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.