Install the Exchange Server 2010 on organization without any existing Exchange system (part 3 of 3)

Although a typical Exchange 2010 installation will deploy the Hub Transport, Client Access and Mailbox roles on a single server, we want to deploy only role on a server in this circumstance and also need to consider the following factors:
     ● In each Active Directory site, we have to deploy the Mailbox and Hub Transport   role for email messages to flow.
     ● In each Active Directory site, we must deploy at least one client access that has a mailbox server.
     ● We can combine the Mailbox, Hub Transport, Client Access and Unified Message roles on a single server.
     ● We cannot deploy the Edge Transport role on the server with other roles.

Due to we will install the first Exchange 2010 in one domain, the installation account will be a member of the Organization Management groups in this domain
and the local Administrators group.
So I create a new account in AD. After assign the above permission to an account next to logon the server by this account, we will begin to run setup.exe command for deploying Exchange system with Client Access Role when insert the Exchange Server 2010 installation media.

In the moment, we must choose which Exchange Language Options will be installed.
So that select “Install only languages from the DVD” now
Once this is done, we will begin to Install Microsoft Exchange software.
Click Next > button if we have already read the introduction information.
Choose I accept the terms in the license agreement option next to click Next > button
To determine whether you want to forward error reporting to Microsoft next to click Next > button
Click Next > button after decide Custom Exchange Server Installation option and select the right path for the Exchange Server program files

In the moment, we will choose Client Access Role check box and click Browse… button to select the installation path for Exchange Server program files next to click Next > button

Due to this Client Access Server also supply the internet-facing services as Outlook Anywhere, we will enable The Client Access server role will be Internet-facing check box and enter a domain name as mymail.dw.com next to click Next > button

You will be required as to whether you wish to participate in the Customer Experience Improvement Program. I don’t want to join this so that select I don’t wish to join the program at this time option next to click Next > button

After Exchange Server 2010 complete a set of readiness checks based on the roles that you have chosen, you can click Install button to go the next process if these readiness check success.

By using the graphical setup tool of Exchange Server 2010, it will show up finally
a setup summary detailing and tell us whether each step of the setup process has completed. If setup completes, click Finish button to close the Exchange setup wizard or enable Finalize this installation using the Exchange Management Console check box to open EMC.

In EMC, it will display the information and remind you that product key will expire after 119 days.
By Navigating to Server Configuration and right-click Client Access Server next to select Enter Product Key… or directly select it in the Action pane
Enter Product Key next to click Enter button
So does that this server will have legal Product Key now.
Until now, we have already finish installing Exchange Server 2010 with Client Access role. Of course, we also need to install the Exchange hotfix by windows update then.
As to other roles installation, it is different with the above step that we just select the right option when the wizard progress in the Server Role selection.

<<<   Install the Exchange Server 2010 on organization without any existing Exchange system (part 2 of 3)

 Install the Exchange Server 2010 on organization without any existing Exchange system (part 1 of 3)   >>>

Install the Exchange Server 2010 on organization without any existing Exchange system (part 2 of 3)

Before install Exchange 2010 on the prepared host server, we have to confirm that the server must meet the minimum hardware requirements(#1) and the operating system also is an x64 version of Windows Server 2008 with Service Pack 2 or Windows Server 2008 R2.

Based on the different roles and performance state, maybe we need to correct hardware specification. So I refer to Microsoft suggestion and write down the summary as follows:

After prepare the hardware and install the operating system, we also need to ensure whether the additional components(#2) have been installed on the host server before begin to install Exchange Server 2010.

And each Exchange 2010 role will depend on different Window Server 2008 and 2008 R2 roles, role service, and feature. There are several methods through which we can install the required roles, role service, and feature on a server that will host Exchange Server 2010. The method is Server Manager Console or PowerShell Run As Administrator right.

After finish the above steps, please restart the server again so that the configuration of the server host Exchange Server 2010 will end. In next article, we will begin to install Exchange Server 2010 software and the related role.


Reference 
(#1) Exchange 2010 System CPU Requirements, Exchange 2010 System Memory Requirements , System Requirements
(#2) Download the prerequisite Components for Windows Server 2008 O.S.
Microsoft .NET Framework 3.5 Service Pack 1 ,
Microsoft .NET Framework 3.5 Family Update for Windows Vista x64, and Windows Server 2008 x64,
Windows Management Framework Core package (Windows PowerShell 2.0 and WinRM 2.0),
Download the prerequisite Components for Windows Server 2008 & 2008 R2 O.S.
2007 Office System Converter: Microsoft Filter Pack,
Microsoft Office 2010 Filter Packs

<<< Install the Exchange Server 2010 on organization without any existing Exchange system (part 1 of 3)

Install the Exchange Server 2010 on organization without any existing Exchange system (part 3 of 3)   >>>

Install the Exchange Server 2010 on organization without any existing Exchange system (part 1 of 3)

In an AD Forest, there is no any existing Exchange system as 2000, 2003 or 2007 in the production so that we will prepare a new environment for Exchange 2010. To deploy Exchange 2010 to an AD, we need to do some checklist & prerequisite prior to introduce the first Exchange 2010 to the environment.
What is that?
There is three steps need to be performed.
         Prepare Schema
         Prepare AD
         Prepare Domain

Prepare Schema
The account log on an 64-bit DC computer hosting the Schema Master role(#1) and verify the forest functional level(#2) is set to Windows Server 2003 or higher, the operation system of all DCs are Windows Server 2003(or a later O.S. as Windows Server 2008 or the above) with Service Pack 1 or later.

