_2@keyman .com

A_Lop 41 Reputation points

2021-12-04T04:20:38.073+00:00

@Andy David - MVP The NEWTEST_ALL_2@keyman .com doesn't exist yet in Exchange Online. I believe the command that I am running on this step is to place this member"NEWTEST_ALL_2@keyman .com to the $.NEWGroupSMTP in Exchange Online. That is the problem, somehow, the error is telling me that the NEWTEST_ALL_2@keyman .com doesn't exist, but it does exist on the spreadsheet (csv file).
Andy David - MVP 157.8K Reputation points MVP Volunteer Moderator

2021-12-04T12:56:24.66+00:00

Ok, you have to create the groups first in Exchange Online before you can add members.
The first part of that script in Step 3 has the steps:

Note also there are other scripts you can use as well:

See this thread:
https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/answers/questions/151562/exchange-migration-to-o365-should-you-migrate-all.html

https://office365itpros.com/2018/10/27/migrate-dl-exchange-online/
A_Lop 41 Reputation points

2021-12-05T02:22:04.57+00:00

@Andy David - MVP The DL or New Group is already in Exchange Online. I am on the next step, adding the members, but getting the errors I mentioned above.
Andy David - MVP 157.8K Reputation points MVP Volunteer Moderator

2021-12-05T04:22:01.963+00:00

Ok, I am confused then.

You said " NEWTEST_ALL_2@keyman .com doesn't exist yet in Exchange Online"
A_Lop 41 Reputation points

2021-12-05T18:52:58.313+00:00

@Andy David - MVP This is what I have in Exchange Online:

In PowerShell:

GroupSMTP=$.NEWGroupSMTP (e.g. TEST_ALL@keyman .com = NEWTEST_ALL@keyman .com, all these info are in .csv file).

Technically, the distribution group name that I now have in Exchange Online is the NEWTEST_ALL@keyman .com. I need to add the members for this group. One of the members is the NEWTEST_ALL_2@keyman .com. And I am using that PowerShell command which is somehow not finding object "NEWTEST_ALL_2@keyman .com. Kind of confuse because why is it looking for that while I need to add that member to the existing group in the cloud (e.g. NEWTEST_ALL@keyman .com) or perhaps, I am confused with the method of the author? Thanks for the help.

Answer 2

KyleXu-MSFT 26,396

@A_Lop

I guess this issue is caused by nested group, such as:

Group2 is a member of Group1. In the script, it creates Group1 first(Group 2 isn't created so far), then this script try to add members to Group1, due to group2 isn't created, a issue will occur.

You could add "-erroraction 'silentlycontinue'" to the script that you used, in this way, it will bypass non-existent user/group and keep script running. But, you will need to modify some groups manually later.

Add-DistributionGroupMember -Identity $GroupSMTP -Member $MemberSMTP

Otherwise, you may need to find another script which create all groups first, then add members to those groups.

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A_Lop 41 Reputation points

2021-12-07T03:20:15.837+00:00

@KyleXu-MSFT I will try your suggestion. I am only testing two distribution lists and one member for each group for now. If this works, I will have to move more groups and its members. I have over 1K to migrate that is why I am very careful with this. Also, I am trying to prevent doing any manual fix. I am hoping that the migration is smooth and no manual interaction after transferring them to Exchange Online. I'll keep you posted, thanks.
A_Lop 41 Reputation points

2021-12-07T18:17:46.83+00:00
@KyleXu-MSFT Unfortunately, your suggestion didn't work. I'm still getting the error, thanks.

PS C:\Users\xxxxxx> Import-Csv C:\Users\xxxxxx\Desktop\DistributionListProject\distributiongroups-and-members_modified_1.csv | ForEach-Object{

> $RecipientTypeDetails=$.GroupType
> $GroupSMTP=$.NEWGroupSMTP
> $MemberSMTP=$_.NEWMemberSMTP
>
> { Add-DistributionGroupMember -Identity $GroupSMTP -Member $MemberSMTP -ErrorAction "SilentlyContinue"
> }
>
> }

Couldn't find object "NEWTEST_ALL_2@keyman .com". Please make sure that it was spelled correctly or specify a
different object.

CategoryInfo : NotSpecified: (:) [Add-DistributionGroupMember], ManagementObjectNotFoundException

FullyQualifiedErrorId : [Server=BMB7763,RequestId=59fc4d-3300-4e5d-8f3f-c48d995ee2a4,TimeStamp=12/7/2021
6:10:01 PM] [FailureCategory=Cmdlet-ManagementObjectNotFoundException] 6C3774,Microsoft.Exchange.Management.Rec
ipientTasks.AddDistributionGroupMember

PSComputerName : outlook.office365.com

Couldn't find object "NEWTEST_ALL_1@keyman .com". Please make sure that it was spelled correctly or specify a
different object.

CategoryInfo : NotSpecified: (:) [Add-DistributionGroupMember], ManagementObjectNotFoundException

FullyQualifiedErrorId : [Server=BY3PR09MB7763,RequestId=46f7ddf5-ec71-b034-c8c50d330b,TimeStamp=12/7/2021
6:10:03 PM] [FailureCategory=Cmdlet-ManagementObjectNotFoundException] D429071,Microsoft.Exchange.Management.Rec
ipientTasks.AddDistributionGroupMember

PSComputerName : outlook.office365.com
KyleXu-MSFT 26,396 Reputation points

2021-12-08T07:16:26.46+00:00

It seems that you don't create group before adding group member for it. You need to New-DistributionGroup first, then add members.

I will help you add DEV tag to this thread. Hope you could get script from that place.
A_Lop 41 Reputation points

2021-12-08T23:47:06.7+00:00

Thank you.
KyleXu-MSFT 26,396 Reputation points

2021-12-09T07:58:36.143+00:00

I noticed that there exists another script above the script that you used in that article. For the test, you could try to create those two groups manually first, then run above script to add members for those groups.

Answer 3

A_Lop 41

That should be the same concept though, although I ran the script on the first step to create the group in the cloud. Doing it manually would be the same thing, I would think?

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Add Distribution Group Member in Exchange Online

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