Installing Exchange 2013 On Windows 2008 R2 SP1

Exchange 2013 can be installed on either Windows 2008 R2 SP1 or 2012. In this article, I will go through the steps to install 2013 on a 2008 R2 SP1 server.

Before touching the Exchange 2013 ISO, all prerequisites have to be met. Read my previous article (here) and prepare the server for the new version of Exchange.

Once the prereqs are installed, run the setup from the Exchange 2013 dvd/iso. Make your selection for checking the updates and click Next.

The setup will start copying the 2013 files. Click Next when done.

You will be presented with the Introduction page, click Next.

Accept the license and click Next.

Make your selection on reporting the errors to Microsoft and click Next.

Setup will check whether all prerequisites are met and click Next if they are installed.

Select the server roles you want to be installed. Note that Management Tools and the option to automatically install roles & features are enabled by default.

Select the folder in which you want Exchange to be installed.

Give a name for your Exchange Org & select whether you need split permission model. Note that the preview version of Exchange 2013 doesn’t co-exist with 2007 or 2010.

Something new in 2013, the malware protection is build into the product.

Configure the CAS with the url to be used for Exchange services.

Select whether you want to be part of the customer experience improvement program & Click Next.

Setup goes through the final readiness check and click Next once the checks are successful.

The setup will start installing Exchange 2013. There are 15 steps and it will take a while. Go get a coffee at this stage

Click Complete when the installation finishes.

Reboot the server, login and you will have the Exchange 2013 Toolbox (yes, no more EMC) and Shell.

The 2013 toolbox has only four tools in it.

This completes the installation of Exchange 2013 on a Windows 2008 R2 SP1 server.