A few days ago, Exchange Server 2010 SP1 just released and it’s time to install a Hosted Exchange organization without HMC. Before SP1 installation, you should not install any Exchange Server on your current domain forest. If you have one, you should remove it or create a new forest for the Exchange Server 2010 SP1. What I will have in my environment:
* 2 x 1 CAS + Mailbox Role
I don’t have enough resource to split CAS and Mailbox Role. If you don’t need a huge infrastructure, you can do same thing as me. Now I’m ready to install Exchange Server 2010 SP1.
Download Microsoft Exchange Server 2010 SP1 from here:
It’s an exe file. You should extract it first. For your information, for the Hosted Exchange infrastructure, you should install SP1 by command line. There is no option on GUI for Hosted Exchange.
I’m going to install one of my Hub Transport server called EXGW01. As the first step, install required features:
Set “NetTcpPortSharing” startup type as Automatic with Powershell:
Also Exchange setup has to extend active directory scheme so you need to install:
After required features installation, you should restart the server.
When restart is completed, install Office 2010 filter pack.
Now we are ready to go.
Open a command prompt windows (CMD) and type install command.
Full list of Role codes:
ClientAccess: CA
Mailbox: MB
EdgeTransport: ET
ManagementTools: MT
So Step 1 is below:
At the same time lets check schema status:
Do you see differences between Exchange Server 2010 and Hosted Exchange 2010? Yes, in the Hosted Exchange configuration, you see a new unit called ConfigurationUnits.
Btw, installation is going on well..
And finally, we finished our first server installation. Now we have a Hub Transport server.
I’ll do same thing to my second Hub Transport server. After installation, I’ll will make them load balanced servers. I’ll show how to load balanced them later.
Next, I’ll start setup of CAS and Mailbox Server. As I said, they will on the same server because I don’t have so many resources. Also as you know, much servers means much license prices. I use CMD again for the installation. But before the installation, install required updates.
You don’t need to reboot your server after updates.
If you don’t install required updates, Exchange setup fails.
Start installation:
If you installed all required features, then setup would finish without errors.
After setup completed, you have to reboot your server.
Now go to second server and do same processes to other CAS + Mailbox Server.
If you finish installation of second server, we can continue with configuration of our Hosted Exchange environment.
If you followed, at the Part 1, I installed two CAS + Mailbox Server and two Hub Transport Server. At the second part, I’ll configure Database Availability Groups between my two Mailbox servers.
First of all, you have to install Failover Cluster feature from Server Manager. After that I need to create Database Availability Group. I have to choose a Witness server. Witness server should be Hub Transport server in a recommended environment. So I choose it as my first Hub Transport Server called EXGW01.
You should execute this command on Exchange Management Shell. After the command, lets check our DAG.
As you see, I don’t have any member servers right now. I’ll join my Mailbox servers to DAG.
After adding first mailbox server, you can check your witness file directory. It should be created by Exchange DAG. Now let’s add second server to DAG. Also our cluster is created on Failover Cluster Manager.
But as you see there is no network right now. So we should add them.
Let’s see ipv4 status.
DatabaseAvailabilityGroupIpv4Addresses : {}
DatabaseAvailabilityGroupIpAddresses : {}
So we don’t have any network for DAG. Let’s create them now.
We should have 2 different networks. One is Public, other one is Replication network. On my environment, I use Replication network as a Backup Network. I’ll backup my Exchange servers with Microsoft System Center Data Protection Manager 2010 using replication network.
My Replication Network: 192.168.0.0/16
Now, it’s time to create networks. For public network:
For replication network:
After configuration of networks, we should configure Group IP.
Ok, now check the Failover Cluster Manager:
As you see our DAG name is active. Also our networks are active.
So now we can add our second server to DAG.
Ok, our second server is active on DAG.
After second server, also our witness file share is active.
I configured the DAG and networks. Next, I’ll create 3 different databases for customers.
Let’s check our databases:
I created the databases. Now I should check databases status.
