Few weeks ago I had to implement Microsoft Exchange Online for a customer who didn’t used Exchange in the past. For a simple user management, I decided to install and configure Azure AD Connect. So the user accounts from local Active Directory will be synchronized to Azure AD.
There are several advantages of this scenario:
- you have a single point for user management, your local Active Directory
- if configured, user passwords (or better to say password hash values) are automatically synchronized to Azure AD
- the user has a Single-Sign-On Experience for Office 365 services
- Office 365 license assignment based on local AD groups
After setting up Azure AD Connect and enabling all users for Exchange Online, I started to configure some Exchange settings: configure distribution lists, shared mailboxes and second mail addresses. But wait, what’s that? After submitting the change and error message pops-up:
What da hack? After some research in the web and reading several blog entries, it was clear: When using AAD Connect and synchronized accounts in Office 365, you have to install an on-premises Exchange Management server for changing some Exchange Online settings. Even you don’t have an on-premises Exchange server installed yet. Very disappointing and frustating. That’s why a customer decides to use cloud service: they wan’t have to install and maintain the system on-premises.
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