Installing Exchange Server 2016 PreRequisites on Windows Server 2012 R2

Exchange Server 2016 is currently in Public Preview. Do not install preview

software in your production environment.
Exchange Server 2016 can be installed on Windows Server 2012 and
Windows Server 2012 R2. For both versions of Windows Server either the
Standard or Datacenter edition can be used to run Exchange Server
2016. Exchange itself does not rely on any specific features of either the
Standard or Datacenter editions.
Note that a full server installation with GUI is required for Exchange Server
2016, it cant be installed on a Core mode installation of Windows Server.
There are three possible installations of Exchange Server 2016 that you can
perform:

Mailbox server role (this is the only mandatory server role)

Edge Transport server role (this is optional, and cant co-exist with the
Mailbox server role on the same Windows Server)

Management Tools (for admin workstations or servers)

The requirements for each installation type are different, so lets look at each
of them in turn.

INSTALLING PRE-REQUISITES FOR AN

EXCHANGE SERVER 2016 MAILBOX
SERVER
For an Exchange Server 2016 Mailbox server installation open an elevated
(run as administrator) PowerShell console and run the following command to
install the operating system roles and features.

C:\> Install-WindowsFeature AS-HTTP-Activation, Desktop-Experience,

NET-Framework-45-Features, RPC-over-HTTP-proxy, RSAT-Clustering, RSATClustering-CmdInterface, RSAT-Clustering-Mgmt, RSAT-ClusteringPowerShell, Web-Mgmt-Console, WAS-Process-Model, Web-Asp-Net45, WebBasic-Auth, Web-Client-Auth, Web-Digest-Auth, Web-Dir-Browsing, WebDyn-Compression, Web-Http-Errors, Web-Http-Logging, Web-Http-Redirect,
Web-Http-Tracing, Web-ISAPI-Ext, Web-ISAPI-Filter, Web-Lgcy-MgmtConsole, Web-Metabase, Web-Mgmt-Console, Web-Mgmt-Service, Web-NetExt45, Web-Request-Monitor, Web-Server, Web-Stat-Compression, WebStatic-Content, Web-Windows-Auth, Web-WMI, Windows-Identity-Foundation

A restart is required after the roles and features have finished installing. If
youd prefer that the server restarts itself automatically simply append Restart to the command.
After the restart download and install (in order):

.NET Framework 4.5.2

Microsoft Unified Communications Managed API 4.0, Core Runtime 64bit

The server is now ready to install Exchange Server 2016.

INSTALLING PRE-REQUISITES FOR AN

EXCHANGE SERVER 2016 EDGE
TRANSPORT SERVER
For an Exchange Server 2016 Edge Transport server the pre-requisites
installation is a little simpler than for a Mailbox server. Open an elevated
PowerShell console and run the following command.

C:\> Install-WindowsFeature ADLDS

When that has completed download and install (in order):

.NET Framework 4.5.2

Microsoft Unified Communications Managed API 4.0, Core Runtime 64bit

The server is now ready to install the Exchange Server 2016 Edge Transport
role.

INSTALLING PRE-REQUISITES FOR THE

EXCHANGE SERVER 2016 MANAGEMENT
TOOLS
Exchange Server 2016 uses a web-based administrative interface called the
Exchange Admin Center, similar to Exchange Server 2013. There is nothing
required to be installed on a workstation or server other than a web browser to
access the Exchange Admin Center.
However if you want the Exchange Management Shell to be installed on a
management workstation or server (Windows Server 2012 R2 or Windows
8.1) then the only pre-requisite is to install .NET Framework 4.5.2. After the
.NET Framework is installed you can install the Exchange Server 2016
management tools.

Installing Exchange Server 2016

Exchange Server 2016 is currently in Public Preview. Do not install preview
software in your production environment.
After youve prepared a Windows Server with the Exchange Server 2016 prerequisites you can proceed with the installation of Exchange Server itself.
In this tutorial well cover:

Preparing Active Directory for Exchange Server 2016 installation

Installing the Exchange Server 2016 Mailbox server role on a new

server

Before you start there are a few things to be aware of:

Installing Exchange Server 2016 requires an Active Directory schema

update. Well look at that in more detail shortly.

Aside from the schema update installing Exchange Server 2016 makes
other irreversible changes to your Active Directory forest. If youve never
backed up your Active Directory, or youve never heard of a forest
recovery, heres some reading for you.

If youre installing Exchange into the forest for the first time you will be
choosing an organization name. The Exchange organization cant be
renamed at a later date, so choose a name youre happy with keeping
forever.

PREPARING ACTIVE DIRECTORY

A new installation of Exchange Server 2016 involves applying an Active
Directory schema update, as do most Exchange Server cumulative updates,
as well as preparing the Active Directory domains where Exchange Server
2016 and any mail-enabled objects will be located. In an Active Directory
forest with a single domain this can all be performed as one task.
The Active Directory schema update will automatically apply when you run
Exchange Server 2016 setup on the first server in your environment. A
Windows Server 2012 R2 server with the Exchange Server 2016 Mailbox
server role pre-requisites installed doesnt quite meet the requirements (youll
need to add the RSAT-ADDS feature as shown below). A domain controller

will have RSAT-ADDS installed already, but may also need the .NET
Framework version shown below to be installed first.
Whether youre running the schema update from an Exchange server or a
separate server (some organizations do it as a separate task due to change
control reasons, or because of different teams having different administrative
responsibilities in the environment) then the following requirements apply:

.NET Framework 4.5.2 must be installed

The RSAT-ADDS feature must be installed

C:\> Install-WindowsFeature RSAT-ADDS

The forest functional level must be at least Windows Server 2008

The account used to run the schema update and Active Directory
preparation must be a member of Enterprise Admins and Schema
Admins. These are high privilege groups I recommend you plan to
remove your account from the groups when youre done with this task.
Note, if youve just added yourself to these groups youll need to log out
and back in to the server for the new group membership to take effect.

The server youre running the schema update from must be located in
the same Active Directory site as the Schema Master. You can identify
your Schema Master by running my Get-ADInfo.ps1 script, or by using
the Get-ADForest PowerShell cmdlet.

PS C:\> (Get-ADForest).SchemaMaster

Now were ready to run the Active Directory schema update and and
preparation.
If youve already got Exchange Server running in your environment you can
check the current Exchange schema version before applying the update, so
that you can see what the before and after version numbers are.
In PowerShell run the following one-liner created by Exchange Server MVP
Michael B Smith:
PS C:\> "Exchange Schema Version = " + ([ADSI]("LDAP://CN=ms-Exch-Schema-VersionPt," + ([ADSI]"LDAP://RootDSE").schemaNamingContext)).rangeUpper
Exchange Schema Version =

Note, in my example above there is no existing Exchange server installed,

hence no Exchange schema version to report.
Extract the Exchange Server 2016 setup files into a folder, open a command
prompt window, and then navigate to the location where the Exchange setup
files were extracted.
To apply only the schema update run the following command:
C:\Admin\ex2016>setup /PrepareSchema /IAcceptExchangeServerLicenseTerms

Welcome to Microsoft Exchange Server 2016 Unattended Setup

Copying Files...
File copy complete.

Setup will now collect additional information needed for

installation.

Performing Microsoft Exchange Server Prerequisite Check

Prerequisite Analysis

COMPLETED

Configuring Microsoft Exchange Server

Extending Active Directory schema

COMPLETED

The Exchange Server setup operation completed successfully.

After applying the schema update we can check the version number again.
PS C:\> "Exchange Schema Version = " + ([ADSI]("LDAP://CN=ms-Exch-Schema-VersionPt," + ([ADSI]"LDAP://RootDSE").schemaNamingContext)).rangeUpper
Exchange Schema Version = 15317

To prepare Active Directory run one of the following commands. Note this will
also apply the schema update if you did not perform that step already.
If you do not already have an Exchange organization youll need to provide a
name for the organization now, for example:
C:\Admin\ex2016>setup /PrepareAD /OrganizationName:"Exchange Lab"
/IAcceptExchangeServerLicenseTerms

If youre installing Exchange Server 2016 into an existing Exchange

organization you do not need to specify the organization name, for example:
C:\Admin\ex2016>setup /PrepareAD /IAcceptExchangeServerLicenseTerms

Remember, you cant change the Exchange organization name later, so

choose a name youll be happy to live with forever. Also, after installing
Exchange Server 2016 as a new organization you will not be able to install
any earlier versions of Exchange into the same organization.
C:\Admin\ex2016>setup /PrepareAD /OrganizationName:"Exchange Lab" /IAcceptExchan
geServerLicenseTerms

Welcome to Microsoft Exchange Server 2016 Unattended Setup

Copying Files...
File copy complete.
Setup will now collect additional information needed for
installation.

Performing Microsoft Exchange Server Prerequisite Check

Prerequisite Analysis

COMPLETED

Setup will prepare the organization for Exchange Server 2016 by using 'Setup /P
repareAD'. No Exchange Server 2007 roles have been detected in this topology. Af
ter this operation, you will not be able to install any Exchange Server 2007 rol

es.
For more information, visit: http://technet.microsoft.com/library(EXCHG.150)/ms
.exch.setupreadiness.NoE12ServerWarning.aspx

Setup will prepare the organization for Exchange Server 2016 by using 'Setup /P
repareAD'. No Exchange Server 2010 roles have been detected in this topology. Af
ter this operation, you will not be able to install any Exchange Server 2010 rol
es.
For more information, visit: http://technet.microsoft.com/library(EXCHG.150)/ms
.exch.setupreadiness.NoE14ServerWarning.aspx

Configuring Microsoft Exchange Server

Organization Preparation

COMPLETED

The Exchange Server setup operation completed successfully.

If you have additional domains in your forest that you need to prepare (any
domain that will host an Exchange server or mail-enabled objects) follow the
guidance on TechNet here.

INSTALLING THE EXCHANGE SERVER

2016 MAILBOX SERVER ROLE

The Mailbox server role contains all of the components required to run an
Exchange Server 2016 server. There is also an Edge Transport role, but that
is not a mandatory role and is not covered in this tutorial.
After installing the Exchange Server 2016 pre-requisites on a server you can
install the Exchange Server 2016 Mailbox server role by running the following
command from an elevated command prompt.
C:\Admin\ex2016>setup /Mode:Install /Role:Mailbox
/IAcceptExchangeServerLicenseTerms

Welcome to Microsoft Exchange Server 2016 Unattended Setup

Copying Files...
File copy complete.
Setup will now collect additional information needed for
installation.

Languages
Management tools
Mailbox role: Transport service
Mailbox role: Client Access service
Mailbox role: Unified Messaging service
Mailbox role: Mailbox service
Mailbox role: Front End Transport service
Mailbox role: Client Access Front End service

Performing Microsoft Exchange Server Prerequisite Check

Configuring Prerequisites

COMPLETED

Prerequisite Analysis

COMPLETED

Configuring Microsoft Exchange Server

Preparing Setup

COMPLETED

Stopping Services

COMPLETED

Copying Exchange Files

COMPLETED

Language Files

COMPLETED

Restoring Services

COMPLETED

Language Configuration

COMPLETED

Exchange Management Tools

COMPLETED

Mailbox role: Transport service

COMPLETED

Mailbox role: Client Access service

COMPLETED

Mailbox role: Unified Messaging service

COMPLETED

Mailbox role: Mailbox service

COMPLETED

Mailbox role: Front End Transport service

COMPLETED

Mailbox role: Client Access Front End service

COMPLETED

Finalizing Setup

COMPLETED

The Exchange Server setup operation completed successfully.

Setup has made changes to operating system settings that require a reboot to
take effect. Please reboot this server prior to placing it into production.

NEXT STEPS
After setup has completed restart the server before you continue with
configuring Exchange Server 2016.

