The following section describes a step-by-step guide for the installation of Microsoft® Exchange Server 2016. The installation considers a single server deployment of Exchange Server 2016 with the Mailbox role. Additional details of the topology and architecture of the lab environment which was used in the installation is described here;

 

1. Operating System Support for Exchange Server 2016

The following operating systems are supported;

 

 

2. Active Directory Preparation

The first task in the installation of any version of Exchange is to prepare the Active Directory environment where the Exchange Server will be placed.

However, prior to the preparation, it should be checked against the following Network and Directory Server requirements;

Once the above requirements are verified for consistency, proceed with the following preparation tasks on the server/computer which will be used to prepare the Active Directory using the Exchange Server 2016 Active Directory Prepare module.

Download and Install Microsoft .Net Framework 4.5

http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=42642

 

1. Open Windows PowerShell and run the following command to install the Remote Tools Administration Pack.

Install-WindowsFeature RSAT-ADDS

 

 

3 Server role prerequisite installation

The prerequisites for Exchange 2016 varies on the server role which will be associated with it. The section describes the installation of Exchange 2016 on a server containing Windows Server 2012 R2 Operating System.

3.1 Prerequisites for Mailbox Server Role

The following section instructs the prerequisite installation that should be performed in a server running a standalone Exchange 2016 server with the Mailbox Server Role.

1. Open a Windows PowerShell session by navigating to Start > All Programs > Accessories > Windows
   PowerShell.
2. Run the following command to install the required Windows components.

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

 

 

After installing the features, Download and Install;

 

1. Microsoft .Net Framework 4.5https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=42642&tduid=%24b0e247560194e91bace58dbeb78b2546%24%24256380%24%242459594%24%24TnL5HPStwNw-u2IzFtkCkn6I9speKLeQhw%24%24%24
2. Microsoft Unified Communications Managed API 4.0, Core Runtime 64-bit

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=34992&tduid=%24b0e247560194e91bace58dbeb78b2546%24%24256380%24%242459594%24%24TnL5HPStwNw-lTNTyPCGTqNbP9EliKz3iA%24%24%24

 

3.2 Prerequisites for Edge Server Role

The following section instructs the prerequisite installation that should be performed in a server running a standalone Exchange 2016 server with the Mailbox Server Role.

1. Open a Windows PowerShell session by navigating to Start > All Programs > Accessories > Windows
   PowerShell.
2. Run the following command to install the required Windows components.

Install-WindowsFeature ADLDS

3. After installing the features, Download and Install Microsoft .Net Framework 4.5

 

When attempting to install the Microsoft Communications Managed API 4.0 on a Windows Server 2012 machine. You get the following error;

 

Setup has detected that this computer does not meet the requirements to install this software. The following blocking issue must be resolved before you can install Microsoft Unified Communications Managed API 4.0, Runtime software package.

Microsoft Unified Communications Managed API 4.0, Runtime required the following missing Windows Features.
-Media Foundation

Solution

Add Media Foundation via PowerShell

Run the following command;

Add Media Foundation via Server Manager

1. Launch Server Manager (ServerManager.exe) > Manage > Add Roles and Features > Next > Next > Next > Scroll Down > Select Media Foundation > Next > Install

 

4 Prepare Active Directory and domains

To prepare the active Directory and the Domains for Exchange 2016, follow the following steps. To execute the commands, the commands should be run using the Schema Admins group and the Enterprise Admins group membership.

4.1 Extend Active Directory Schema

1. Mount the Exchange Server 2016 installation Media
2. Open up a Command Prompt session and navigate to the setup files from the command prompt
3. Type the following command followed by an Enter

Setup.exe /PrepareSchema /IAcceptExchangeServerLicenseTerms

 

 

 

3.2 Prerequisites for Edge Server Role

The following section instructs the prerequisite installation that should be performed in a server running a standalone Exchange 2016 server with the Mailbox Server Role.

1. Open a Windows PowerShell session by navigating to Start > All Programs > Accessories > Windows
   PowerShell.
2. Run the following command to install the required Windows components.

Install-WindowsFeature ADLDS

3. After installing the features, Download and Install Microsoft .Net Framework 4.5

4 Prepare Active Directory and domains

To prepare the active Directory and the Domains for Exchange 2016, follow the following steps. To execute the commands, the commands should be run using the Schema Admins group and the Enterprise Admins group membership.

4.1 Extend Active Directory Schema

1. Mount the Exchange Server 2016 installation Media
2. Open up a Command Prompt session and navigate to the setup files from the command prompt
3. Type the following command followed by an Enter

Setup.exe /PrepareSchema /IAcceptExchangeServerLicenseTerms

 

5 Installing Exchange Server 2016

The below section describes the installation of the Mailbox Server role for Exchange Server 2016.

If you’re installing the first Exchange 2016 server in the organization, and the Active Directory preparation steps have not been performed, the account you use must have membership in the Enterprise Administrators group. If you haven’t previously prepared the Active Directory Schema, the account must also be a member of the Schema Admins group.

1. Log on to the server that will be used as the Mailbox server.
2. Ensure that the above prerequisites are completed.
3. Mount and navigate to the Exchange Server 2016 installation Media.
4. Start Exchange 2016 Setup by double-clicking Setup.exe.
5. On the Check for Updates page, select whether you want Setup to connect to the Internet and download product and security updates for Exchange 2016 and click Next.

 

 

Review Exchange Installation

Once all the above tasks are performed, proceed with the below steps to verify the installation using the Exchange 2016 Administrative Center and PowerShell. Like its predecessor, Exchange Server 2016 management is handled by the Exchange Admin Center. The browser based management console, EAC can be used to manage your organizations on-premises as well as Office 365 and hybrid deployment scenarios.

To Navigate to the Exchange Admin Center;

1. Open the web browser.
2. On the URL section, type the below

   https://<FQDN_of_the_Exchange_Server>/ECP