Applies to: Exchange Server 2007 SP3, Exchange Server 2007 SP2, Exchange Server 2007 SP1, Exchange Server 2007
Topic Last Modified: 2007-01-31

A global address list (GAL) is a directory that contains entries for every group, user, and contact within an organization's implementation of Microsoft Exchange Server. GALs are displayed in the Microsoft Outlook Address Book on a client computer. Address lists are a subset of the GAL and can be used to further organize the recipients in your organization. For more information about address lists, see Understanding Address Lists.

If you have multiple GALs in your organization, only one GAL is displayed in the Outlook Address Book on a client computer. This address list displays as Global Address List, even if you specified a different name when you created it in Exchange Server 2007.

The following is a list of management tasks that you can perform for GALs, including links to topics that will help you complete the tasks:

Note:
You cannot use the Exchange Server Management Console to create, modify, update, or remove GALs. You must always use the Exchange Server Management Shell.
Important:
You cannot edit or remove the default GAL. You can only edit or remove GALs that you have created.

For More Information

For more information about address lists, see the following topics:

For detailed syntax and parameter information about the various GAL cmdlets, see the following topics: