Microsoft Exchange 2013 Step By Step Installation guide on Windows Server 2012 R2

Microsoft released Exchange Server 2013 SP1 on Feb 25, 2014. With the release of Edge Transport server role, Exchange 2013 is finally a complete product. Exchange 2013 now has total of three roles, Mailbox server role, Client Access server role and Edge Transport server role. Exchange 2013 SP 1 also introduced many new features. In this post, I will show steps to install Exchange Server 2013 SP1 in Windows Server 2012 R2.

Install Exchange Server 2013 SP1 in Windows Server 2012 R2

First of all you need to decide whether you want to install Exchange Mailbox server role and Client Access server role on same server. There are different set of prerequisites you must follow depending upon your scenario before you can install Exchange 2013 SP1, so make sure you follow them. This scenario is pretty straight forward with single Domain Controller (i.e; Ex2k13-Dc) and single Exchange Server (i.e; Ex2k13-Exc).

Prerequisites of this type of installation are: –

1. The Active Directory forest functional level must be at least Server 2003.
2. The Active Directory site must contain at least one Global Catalog server and a writable domain controller.
3. Exchange Server must be member of Domain Controller.
4. Perform Windows Update and reboot the Mail Server.
5. Install .NET Framework 4.5 and Windows Management Framework 4.0 in Mail Server. In most cases, this feature is installed by default.
6. Install Remote Server Administration ToolKit in Mail Server. Use PowerShell cmdlet, Install-WindowsFeature RSAT-ADDS.
7. Run the following command in Windows PowerShell to install other required components.

   Install-WindowsFeature AS-HTTP-Activation, Desktop-Experience, NET-Framework-45-Features, RPC-over-HTTP-proxy, RSAT-Clustering, RSAT-Clustering-CmdInterface, RSAT-Clustering-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-Http-Tracing, Web-ISAPI-Ext, Web-ISAPI-Filter, Web-Lgcy-Mgmt-Console, Web-Metabase, Web-Mgmt-Console, Web-Mgmt-Service, Web-Net-Ext45, Web-Request-Monitor, Web-Server, Web-Stat-Compression, Web-Static-Content, Web-Windows-Auth, Web-WMI, Windows-Identity-Foundation

8. Download and install Microsoft Unified Communications Managed API 4.0, Core Runtime 64-bit in Mail Server.

Before beginning the installation of Exchange 2013 SP1, let’s install some pre-requisites. At first, install the remote server administration toolkit and other required components in mail server.

Then install Microsoft Unified Communications Managed API 4.0. I got an error when I tried to install this application.

To fix this error, install media foundation feature from Server Manager.

Now try installing Microsoft Unified Communications Managed API 4.0 again. After installing all the prequisites, let’s begin the installation of Exchange 2013 SP1.

Exchange 2013 SP1 Installation Steps

Now run the Exchange 2013 SP1 installer. The setup will try to get Exchange updates, you can check and download the updates. But here, I will ignore and click Next.

The setup will now take some time to copy the installation files and following Introduction page will appear. Read the page and click Next.

Now you are asked to accept license agreement. Choose I accept and click Next.

Here, do not choose the recommended settings and click Next.

Choose Exchange Server roles and click Next. Here, I will choose Mailbox server role and Client Access server role.

Point the installation location and click Next. Choose other than C: drive. But here, I will choose the default.

Type the name for this Exchange organization. This could be your organization name. I will type MustBeGeek and click Next. Choose not to disable malware protection and click Next.

The server will now perform some prerequisite checks and if all good you can hit the install button. The setup will now start.

The setup will take some time to complete the installation.

Check launch EAC and click Finish. Enter administrator credentials and login. You can also open the Exchange Admin Center by browsing the link, https://localhost/ecp in the browser of the Exchange Server itself.

You have successfully installed Exchange 2013 SP1. Don’t forget to check the latest updates and service packs. You can now create mailboxes. In addition, setup external and internal urls to use mailboxes using different client applications. Also, configure URL redirections. Then configure send connectors to send and receive emails from the Internet.

To check your current build of Exchange 2013 type following cmdlet in Exchange Management Shell.
[PS] C:\Windows\System32>Get-ExchangeServer | fl name,edition,admindisplayversion

In this way you can install Exchange Server 2013 SP1 in Windows Server 2012 R2.