Step by Step Guide for Installing Exchange Server

2016 Preview
leave a comment

The following section describes a step-by-step guide for the installation of

Microsoft Exchange Server 2016 Preview. The installation considers a single server
deployment of Exchange Server 2016 with the Mailbox role. Additional details of the
topology and architecture of the lab environment which was used in the installation is
described here;

Domain Controller
Operating System
Forest Functional Level
Domain Functional Level
Exchange Server 2016
Operating System
Installed Role

Windows Server 2012 R2

Windows Server 2012 R2
Windows Server 2012 R2
Windows Server 2012 R2
Mailbox Role

1. Operating System Support for Exchange

Server 2016 Preview
The following operating systems are supported;

Component
Mailbox and Edge Server Role
Management Tools

Operating System
Windows Server 2012 R2 Standard or Datacenter
Windows Server 2012 Standard or Datacenter
Windows Server vNext
Windows Server 2012 R2 Standard or Datacenter
Windows Server 2012 Standard or Datacenter
64-bit edition of Windows 8.1

2. Active Directory Preparation

The first task in the installation of any version of Exchange is to prepare the Active Directory
environment where the Exchange Server will be placed.
However, prior to the preparation, it should be checked against the following Network and
Directory Server requirements;

Component
Domain controllers
Active Directory forest

Operating System
Windows Server 2012 R2 Standard or Datacenter
Windows Server 2012 R2 Standard or Datacenter
Windows Server 2008 R2 Standard/Enterprise/Datacenter
Windows Server 2008 Standard/Enterprise/Datacenter
Windows Server 2008 or higher

Once the above requirements are verified for consistency, proceed with the following
preparation tasks on the server/computer which will be used to prepare the Active Directory
using the Exchange Server 2016 Preview Active Directory Prepare module.
1.

2.

Download and Install Microsoft .Net Framework 4.5

Open Windows PowerShell and

run
the
the Remote Tools Administration Pack.
Install-WindowsFeature RSAT-ADDS

following

command

to

install

3 Server role prerequisite installation

The prerequisites for Exchange 2016 preview varies on the server role which will be
associated with it. The section describes the installation of Exchange 2016 on a server
containing Windows Server 2012 R2 Operating System.

3.1 Prerequisites for Mailbox Server Role

The following section instructs the prerequisite installation that should be performed in a
server running a standalone Exchange 2016 server with the Mailbox Server Role.

1.

Open a Windows PowerShell session by navigating

to Start > All Programs > Accessories > Windows
PowerShell.
2. Run the following command to install the required Windows components.
Install-WindowsFeature AS-HTTP-Activation, Desktop-Experience, NET-Framework-45Features, RPC-over-HTTP-proxy, RSAT-Clustering, RSAT-Clustering-CmdInterface, RSATClustering-Mgmt, RSAT-Clustering-PowerShell, Web-Mgmt-Console, WAS-Process-Model,
Web-Asp-Net45, Web-Basic-Auth, Web-Client-Auth, Web-Digest-Auth, Web-Dir-Browsing,
Web-Dyn-Compression, Web-Http-Errors, Web-Http-Logging, Web-Http-Redirect, Web-HttpTracing, Web-ISAPI-Ext, Web-ISAPI-Filter, Web-Lgcy-Mgmt-Console, Web-Metabase, WebMgmt-Console, Web-Mgmt-Service, Web-Net-Ext45, Web-Request-Monitor, Web-Server, WebStat-Compression, Web-Static-Content, Web-Windows-Auth, Web-WMI, Windows-IdentityFoundation

1.

After installing the features, Download and Install;

1.

Microsoft .Net Framework 4.5

2.

Microsoft Unified Communications Managed API 4.0, Core Runtime 64-bit

3.2 Prerequisites for Edge Server Role

The following section instructs the prerequisite installation that should be performed in a
server running a standalone Exchange 2016 server with the Mailbox Server Role.
1.

