Installing Exchange Server 2013 Step by Step

The following is the step by step guide on how to install Microsoft Exchange Server 2013 RTM.

The environment:

• Windows Server 2012 Active Directory with Windows Server 2012 Forest and Domain functional level
• Windows Server 2012 member server which is to be installed with Exchange Server 2013

Installation Steps

On the member server install the Remote Server Administration Tools using PowerShell

Install-WindowsFeature RSAT-ADDS

Install the Exchange Server 2013 Prerequisites (run the below command using PowerShell)

Install-WindowsFeature AS-HTTP-Activation, Desktop-Experience, NET-Framework-45-Features, RPC-over-HTTP-proxy, RSAT-Clustering, RSAT-Clustering-CmdInterface, 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

Upon running the above command Restart your server

Apart from the above, you would have to install the below

• Unified Communications Managed API 4.0 Runtime
• Microsoft Office 2010 Filter Packs
• Service Pack 1 for Microsoft Office Filter Pack 2010 (KB2460041) 64-bit Edition 

Now the prerequisites installation is done and we can move on to installing Exchange Server 2013

Prepare Schema and AD

Prepare the Active Directory Schema to install Exchange Server 2013 (basically this will extend the schema). You will have to insert the Exchange Server 2013 RTM DVD (Media Kit)

— Assumption, DVD ROM drive letter is D:\ and Exchange Server Installation Setup path is D:\Setup.exe —

• Open PowerShell or CMD in admin mode

D:\Setup.exe /PrepareSchema /IAcceptExchangeServerLicenseTerms

Or

D:\Setup.exe /PS /IAcceptExchangeServerLicenseTerms

• Now that the Schema is being prepared, we will have to move on to the next step and prepare the Active Directory Topolgy.

Before you run this command you should have your Exchange Server 2013 Organization name

D:\Setup.exe /PrepareAD /OrganizationName:<name> /IAcceptExchangeServerLicenseTerms

Or

D:\Setup.exe /PAD /OrganizationName:<name> /IAcceptExchangeServerLicenseTerms

Now that the Schema and the AD are prepared,

Run the Exchange Server Setup from the DVD (Run as Administrator)

It will request to check for updates, select Connect to the internet and check for updates and click next

necessary updates will be downloaded , in my case there was no updates

Files are being copied to install Exchange Server 2013

Initializing the Exchange Server 2013 Setup

Gives and Introduction to the Exchange Server 2013, upon reading click next

 

Accept the License Agreement (you are supposed to read this) and click next

I will have left the default setting of selecting the “Use Recommended Settings” option and click next

The Server roles that are to be installed select and click next. Notice that Exchange Server 2013 does not contain all the server roles that were introduced in Exchange 2007 and 2010. It has been reduced to 2 now (to read more click here)

The path of the installation and the required space for the installation. click next upon making the changes

Malware Protection Settings – I am leaving it on – default setting and click next

Readiness check – whether your server is ready for Exchange 2013, click install once done

Installation begins and it has 14 steps. It will take some time

Setup completion, read and click finish.

Exchange Server 2013 program shortcuts on Windows Server 2012. Note that the Exchange Management Console (EMC) is no where to be seen. This is because the traditional EMC is being moved to a web interface

https://servername/owa

Log in page for the Web Based Exchange Admin center (Equivalent to EMC). login using your admin credentials

The admin center interface.