Installing Microsoft Exchange 2013: How to Install the Client Access Server (CAS) Server Role

This post will cover how to install the CAS server role of Exchange 2013.  I will be installing the CAS server on TX-CAS1 for our post but will install the CAS role on the remainder of the CAS servers in the lab so we can begin the fun configurations built into Exchange 2013.

Installing Exchange 2013 CAS Server Role Pre-Requisites

• If you do not installed any pre-requisites, you will receive the an error during pre-requisite checks.  We need to install the Microsoft Unified Communications Managed API 4.0.
• Since the package requires the Media Foundation feature, you will need to install it before running the API installation and restart the computer after the install.
• You can install from Add roles or features or run the following PowerShell
• Install-WindowsFeature Server-Media-Foundation -Restart
• Now, install the UCMA package and run setup from the Exchange media
• You can download the package from here

Installing the CAS Server Role for Exchange 2013

• Once the Exchange 2013 media is mounted to your machine, run setup

• Check for Updates?: I will select Don't check for updates right now and click Next. 
• Since my lab is not connected to the internet and I want to post how to install Exchange 2013 CU2 in my next post.

• Copying Files: This can take a few minutes for Exchange to copy the necessary files to your hard drive.
• Initializing Setup: After the copy completes, setup will need to initialize.  This will only take a few seconds.

• Introduction: Click Next

• License Agreement: Select I accept the terms in the license agreement and click Next

• Recommended Settings: Select Use recommended settings to get through the installation.  All customization can be done after the fact.  Click Next

• Server Role Selection: Select Client Access role and be sure to leave the Automatically install Windows Server roles and features that are required to install Exchange Server checked unless you have already done so.  Click Next

• Installation Space and Location: Choose where you would like to install the CAS server role and click Next.  I am choosing to use the C:\ partition since this is a CAS server and it will not require much disk space or IO.

• Readiness Checks: Exchange 2013 setup will verify the system is ready for the CAS server role.  If you did not pre-configure the server with the appropriate roles and features, setup will install them here in the background.  
• Once readiness checks complete successfully click Next
• The installation will take 15 - 30 minutes depending on your system.  

• Setup Completed: Click Finish and reboot to finish Setup

NOTE: I have run into a very particular error when installing the Mailbox server role in a domain that had a previous Exchange 2007 installation that was not fully removed cleanly.  The error occurs on Step 7 of the Mailbox server installation and mentions that an item is not in the list of possSuperiors.  IF you run into this issue, the solution can be found here and I can walk you through it as well.  Just send me a message.

This completes Installing Microsoft Exchange 2013: How to Install the Client Access Server (CAS) Server Role.

I hope this was helpful and informative to you and I would appreciate any feedback you may have.

Installing Microsoft Exchange 2013: How to Install the Mailbox Role

This post will go over the basic installation steps for installing the Mailbox and CAS server roles of Exchange 2013.  In my previous post, I went over how to prepare Active Directory for the installation of Exchange 2013 and discussed some design ideas in an earlier post.

We will go over the installation steps for our TX-MBOX1 and TX-CAS1 servers from the GUI installation on the Exchange 2013 DVD.

Installing the Mailbox Server Role

• Insert or mount the Exchange 2013 DVD in your first Mailbox Server
• You must install the Mailbox Server role first

• Check for Updates?: Select Connect to the Internet and check for updates and follow the prompts for updates.  
• I will not be selecting this option as I am in a disconnected Lab environment without internet access.  I will install any Service Pack or CU later on after the infrastructure is built out on all Exchange 2013 servers

• Copying Files...:  Exchange setup will copy files to your hard drive prior to the next step.  After a couple minutes it will move on to the next screen.