Open a Windows PowerShell session by navigating

to Start > All Programs > Accessories > Windows
PowerShell.
2. Run the following command to install the required Windows components.
Install-WindowsFeature ADLDS
3. After installing the features, Download and Install Microsoft .Net Framework 4.5

4 Prepare Active Directory and domains

To prepare the active Directory and the Domains for Exchange 2016, follow the following
steps. To execute the commands, the commands should be run using the Schema Admins
group and the Enterprise Admins group membership.

4.1 Extend Active Directory Schema

1.

Mount the Exchange Server 2016 Preview installation Media

2.

Open up a Command Prompt session and navigate to the setup files from the
command prompt
3. Type the following command followed by an Enter

Setup.exe /PrepareSchema /IAcceptExchangeServerLicenseTerms

4.2 Prepare Active Directory

1.

On the command prompt, run the following;

Setup.exe /PrepareAD /OrganizationName:<organization name>

/IAcceptExchangeServerLicenseTerms

4.3 Prepare Domains

1.

On the command prompt, run the following;

Setup.exe /PrepareAllDomains /IAcceptExchangeServerLicenseTerms

5 Installing Exchange Server 2016

The below section describes the installation of the Mailbox Server role for Exchange Server
2016.
If youre installing the first Exchange 2016 Preview server in the organization, and the Active
Directory preparation steps have not been performed, the account you use must have
membership in the Enterprise Administrators group. If you havent previously prepared the
Active Directory Schema, the account must also be a member of the Schema Admins group.
1.

Log on to the server that will be used as the Mailbox server.

2.

Ensure that the above prerequisites are completed.

3.

Mount and navigate to the Exchange Server 2016 Preview installation Media.

4.
5.

Start Exchange 2016 Preview Setup by double-clicking Setup.exe.

On the Check for Updates page, select whether you want Setup to connect to the
Internet and download product and security updates for Exchange 2016 Preview and
click Next.

1.

Once the setup is finished copying files on the Copying Files page, click Next.

1.

The Introduction page gives additional guidance for the installation procedure.
Review the content and Click next to continue.

1.

On the License Agreement page, review the terms. If you agree to the terms,
select I accept the terms in the license agreement, and then click next.

1.

On the Recommended Settings page, select whether you want to enable or disable
the Exchange Error resolution and feedback feature. The option will either enable or
disable automatically check for resolutions for any errors that occurs while the setup is
running and sends Microsoft feedback. ClickNext to proceed.

1.

On the Server Role Selection page, choose what server role you want to install.
Whether to install theMailbox role, Management Tools or Edge Server role on the
server. For this lab Mailbox server role will be selected. Note that Edge and Mailbox
cannot collocate on the same server and Management Tools will be installed by default
when you chose the Mailbox role. If any Windows prerequisites are needed for the
setup, select the Automatically install Windows Server roles and features that
are required to install Exchange Server. Click Next to proceed.

1.

On the Installation Space and Location page, either accept the default installation
location or click Browse to choose a new location with adequate storage space.

1.

If installing the Mailbox role, a Malware Protection Settings page will appear.
Choose whether to enable or disable malware scanning and click Next.

1.

On the Readiness Checks page, view the status to determine if the organization
and server role prerequisite checks completed successfully. If unsuccessful, perform
the required tasks and click Back, and Next to run the Readiness check again. If
successful, click Install to proceed.

1.

The installation will be performed.

1.

Once the setup completes installing all the components, the Setup Completed page
will be displayed. Select Finish.

1.

As a best practice, restart the server which you performed the installation.

5 Review Exchange Installation

Once all the above tasks are performed, proceed with the below steps to verify the
installation using the Exchange 2016 Administrative Center and PowerShell. Like its
predecessor, Exchange Server 2016 management is handled by the Exchange Admin
Center. The browser based management console, EAC can be used to manage your
organizations on-premises as well as Office 365 and hybrid deployment scenarios.
To Navigate to the Exchange Admin Center;
1.

Open the web browser.

2.

On the URL section, type the below

https://<FQDN_of_the_Exchange_Server>/ECP

1.
2.

Enter your username and password in Domain\user name and Password and then
click sign in.
Review the tabs and sections the new Admin Center.