We have to mount them:
Lets check it again:
Now we can replicate them with other mailbox server:
You may get this error when you try operation:
hile processing a request on server ‘EXCAS01′. Error: Database ‘bb1e972e-a343-4cfe-8544-39f18facd816′ was not active on
source server ‘EXCAS01′.. [Database: Database01, Server: EXCAS02.vpool.radore.net]
+ CategoryInfo : InvalidOperation: (:) [Add-MailboxDatabaseCopy], SeedInProgressException
+ FullyQualifiedErrorId : E25C52CD,Microsoft.Exchange.Management.SystemConfigurationTasks.AddMailboxDatabaseCopy
Thats a replication issue. Don’t worry about it. Let’s make them available.
First check their replicate status:
We have to start replication:
So let’s move default mailboxes to new DAG databases.
To check Move Request status:
So if you see that as “Completed” than you can remove requests:
Now it’s time to move hidden mailboxes. First see them:
So we moved all default mailboxes. Now we can delete default mailbox databases.
We completed our steps. As a final step, let’s check replication health status.
Now we have 3 databases and a fully working DAG environment. At the next part, I’ll show you how to create mailboxes for customers. Then we will see how to backup databases with Data Protection Manager 2010.
At the part 2, we configured mailbox databases. Also we made them high available with Exchange DAG.
Now at this part will see how to configure OWA load balancing and Certificate. I’ll use Citrix Netscaler for all load balancing requirements but you can use other hardware load balancing solutions like Brocade or software solutions. Idea is same for all nlb solutions :)
As the first part, I’ll load balance Exchange OWA.
Add your first CAS server as a service in Citrix.
Do same thing for the second CAS Server.
Now, go to EXCAS01 and create certificate request for OWA.
Lets see default certificates:
So create your certificate request on EXCAS01:
Buy your commercial certificate and save certificate code to C:\cert.txt.
Import your certificate on EXCAS01:
Assign IMAP, POP and IIS services to certificate. Don’t forget to use your own Thumbprint.
Lets check certificate status again:
As you see, services are assigned to new SSL certificate.
We will export our certificate and import it to second CAS server, EXCAS02.
Now, transfer your pfx file to EXCAS02 and import it:
Lets check certificate status again:
Enable same services for EXCAS02:
Now import same certificate to Citrix Netscaler. Navigate to SSL and click import PKCS#12.
Choose your pfx file and give a name like excas_cert for local usage.
Then navigate to SSL -> Certificates and click Add.
Now navigate to Rewrite -> Actions on Netscaler and click Add.
Navigate to Rewrite -> Policy and click Add.
We finished pre-required steps. Now navigate to Load Balancing -> Virtual Servers and click Add.
Give NLB IP Address. Choose SSL and port 443. Go to SSL and choose OWA certificate and click Add:
Add Owa services:
Configure Method and Persistence:
Configure OWA Redirection:
Click Create and finish SSL Virtual Server Load Balancing.
Now lets create another Virtual Server to redirect HTTP requests to HTTPS.
Navigate to Load Balancing -> Virtual Servers and click Add.
Give same NLB IP Address. Choose HTTP and port 80. Do NOT choose any service.
Go to Advanced Tab:
Also configure Method and Persistence:
Click Create and finish HTTP Virtual Server Load Balancing.
Because of you don’t select any service, Virtual Server should seen as Down.
Last step, go to IIS on EXCAS01 and EXCAS02. Configure SSL Security:
Clear “Require SSL” and click Accept from SSL settings. Do same things for: OWA, EWS, ECP..
All virtual directories should accept non HTTPS traffics.
Now test your Exchange Server 2010 OWA:
Wadaaaa! We finished Citrix Netscaler Load Balancing for OWA.
Next Part, We will see how to configure CAS arrays and Hub Transport server load balancing.
Thanks for reading.
At Part 3, We configured OWA service and SSL certificate. This part, we will configure our 2 Hub Transport servers, EXGW01 and EXGW02. I’ll use Citrix Netscaler again to make a load balance between them.
