Prepare Active Directory for Exchange Server 2019
Exchange Server 2019 stores its configuration in Active Directory. If the forest is not prepared, setup stops, so the exam often asks what to do first.
Minimum requirements
- Forest functional level: Windows Server 2012 R2 or higher.
- Domain controllers: a supported Windows Server version in the sites that hold Exchange servers. Exchange 2019 itself runs on Windows Server 2019 or later.
- Exchange 2019 can coexist only with Exchange 2013 and 2016. Older versions must be removed or upgraded first.
If the question lists Windows Server 2012 domain controllers, the fix is to upgrade the domain controllers and raise the forest functional level. Upgrading the Exchange servers alone does not help.
Preparation steps
Setup can prepare Active Directory for you, or you can run it in separate steps.
| Switch | What it does |
|---|---|
/PrepareSchema | Extends the Active Directory schema |
/PrepareAD | Creates the Exchange organization objects and groups (also extends the schema if needed) |
/PrepareAllDomains | Prepares every domain in the forest |
/PrepareDomain | Prepares one named domain |
Every command needs the license switch:
Setup.exe /PrepareAD /OrganizationName:"Contoso" /IAcceptExchangeServerLicenseTerms_DiagnosticDataONSchema changes need membership in Schema Admins and Enterprise Admins.
Verify the preparation
Two reliable methods:
- Read the Exchange Setup log (ExchangeSetup.log in C:\ExchangeSetupLogs).
- Use ADSI Edit to check the
rangeUppervalue of thems-Exch-Schema-Version-Ptobject, and theobjectVersionvalues of the Microsoft Exchange container and the Microsoft Exchange System Objects container.
Get-ADForest shows forest data such as the functional level, and dcdiag tests domain controller health. Neither shows that Exchange is prepared.
Permissions to install
| Situation | Group needed |
|---|---|
| First Exchange server in the forest | Enterprise Admins |
| Additional server, AD already prepared | Organization Management |
| Server already provisioned by an admin | Delegated Setup |
An admin provisions the server with Setup.exe /NewProvisionedServer:EX05. Then a user in Delegated Setup installs it. That is the least privilege answer.
Editions and licenses
Exchange 2019 Standard supports up to 5 databases per server, Enterprise up to 100. Archive mailboxes need an Enterprise CAL for the user, not just a bigger server edition.
Exam traps
- Upgrading the Exchange server OS does not raise the forest functional level.
- /PrepareAD includes the schema, but /PrepareSchema alone does not create the organization.
- Get-ADForest and dcdiag do not prove that Exchange preparation succeeded.
- Organization Management is more than needed when the question says least privilege and the server is provisioned.
- Standard and Enterprise server editions are not the same as Standard and Enterprise CALs.
Practice questions
Choose an answer, then review the explanation to check your understanding.
1. Your domain controllers run Windows Server 2012 Datacenter and the forest functional level is 2008 R2. You plan to install Exchange Server 2019. What is the minimum change that meets the requirements?
Show answer
Answer: B.Exchange 2019 needs a forest functional level of Windows Server 2012 R2 or higher, and domain controllers that run a supported version of Windows Server.
2. User1 must install Exchange Server 2019 on a server that an Exchange administrator has already provisioned in Active Directory. Which group gives the least privilege?
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Answer: C.The Delegated Setup role group can install Exchange on a provisioned server and nothing more.
3. Which method confirms that the Active Directory schema was extended for Exchange?
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Answer: C.ADSI Edit shows the Exchange schema and object versions, and the Exchange Setup log records each preparation step. Get-ADForest and dcdiag do not show Exchange preparation.
4. You want to prepare the schema in a separate step, before the Exchange team arrives. Which setup switch do you run?
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Answer: B./PrepareSchema only extends the schema. /PrepareAD also creates the organization objects.