Exchange Server 2025 SE Prerequisites

Exchange Server 2025 SE Prerequisites

In this post, you will know the Exchange Server 2025 SE prerequisites and requirements.

As you know that Microsoft announces the latest Exchange server, that is Exchange Server Subscription Edition.

This is the latest version of Exchange at the time of posting this post.

Therefore, Microsoft recommends updating all older versions of Exchange to the New Exchange 2025 SE

It is free to upgrade your current Exchange 2019 CU15 to Exchange 2025 SE RTM and needs no additional License.

However, requirements and prerequisites for Exchange 2025 have not changed much.

So let’s see the requirements and Exchange Server 2025 SE Prerequisites

Supported Windows Server for Exchange Server SE Edition

The following operating systems are supported for Exchange 2025 Installation

• Windows Server 2019
• Windows Server 2022
• Windows Server 2025

For Management Tools

• Windows Server 2019
• Windows Server 2022
• Windows Server 2025
• Windows 10/11 64-bit

Active Directory Requirements for Exchange Server 2025 SE

To prepare the Active Directory for Exchange, you must be a member of the Active Directory Domain Users group.

Also, you must have the following software installed on the AD Server.

If you are running AD on Windows Server 2022

You need to install .NET Framework 4.8

Therefore, if you are running Active Directory on Windows Server 2025

Then you need to install .NET Framework 4.8.1

Also, you need the Visual C++ Redistributable Package for Visual Studio 2012

Additionally, also install the Visual C++ Redistributable Package for Visual Studio 2013

Therefore, you also need the Remote Server Administration Tool RSAT

You can easily install that by running the following cmdlet

Install-WindowsFeature RSAT-ADDS

Once you have all the above software and features installed on your Active Directory Server.

You are good to go and proceed further.

Exchange Server 2025 SE Prerequisites for Mailbox Role

You need to install the following software to get ready for the Exchange installation

Supported version of the .NET Framework according to your operating system

Visual C++ Redistributable Package for Visual Studio 2012

Visual C++ Redistributable Package for Visual Studio 2013

If you are using Skype for Business, then you need to install the Server Media Foundation by following the cmdlet

Install-WindowsFeature Server-Media-Foundation

Also, install Unified Communication Managed API 4.0

IIS URL Rewrite Module is also a must to install.

Along with the above software, you also need to install the Windows feature that supports Exchange Server 2025

For Desktop Experience

Install-WindowsFeature Server-Media-Foundation, NET-Framework-45-Core, NET-Framework-45-ASPNET, NET-WCF-HTTP-Activation45, NET-WCF-Pipe-Activation45, NET-WCF-TCP-Activation45, NET-WCF-TCP-PortSharing45, RPC-over-HTTP-proxy, RSAT-Clustering, RSAT-Clustering-CmdInterface, RSAT-Clustering-Mgmt, RSAT-Clustering-PowerShell, 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-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, RSAT-ADDS

For Server Core

Install-WindowsFeature Server-Media-Foundation, NET-Framework-45-Core, NET-Framework-45-ASPNET, NET-WCF-HTTP-Activation45, NET-WCF-Pipe-Activation45, NET-WCF-TCP-Activation45, NET-WCF-TCP-PortSharing45, RPC-over-HTTP-proxy, RSAT-Clustering, RSAT-Clustering-CmdInterface, RSAT-Clustering-PowerShell, 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-Metabase, Web-Mgmt-Service, Web-Net-Ext45, Web-Request-Monitor, Web-Server, Web-Stat-Compression, Web-Static-Content, Web-Windows-Auth, Web-WMI, RSAT-ADDS

However, MSMQ (Messaging Queue) is no longer a requirement for Exchange Server

You can remove it if already installed. To remove it run the following cmdlet

Remove-WindowsFeature NET-WCF-MSMQ-Activation45, MSMQ

Exchange Server Edge Transport Server Role Prerequisites

Supported version of the .NET Framework

Visual C++ Redistributable Package for Visual Studio 2012

Also, you need the ADLDS Windows feature, which can be installed with the following commandlet

Install-WindowsFeature ADLDS

For Exchange Server Management Tools

Install a supported version of the .NET Framework

Visual C++ Redistributable Package for Visual Studio 2012

If installing it on a Server OS, you need to install the following Windows Features

Install-WindowsFeature -Name Web-Mgmt-Console, Web-Metabase

Therefore, if you are installing it on a supported Windows client os, then install the following Windows features

Enable-WindowsOptionalFeature -Online -FeatureName IIS-ManagementConsole, IIS-Metabase -All

Conclusion

Make sure that you have all the Exchange Server 2025 SE Prerequisites installed before you proceed with the installation.

Once you have all the Exchange Server prerequisites installed, you can extend the Active Directory Schema and prepare the AD and all domains.

However, if you are installing a fresh Exchange in your environment, it is handled by the Exchange Setup itself.

But if you want to prepare it manually, you can run the following cmdlets.

To prepare and extend the Schema, assuming that you have an Exchange ISO in Drive E

E:\Setup.exe /IAcceptExchangeServerLicenseTerms_DiagnosticDataON /PrepareSchema

To prepare AD, run the following cmdlet

E:\Setup.exe /IAcceptExchangeServerLicenseTerms_DiagnosticDataON /PrepareAD /OrganizationName:"Yourorganizationname"

To prepare all domains, run the following cmdlet

E:\Setup.exe /IAcceptExchangeServerLicenseTerms_DiagnosticDataON /PrepareAllDomains

After performing all the above steps, you are good to install Exchange Server 2025 SE edition.

If you have any queries related to this post, feel free to contact us at info@techijack.com

I hope you will also like some more Exchange Server tutorials

Moreover, if you want to see the step-by-step installation of the Exchange Server 2025 prerequisites with the help of an auto script.

Watch the YouTube video for error-free installation of Exchange prerequisites via script in one go.