Step by Step guide on how to install Exchange Server 2010 Beta - Part 1

Introduction

Just got my hands on this latest new messaging product from Microsoft, and this has been one of the most anticipated products - Microsoft Exchange Server 2010 Beta (code named Exchange 14). You may can find the download link here [1], if you wish to test this out in your environment.

Design Diagram @MyLab

Below is the Exchange Server 2010 design in my Lab setup, all the servers are virtualized.

Prerequisites

Before installing Exchange Server 2010, here are the prerequisites to be installed in all the servers

1. Net Framework 3.5
2. Powershell 2.0 CTP 3
3. Windows Remote Management

The above three components must be installed regardless of which role you wish to install.

Step by Step

1. Prepare your forest and organization in Active Directory

First you need to do the Schema preparation. Since this is a fresh new setup in the lab, I will perform the preparation on domain controller

Run Setup from the directory where your Exchange 2010 installation files are located. Here is the cmdlets

Setup /PrepareSchema or Setup /ps

*If you are running the prep process on the computer which is member of the forest or domain, and the OS is Windows Server 2008, you need to install the following component before executing the prep.

ServerManagerCmd -i RSAT-ADDS

Below screen capture shows that its completed.

Next, you will need to prep the domain and organization. Here is the cmdlet

Setup /p /on:SG or Setup /PrepareAD /OrganizationName:SG (where SG is my organization name in the Lab)

Now we have done the initial preparation. The forest and domain are ready to have the first Exchange 2010 server installed.

2. Install first Exchange 2010 server

We will do that on server "Bugis" which will have Client Access Role, Transport Role and Mailbox Role. But we will eventually remove the Mailbox role and deploy DAG on server "Outram", "Redhill" and "Dover". There is a reason behind why I choose to have 3 mailbox servers to form a DAG. That will be discussed in my future articles soon.

There are additional components needed before Exchange installation.,

As my first Exchange server is a combination all the 3 roles mentione above, I used the following command (refer the below screen capture)

ServerManagerCmd -i Web-Server Web-Metabase Web-Lgcy-Mgmt-Console Web-Basic-Auth Web-Windows-Auth Web-Net-Ext Web-Digest-Auth Web-Dyn-Compression NET-HTTP-Activation Web-ISAPI-Ext RPC-over-HTTP-proxy RSAT-ADDS

Here is the break down of what you will need to install in role level.

Client Access Role

ServerManagerCmd -i Web-Server Web-Metabase Web-Lgcy-Mgmt-Console Web-Basic-Auth Web-Windows-Auth Web-Net-Ext Web-Digest-Auth Web-Dyn-Compression NET-HTTP-Activation Web-ISAPI-Ext RPC-over-HTTP-proxy RSAT-ADDS

Transport Role

ServerManagerCmd -i Web-Server Web-Metabase Web-Lgcy-Mgmt-Console Web-Basic-Auth Web-Windows-Auth Web-Net-Ext RSAT-ADDS

Mailbox Role

ServerManagerCmd -i Web-Server Web-Metabase Web-Lgcy-Mgmt-Console Web-Basic-Auth Web-Windows-Auth Web-Net-Ext RSAT-ADDS

*For Mailbox Role, you have to install another component call "MSFilter Pack [2]"

After the installation, you are required to perform restart server.

There are some updates & fixes need to be applied in specific.

Client Access Role

KB951725 [3], KB950888 [4], KB952664 [5], KB953290 [6]

Transport Role

KB951725 [3], KB950888 [4], KB952664 [5]

Mailbox Role

KB951725 [3], KB950888 [4], KB952664 [5]

Now we are truly ready for the installation. I will not talk about installation using UI, because I prefer using command line.

Execute the command as shown in the screen capture below.

Here are the definitions of the parameters

/m = /mode

/r = /role, /roles

H = Transport or you can use HT

C = Client Access or you can use CA

M = Mailbox or you can use MB

Just hit "Enter" and sit back enjoy your coffee or newspaper. :-)

Voila, you have now completed the installation and enjoy. (below are the two screenshots of new Exchange Management Console and OWA after installation)

Let me conclude this article with Quiz.

What was the significant difference you noticed in the above Exchange Management Console screen capture? Please send your answer to my Twitter @tristonwan (http://twitter.com/trsitonwan [7]) and if you like this article please tweet this.

Related Links

1. Installing Exchange 2010 Beta: Quick Preparation [8]
2. How to Install Exchange Server 2010 Unified Messaging Beta [9]