Configuring auto reply for Public Folder and preventing Mail Loops

System:
Exchange 2010 SP2

Goal:
Have a public folder which lets your clients know that their message is received and does not reply to NDR or other kinds of automatically generated messages, such as auto replies etc. to prevent mail loops.
Users will send mail to queries@domain.com

Steps:
1. Create auto-reply public folder.
2. Mail enable it.
3. Create Mailbox user which will be responsible for configuring auto-reply on this public folder, you can also assign existing one. I will use a mailbox noreply@domain.com.
4. Grant your mailbox user "Send-as" permissions on auto-reply public folder.
5. Make noreply@domain.com mailbox user Owner of the public folder auto-reply.

6. Create public folder which will receive user mail - queries.
7. On public folder queries properties enable forwarding of mail copies to auto-reply public folder.
8. Using Folder Assistant create auto reply rule for auto-reply public folder which will auto reply to mails sent to queries@domain.com and then delete the messages.
9. While you're at it also add a rule to delete messages sent to auto-reply (this prevents the piling of useless messages sent automatically to your auto-reply public-folder in cases of NDR's or automatic replies from users).
10. To enable automatic replies for users outside your organization you will need to check the "Allow Automatic Replies" on Remote Domains "Message Format" tab for the Hub Transport role under Organization Configuration in Exchange Management Console.

Links:
http://www.straightupsearch.com/social-media/technology/oneupweb-how-to-configure-auto-reply-from-a-mail-enabled-public-folder-using-exchange-2010-sp1/comment-page-1/#comment-205863
http://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/exchangesvrgenerallegacy/thread/48e6ddde-731b-4119-b3ee-412f5f101279

Auto Reply when email sent to a Distribution Group (Exchange 2010)

If you need to auto reply to all messages sent to an Exchange 2010 Distribution Group, you will be disappointed as there is no straightforward way to do that. 

First thing that came to mind was Transport Rules, but there is no "reply" option.

Therefore I had to create an mailbox account, make it a member of Distribution Group and configure reply rule on that mailbox. 

Also for this to work you have to enable "Send out-of-office message to originator" on the Distribution Group properties.

So here is a step by step:

1. Create new mailbox like noreply@domain.com

2. Make it a member of desired Distribution Group

3. In Exchange Management Console open properties of desired Distribution Group and choose Advanced tab. Turn on "Send out-of-office message to originator".

4. Configure noreply@domain.com exchange account on outlook (because owa won't let you create auto reply rules).

5. In outlook create a rule:

Apply this rule after the message arrives

from people or distribution list (select your distribution group)

have server reply using a specific message (create your message "Save & Close" it)

6. (optional) Create another rule to delete messages delivered to your noreply mailbox, make sure "delete rule" is below "reply rule" or messages will get deleted before reply rule is applied.

You could also Set Automatic Replies in owa for noreply@domain.com mailbox, if you only need auto replies for one Distribution Group. However with the suggested solution above, you can use this mailbox for as many Distribution Groups as you want by creating additional rules specifying different "from people or distribution list" for each Distribution Group and specifying different message to reply with.

Also have in mind that deleted messages will be moved to "Deleted Items" in noreply@domain.com mailbox, so you will have to do some maintenance or setup a Retention Policy.