How to Install Exchange Server 2010 – Part1 – Step by Step

Hi Everyone,

                As you saw from my previous blog, I already have a separate HYPER-V environment.
Below are the Virtual Machines which are setup right now:

1.       DC1.Evolve.com
    a.       Server hosts Active Directory/DNS role

2.       MBX1.evolve.com   
    a.       Will host the Mailbox Role
3.       MBX2.evolve.com
    a.       Will host the Mailbox Role
4.       CAS1.evolve.com
    a.       Will host the Mailbox Role
5.       HUB1.evolve.com
    a.       Will host the HUB transport role
6.       Client1.evolve.com
    a.       Will have Windows 7 + Outlook 2007 , this is where we will do all of our testings

As you see, only the domain controller is setup at the moment.
Remaining all the servers are not configured yet, I will do them one at a time and I will update the blog along, so we learn the system as we go.

Let’s jump in, before we install Exchange Server 2010, there are few pre-requistes which needs to be installed, so let’s take a look at them.

Directory Servers:             
   Schema master
By default, the schema master runs on the first Windows Server 2003 or Windows Server 2008 or Windows Server 2008 R2 domain controller installed in a forest. The schema master must be running any of the following:
    * Windows Server 2003 Standard Edition with Service Pack 1 (SP1) or later (32-bit or 64-bit)
    * Windows Server 2003 Enterprise Edition with SP1 or later (32-bit or 64-bit)
    * Windows Server 2008 Standard or Enterprise (32-bit or 64-bit)
    * Windows Server 2008 R2 Standard or Enterprise

Global catalog server
In each Active Directory site where you plan to install Exchange 2010, you must have at least one global catalog server running any of the following:

    * Windows Server 2003 Standard Edition with SP1 or later (32-bit or 64-bit)
    * Windows Server 2003 Enterprise Edition with SP1 or later (32-bit or 64-bit)
    * Windows Server 2008 Standard or Enterprise (32-bit or 64-bit)
    * Windows Server 2008 R2 Standard or Enterprise

Domain controller
In each Active Directory site where you plan to install Exchange 2010, you must have at least one writeable domain controller running any of the following:

    * Windows Server 2003 Standard Edition with SP1 or later (32-bit or 64-bit)
    * Windows Server 2003 Enterprise Edition with SP1 or later (32-bit or 64-bit)
    * Windows Server 2008 Standard or Enterprise (32-bit or 64-bit)
    * Windows Server 2008 R2 Standard or Enterprise

Active Directory forest

Active Directory must be at Windows Server 2003 forest functionality mode or higher.
LAB which I have setup is all Windows server 2008 R2 and all fresh and they are in the “Windows Server 2003” forest functional level.

It is good to have a 64bit Directory Architecture, as per MS it is recommended for better performance.


Hardware:
                Yes, we all know Exchange 2010 can only run on 64 bit hardware and 64 bit OS.
                And we have enough disk space/memory/paging file / ntfs etc which are some of the pre-requisites  needed, all this are satisfied part of my LAB, so our lab is good to go for Exchange Server 2010.

OS:
                OS should be running on a 64 bit processor.
                Atleast Windows 2008 SP2 Standard (64 bit edition)

Management Tools:

                One of the following:

    * Windows Vista with SP2 for management tools only installation
    * 64-bit edition of Windows Server 2008 Standard with SP2
    * 64-bit edition of Windows Server 2008 Enterprise with SP2
    * 64-bit edition of Windows Server 2008 R2 Standard
    * 64-bit edition of Windows Server 2008 R2 Enterprise
    * Windows 7

That is it for now in this part, meet you in the next part....

Adios..... 

~T