ENow Blog | Exchange Center

Planning, Prerequisites, and Deploying Exchange

Written by AmyKelly Petruzzella | Mar 8, 2021 4:53:00 PM

In this article, we will share the prerequisites and guidelines you must meet to ensure a successful deployment of either Exchange 2016 or Exchange 2019.

I.  Plan for Exchange Server


Use the information at the following links to help plan your deployment of Exchange 2016 or Exchange 2019 into your organization.

II.  Exchange Server Prerequisites


Learn about the Windows Server features and the other software that needs to be installed for a successful installation of Exchange.

 Note: New to Exchange 2019 is the ability to upgrade your operating system to a newer version while Exchange is installed on Windows Server 2019 or later.

  • Verify the computer is joined to the appropriate internal Active Directory domain.
  • Install the latest Windows updates on your computer.

Learn about the Windows Server features and the other software that needs to be installed for a successful installation of Exchange.

Exchange 2019 prerequisites for preparing Active Directory

You can use any member of the Active Directory domain to prepare Active Directory for Exchange 2019.

    1. The computer requires the following software:
      1. .NET Framework 4.8

        Note: When installing on Windows Server Core, you must use key "/q" for install this package. Optionaly you can use "/log [PATH]" for logging.

      2. Visual C++ Redistributable Package for Visual Studio 2012

        Note:
        • The system requirements for the Visual C++ Redistributable package do not mention support for Windows Server 2016 or Windows Server 2019, but the redistributable package is safe to install on these versions of Windows.
        • The Visual C++ redistributable package is required if you're using the Exchange Setup Wizard to prepare Active Directory. If you're using unattended Setup from the command line to prepare Active Directory, this package isn't required.

  1. Install the Remote Tools Administration Pack by running the following command in Windows PowerShell:

    PowerShellCopy
    Install-WindowsFeature RSAT-ADDS

Windows Server 2019 prerequisites for Exchange 2019

The requirements to install Exchange 2019 on Windows Server 2019 computers are described in the following sections. We recommend either of the following methods to install the Windows prerequisites for Exchange 2019:

  • Use the /InstallWindowsComponents switch in unattended Setup mode.
  • Select the check box in the Exchange Setup Wizard to install Windows prerequisites.

When you use one of these options, you don't need to restart the computer after the Windows components have been added.

Exchange 2019 Mailbox servers on Windows Server 2019

    1. Install the following software:
      1. .NET Framework 4.8
      2. Visual C++ Redistributable Package for Visual Studio 2012
      3. Visual C++ Redistributable Package for Visual Studio 2013

         Note: The system requirements for the Visual C++ redistributable package do not mention support for Windows Server 2016 or Windows Server 2019, but the redistributable package is safe to install on these versions of Windows.

    2. If you aren't going to use Exchange Setup to install the required Windows components (in the wizard or from the command line), run the one of the following commands in Windows PowerShell:

      • Desktop Experience:

        PowerShellCopy
        Install-WindowsFeature Server-Media-Foundation, NET-Framework-45-Features, RPC-over-HTTP-proxy, RSAT-Clustering, RSAT-Clustering-CmdInterface, RSAT-Clustering-Mgmt, RSAT-Clustering-PowerShell, 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, RSAT-ADDS

    • Server Core:

      PowerShellCopy
      Install-WindowsFeature Server-Media-Foundation, NET-Framework-45-Features, RPC-over->HTTP-proxy, RSAT-Clustering, RSAT-Clustering-CmdInterface, RSAT-Clustering-PowerShell, 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-Metabase, Web-Mgmt-Service, Web-Net-Ext45, Web-Request-Monitor, Web-Server, Web-Stat-Compression, Web-Static-Content, Web-Windows-Auth, Web-WMI, RSAT-ADDS

Exchange 2019 Edge Transport servers on Windows Server 2019

    1. Install the following software:
      1. .NET Framework 4.8
      2. Visual C++ Redistributable Package for Visual Studio 2012

         Note: The system requirements for the Visual C++ redistributable package do not mention support for Windows Server 2016 or Windows Server 2019, but the redistributable package is safe to install on these versions of Windows.

