Exchange Server 2016 is a 9th major release for Exchange on premise and 4th major release for Exchange online. Exchange Server 2016 is a very mature messaging platform which comes with simplified architecture and enhanced features. In this post, I am describing how to prepare for Exchange Server 2016 installation and part 2 of this article will describe how to install Exchange Server 2016.
It is quite simple to install Exchange Server 2016 in a green field environment while for the coexistent with Exchange Server 2010 or 2016, you have to make sure the following things;
- Exchange Server 2010 must be running with at least SP3 RU11
- Exchange Server 2013 must be running with at least CU10
- Coexistence with Exchange 2007 is not supported.
Installation process is as same as the previous versions of Exchange.
First of all, arrange all the prerequisites and Exchange Server 2016 media.
Download Exchange Server 2016 RTM
Download .Net Framework 4.5.2
Download UCMA 4.0
Your Active Directory must be running on Windows Server 2008 or later operating system and FFL/DFL must be set to Windows Server 2008 or higher.
You can install Exchange Server 2016 on Windows Server 2012 or Windows Server 2012 R2.
See Hardware requirements for Exchange Server 2016
In this post, I am describing two node Exchange deployment with Windows Server 2012 R2.
Install operating system, configure IP and join computer to the domain.
Install .Net Framework 4.5.2 on one of the server.
Run Install-WindowsFeature RSAT-ADDS
Note: To prepare AD, user should be member of Schema Admins, Enterprise Admins and Domain Admins.
Now copy Exchange binaries and prepare schema
Setup.exe /PrepareSchema /IAcceptExchangeServerLicenseTerms
Once Schema is prepared successfully then prepare AD
Setup.exe /PrepareAD /OrganizationName:”YourExchangeOrganizationName” /IAcceptExchangeServerLicenseTerms
Finally prepare all domains or a particular domain based on your requirement.
Setup.exe /PrepareAllDomains /IAcceptExchangeServerLicenseTerms
You can also perform Active Directory preparation from any Exchange management server. Next part of this post will describe how to install Exchange Server 2016.
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