Before execute the Setup /PrepareSchema command, please confirm what right will do it because this account will be a member of the both the Schema Admins group and Enterprise Admins group.

If the above check is ready, we can insert & mount Exchange 2010 source image and prepare the AD Schema now. For realizing AD replication status, we can use the repadmin.exe(#3) tool to get the replication state or trigger the replication. Specially, run this command will be on before and after Prepare the AD Schema.

After Prepare Schema finish, there is new ms-Exch… object in Schema NC and the value of rangeUpper attribute of ms-Exch-Schema-Version-Pt object in Schema NC set 14622 if we view it on any DCs by ADSIEdit tool.

Prepare AD
Once the Exchange Schema has propagated into the organization, we need to run the Setup /PrepareAD /OrganizationName:<ByYouDecide> command. Due to never exist Exchange System in the production, we have to specify the name of Exchange Organization so that need to add /OrganizationName parameter.

After Prepare AD finish, it will create the related Exchange containers or objects as Microsoft Exchange Security Groups, Microsoft Exchange System Objects and so on if view it in Domain NC or Configuration NC by ADSIEdit tool.
It also set the value of objectVersion attribute of Organization container in Configuration NC to 12640
and the value of objectVersion attribute of Microsoft Exchange System Objects container in Domain NC is 12639.

Prepare DomainThe final step is preparing Domain for hosting Exchange 2010 so that we need to run the Setup /PrepareDomain command for specific domain or Setup /PrepareAllDomains command for all domains.
If you want to run Setup /PrepareAllDomains command, the account right must be a member of the Enterprise Admins group.
As to run Setup/ PrepareDomain command, the account right must be a member of the Domain Admins groups and Exchange Organization Administrators group.

Until now, we have already finished configuring the AD Environment for Exchange Server 2010. In next article, we will continue to configure the Server for hosting Exchange Server 2010.

Comment(#1) How to know which computer is Schema Master role?
By running the command dsquery server –hasfsmo schema from a command prompt

By selecting Operations Master to view it after run the command regsvr32 schmmgmt.dll

(#2) How to know what is the forest function level?By selecting Raise domain functional level to view it

(#3) How to use repadmin.exe tool?By executing repadmin /replsummary to summarize the replication state and health of a forest.
By executing repadmin /queue to display task waiting in the replication queue
By executing repadmin /showrepl /all to display all replication partners


<<<   Install the Exchange Server 2010 on organization without any existing Exchange system (part 3 of 3)

Install the Exchange Server 2010 on organization without any existing Exchange system (part 2 of 3)   >>>

Pin an application to Start Metro Style on Windows Server 2012 RC

When you logon Windows Server 2012 platform, the default screen will be Server Manager Dashboard.
If the cursor move to the bottom-left corner, the Start metro icon will show up.
Click it and the screen will go into Start Metro Style
Right-Click cursor so that the bottom bar will show up with All apps icon.
Click All apps so that go into Apps screen
In the screen, click Command Prompt icon so that the bottom bar will show up and also exist Pin to Start icon.
After click it, the Start screen will exist Command Prompt now.

Open Command Prompt on Windows Server 2012 RC

The Windows Server 2012 RC recently release for downloading and testing it. Due to its interface is rewrote, for example: Metro mode replace Start menu, so that we need to spend some time to learn the new operation.
In the moment, I will introduce how to open command prompt so that ignore the other function and operation.
 
When you log on Window Server 2012 RC, the default screen will pop up the Dashboard of Server Manager. When move the cursor to the bottom-left corner, the Start option will show up.
Please right-click the mouse so that the menu will show up and you can see Command Prompt or Command Prompt(Admin) option now

Of course, there is another method to open it.
When move the cursor to the top-right corner or bottom-right corner, the right edge of screen will show up some selection.
Click StartWe will go into the Metro User Interface. In black screen, right-click mouse so that the bottom bar will show up.
Click All apps in this bar
You also will see command prompt now.
Right-Click it so that you can select Run as administrator or Run as different user

Install Bing Desktop on Windows Server 2008 R2

The Bing Desktop attract me recently since install it on Windows 7. It can show a beautiful image on desktop screen each day and daily image is different.
Although Microsoft tell us it just can be installed on Windows 7
and it did cannot be installed on Windows Server 2008 R2 because get the error message
But I still want to try it so that begin to search the related information by Google.
What is the result?
Of course, Google is magic and I did get the method from good peoples' sharing.

How to do it?
Download BingDesktopSetup.exe from Microsoft and open it by compressed utility as Zip, PeaZip so that you will see BingDesk.msi extension file.
Extract it to one path next to open it by Microsoft Orca utility. (URL reference http://support.microsoft.com/kb/255905/en-us )

In left pane of Orca Windows, please go to InstallUISequence so that OSVersionCheck will show on right pane. Right-Click OSVersionCheck next to click Drop Row in menu
Click OK button to remove this row permanently
So does that this row will disappear and save this file now.
Try to execute BingDesk.msi so that it will successfully be installed on Windows Server 2008 R2 now.