  1. If you aren't going to use Exchange Setup to install the required Windows components (in the wizard or from the command line), run the following command in Windows PowerShell:

    PowerShellCopy
    Install-WindowsFeature ADLDS

Windows 10 client prerequisites for the Exchange 2019 management tools

  1. Install the Visual C++ Redistributable Package for Visual Studio 2012

     Note: The system requirements for the Visual C++ redistributable package do not mention support for Windows Server 2016 or Windows Server 2019, but the redistributable package is safe to install on these versions of Windows.

III.  Establish an Exchange 2016 or Exchange 2019 test environment

Before you install your first Exchange server, we recommend that you install Exchange in an isolated test environment. This approach reduces the risk of end-user downtime and negative ramifications to the production environment.

The test environment will act as your "proof of concept" for your new Exchange design and make it possible to move forward or roll back any implementations before deploying into your production environments. Having an exclusive test environment for validation and testing allows you to do pre-installation checks for your future production environments. By installing in a test environment first, we believe that your organization will have a better likelihood of success in a full production implementation.

For many organizations, the costs of building a test lab may be high because of the need to duplicate the production environment. To reduce the hardware costs associated with a prototype lab, we recommend the use of virtualization by using Hyper-V technologies in Windows Server. Hyper-V enables server virtualization, allowing multiple virtual operating systems to run on a single physical machine.

IV.  Deploy Exchange 2016 or Exchange 2019

During the deployment phase, you install Exchange into your organization. Before you begin the deployment phase, you should plan your Exchange organization.

Use the information at the following links to help you deploy Exchange.

Exchange Setup

You can use different types and modes of Exchange Setup to install and maintain the various editions and versions of Exchange.

Exchange editions and versions

Exchange is available in two server editions: Standard Edition and Enterprise Edition. The edition you install is defined by your product key (the only available download can install both versions).

Types of Exchange Setup

You have the following options for Exchange Setup:

      • Exchange Setup wizard: Running Setup.exe without any command line switches provides an interactive experience where you're guided by the Exchange 2019 Setup wizard.
      • Exchange unattended setup: Running Setup.exe with command line switches enables you to install Exchange from an interactive command line or through a script.

Modes of Exchange Setup

Exchange setup includes the following modes:

      • Install: Install a new server role (Mailbox server, Edge Transport server, or Management tools). This mode is available in the Exchange Setup wizard and unattended setup.
      • Uninstall: Remove the Exchange installation from a computer. You can use this mode from both the Exchange Setup wizard and unattended setup.
      • Upgrade: Install a CU on an existing Exchange server. You can use this mode from both the Exchange Setup wizard and unattended setup.
         Note
        Exchange doesn't support in-place upgrades from previous versions. This mode is used only to install CUs.
      • RecoverServer: You need to recover data from the Exchange server after a catastrophic failure. To do this, you install a new Windows server with the same FQDN as the failed server (for example, mailbox01.contoso.com), and then run Exchange Setup with the /Mode:RecoverServer switch without specifying the Exchange server roles to restore.
        Setup detects the Exchange server object in Active Directory and installs the corresponding files and configuration automatically. After you recover the server, you can restore databases and reconfigure any additional settings. To run in RecoverServer mode:
        • Exchange can't be already installed on the server.
        • The Exchange server object must exist in Active Directory.
        • You can only use unattended setup.

         Note: You must complete one mode of Setup before you can use another mode.

V.  Exchange Server Prerequisites

The following topics provide information about deploying new installations of Exchange 2019 in your organization:

Install Exchange Mailbox servers using the Setup wizard

Install Exchange using unattended mode

Install Exchange Edge Transport servers using the Setup wizard

Delegate the installation of Exchange servers

Exchange dev/test environment in Azure

After you've completed your installation, see Exchange post-installation tasks.


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