Exchange Server 2016/19 Installation Step By Step

Exchange Server 2016/19 Installation

This guide shows how to install Exchange Server 2016 or 2019 step by step.

In this guide, we will install Exchange Server on Windows Server 2016 or 2019.

Before starting, you must install all the required setup files (called prerequisites).

After installing these prerequisites, make sure you are logged in with an admin account.

This account should have special permissions like Enterprise Admin and Schema Admin.

Before you install Exchange Server on your Windows Server, there are a few important things to remember.

One important step is to update (extend) your Active Directory schema.

Here are some of the topics that I strongly recommend you to go through first before setting up Exchange 2016:

Exchange Server 2016 Prerequisites

Exchange Server 2019 Prerequisites
Exchange Server 2016 Installation (Simple Guide)

Exchange Server 2016 can be installed on Windows Server 2012 or Windows Server 2012 R2.

But Windows Server 2012 R2 is better because it is more stable.

You can use either Standard edition or Datacenter edition of Windows Server to run Exchange Server 2016.

Requirements Before Installation

Before installing Exchange Server 2016, you need to install some required software:

Microsoft .NET Framework 4.5.2

Unified Communications Managed API 4.0
Prepare Active Directory

Before installing Exchange, you must prepare your Active Directory and its domains.

In my example, I am installing Exchange 2016 on a server with Windows Server 2012 R2 Datacenter edition.

The account used for installation must be part of:

Enterprise Admins group

Schema Admins group
Why Active Directory Preparation is Needed

Exchange Server needs Active Directory to store:

User mailbox information

Exchange server settings
Install .NET Framework 4.5.2

First, install Microsoft .NET Framework 4.5.2 on the server where you want to install Exchange 2016.

Download the .NET Framework 4.5.2 file, install it, and then click Finish when it is done.

Install Remote Tools Using PowerShell

Next, open Windows PowerShell and run this command:

Install-WindowsFeature RSAT-ADDS

This command installs the required Remote Server Administration Tools.

Requirements for Exchange Mailbox Server Role

In this section, we will learn what needs to be installed before setting up the Mailbox Server role on Exchange 2016.

First, open Windows PowerShell as an administrator.

Then run the required command to install all the needed Windows features.

After the installation is complete, you must restart the server to finish the setup.

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

Requirements for Edge Server Role

If you want to install the Edge Server role, you need to install some required Windows components.

To do this, run the given command in Windows PowerShell.

Install-WindowsFeature ADLDS

Extend the Active Directory Schema

Before installing Exchange Server 2016, you need to update (extend) the Active Directory schema and prepare your Active Directory.

First, open (mount) the Exchange Server 2016 setup files.

Then open Command Prompt as an administrator and go to the folder where the setup files are located.

Once you successfully enter the below command, the prerequisite analysis and extending AD schema steps should shows the status as Completed.

Setup.exe /PrepareSchema /IAcceptExchangeServerLicenseTerms

Install Required API and Fix Error

Next, download and install Unified Communications Managed API 4.0 Runtime.

Also, run the command below to fix this error:

“RSAT-Clustering-CmdInterface is not installed”

This error means a required Windows component is missing.

So, install it first before starting the Exchange setup.

Install-WindowsFeature RSAT-Clustering-CmdInterface

Install Exchange Server 2016

First, download the Exchange Server 2016 setup files from the Microsoft website.

Then log in to the computer where you want to install Exchange.

Go to the folder where the setup files are saved.

Double-click the Setup file to start the installation.
Check for Updates

During setup, you will see a page asking about updates.

You have two choices:

Connect to the Internet and check for updates

This will download and install updates automatically before continuing.

Don’t check for updates right now

You can install updates later manually.

After choosing one option, click Next to continue.

The Introduction page begins the process of installing Exchange into your organization. Click Next to continue.
Accept License Agreement

On the License Agreement page, read the terms and conditions.

Then select “I accept the terms in the license agreement”.

After that, click Next to continue.

On the Recommended settings page, select whether you want to use the recommended settings.
Choose Settings

If you choose Use recommended settings, Exchange will automatically send error reports and some system information to Microsoft.

If you choose Don’t use recommended settings, this feature will stay turned off.
You can turn it on later if you want.

After choosing, click Next.
Choose Server Role

On this page, you need to choose what you want to install:

Mailbox role (main Exchange server role)
Or only Management Tools

If you install the Mailbox role, the management tools will be installed automatically.
Install Required Features

Select the option:
Automatically install required Windows roles and features

This will let the setup install all needed things for you.

If you choose this option, the server may restart during installation.

If you don’t select it, you will need to install everything manually.

After that, click Next.
Malware Protection Settings

If you are installing the Mailbox role, you will see the Malware Protection page.

Here, you can choose to:

Enable malware scanning (recommended)
Or Disable malware scanning

If you disable it now, you can turn it on later.

After choosing, click Next.

On the Readiness Checks page, ensure all readiness checks have completed successfully. To install Exchange Server 2016, click Install.

Once the setup is complete, click Finish. Restart the computer after Exchange Server 2016 has completed.
Open Exchange Admin Center

Now let’s open the Exchange Admin Center.

Open your web browser and type this address:

https://exchangeServerFQDN/ECP

This will open the Exchange Admin Center page.

Enter your username and password, then click Sign In.

You are now ready to explore the options available in Exchange admin center.