• Introduction: Click Next

• License Agreement:  Select I accept the terms in the license agreement and click Next

• Recommended Settings:  Choose Use recommended settings if you would like to send error report data to Microsoft and click Next

• Server Role Selection: If this is your first Exchange 2013 server you must install the Mailbox role first.  You may also choose to select the CAS server role if this is a dual purpose server and there will be additional CAS options required if you do.  These will be covered in the How to Install the CAS Server Role. Click Next
• Leave the Automatically install Windows Server roles an features that are required to install Exchange Server check box selected unless you want to manually configure the required roles and features.  

• Installation Space and Location: Change the drive letter of the installation if you would like and click Next.  
• I highly recommend leaving the folder structure in tact because you will find that all articles and scripts reference the default path.

• Malware Protection Settings: Always select No not disable Malware scanning.  Even if you have a third party scanner I still recommend using the built in Malware scanner to provide an additional layer of protection for your Enterprise.  The overhead is minimal compared to the benefit.

• Readiness Checks:  The installation will now begin it's final checks before you can install Exchange 2013.  Once the checks have completed, click Install.
• My first run at the installation has failed with the following readiness checks.
• The computer requires the Microsoft Unified Communications Managed API4.0, Core Runtime 64-bit 
• Download From Here
• The computer requires the Microsoft Office 2010 Filter Packs - Version 2.0
• Download From Here - Be sure to download the 64-bit version
• This computer requires the Microsoft Office 2010 Filter Packs - Version 2.0 - Service Pack 1
• Download From Here
• These are all known prerequisites and are listed on Microsoft's site for installing Exchange found here.

• Setup Completed: Click Finish to complete the installation.  Be sure to reboot the machine after you complete the installation.

NOTE: I have run into a very particular error when installing the Mailbox server role in a domain that had a previous Exchange 2007 installation that was not fully removed cleanly.  The error occurs on Step 7 of the Mailbox server installation and mentions that an item is not in the list of possSuperiors.  IF you run into this issue, the solution can be found here and I can walk you through it as well.  Just send me a message.

This concludes Installing Microsoft Exchange 2013: How to Install the Mailbox Role.

I hope this was helpful and informative to you and I would appreciate any feedback you may have.

Preparing Active Directory for Exchange 2013: Running PrepareSchema, PrepareAD, and PrepareDomain

This post will go over how to prepare Active Directory for Exchange 2013.  I will show you how to run the preparation commands on your AD infrastructure.

Before running these commands you will need to be a member of the Schema Admins, Enterprise Admins and Domain Admins groups.

Also, you should note that the prepare commands should be run from the Schema Master DC and to make life easy, you may want to transfer all FSMO roles to the same DC.

To check and transfer roles, please see my post below.

How to transfer FSMO Roles

For more information on what each of these commands performs, please see Planning Active Directory for Exchange 2013: PrepareSchema, PrepareAD and PrepareDomain

How to run PrepareSchema

• Mount the Exchange 2013 DVD on the DC and change to the root of the Disc from Powershell
• Run the following command from an elevated PowerShell prompt
• .\setup.exe /prepareSchema /IAcceptExchangeServerLicenseTerms
• The /IAccepExchangeServerLicenseTerms switch must be run for all commands from the Exchange 2013 Disc

• When the /prepareSchema command completes you will see the above output
• This will add the objects for MSExchange to the AD schema

• After the command completes, you will need to be sure that replication has completed throughout the domain before running the next command.

How to run PrepareAD

• Run the following from an elevated PowerShell prompt
• .\setup.exe /prepareAD /OrganizationName:<yourOrganizationName>  /IAcceptExchangeServerLicenseTerms

• When /prepareAD completes you will see the Microsoft Exchange Security Groups OU in ADUC

How to run PrepareAllDomains

• Run the following command from an elevated PowerShell prompt
• .\setup.exe /prepareSchema /IAcceptExchangeServerLicenseTerms

After these commands complete, you are ready for your first Mailbox Role installation in the Domain.  Again, be sure to allow replication to complete before running the installation.

This concludes Preparing Active Directory for Exchange 2013: Running PrepareSchema, PrepareAD, and PrepareDomain.

I hope this was helpful and informative to you and I would appreciate any feedback you may have.