Now on EXGW01, open Exchange Management Shell and execute;
Do same thing on EXGW02:
Use Get-ReceiveConnector to see recently added connectors:
Enable receive connectors to get mail from external mail address:
Execute same command on EXGW02. Also allow relay from that ip address:
Execute same command on EXGW02.
Disable default receive connectors:
Now add new receive connectors for EXGW01 and EXGW02:
Configure load balancing on Citrix Netscaler. First add service definition as TCP – 25 for EXGW01.
Add same service definition for EXGW02 and Create a Virtual Server:
Choose Least Connection as LB Method:
Now telnet your NLB ip and you should see your FQDN:
Ok, now lets create a send connector to send mails to external address:
Create a SSL request for EXGW01:
Buy your commercial certificate and save certificate code to C:\cert.txt.
Import your certificate on EXGW01:
Assign SMTP services to certificate. Don’t forget to use your own Thumbprint.
We will export our certificate and import it to second Hub Transport server, EXGW02.
Now, transfer your pfx file to EXGW02 and import it:
Enable SMTP service for EXGW02:
Go to Citrix Netscaler again and create a Virtual Server for SMTP.
Choose SSL as protocol and 443 as port number.
Configure LB method as Least Connection.
Check Hosted Exchange 2010 Setup Guide Part 3 for how to import SSL Certificate to Citrix:
Bind SSL certificate to virtual server.
Also you can add HTTP, 80 as another Virtual Server.
Please follow Hosted Exchange 2010 Part 3 for how to add HTTP 80 Virtual Server.
Go to EXGW01 and EXGW02, open IIS manager (inetmgr) and navigate to SSL Security for Default Web Site.
Clear “Require SSL” and click Accept from SSL settings.
Now test your Exchange Server 2010 SMTP address:
Wadaaaa again! We finished Citrix Netscaler Load Balancing for Hub Transport Servers.
Next Part, We will see how to configure Forefront Protection 2010 for Exchange Servers.
Thanks for reading.
Last parts of guide, I configured Exchange server roles. We have 2 Mailbox + CAS Servers and 2 Hub Transport servers. I made load balanced CAS servers and Hub Transport server with Citrix Netscaler Hardware Load Balancer. Now this part I’ll configure CAS arrays, IMAP, POP and SMTP services. Also I’ll show you configuration of Forefront Protection 2010 for Exchange Server.
First of all, go to EXCAS01 and create a new CAS array.
See Client Access Array:
Assign DAG databases to new Client Access Array:
Okay, we created our CAS array and assigned a database to it. Now we should configure POP and IMAP settings for client access.
Go to EXCAS01 and set Pop settings:
See POP settings:
Set IMAP settings:
See IMAP settings:
We use PlainTextLogin because you can’t get Authenticated with SecureLogin in Hosted Exchange environment. So you should use PlainTextLogin. But don’t worry, we use Citrix Netscaler to secure connection.
Also we should configure Outlook access. First install RPC over HTTP:
Then configure Outlook Anywhere:
You can see your Outlook Anywhere configuration:
You should change Autodiscover External URL:
Change OAB virtual directory external URL:
Change Web services virtual directory external URL:
We finished changes on POP, IMAP and Outlook Anywhere. Don’t forget to do same steps on EXCAS02. Now it’s time to configure SMTP. Now go back to EXGW01 and EXGW02.
Configure EXGW01 Receive Connector for Outlook Authentication:
Also configure Inbound SMTP Array for Outlook Authentication:
Configure Encryption on Receive Connectors:
Also you should change binded ip address of Inbound SMTP Array.
But first you should remove old ones:
Now see the Receive Connectors:
Do same thing for EXGW02:
Now lets check again:
Go back to Citrix Netscaler and configure services for IMAP, POP and RPC:
Also configure virtual servers:
Be sure to choose SOURCEIP for load balancing. After this, you can start to test POP3 and IMAP connection via Outlook. You shouldn’t choose any encryption method like TLS or SSL because of Hosted Exchange AD structure. Now I’ll show you how to configure Forefront Protection 2010. I installed Forefront on EXGW01 and EXGW02.
Enable connection filtering:
Enable DNSBL checking:
Enable SenderID and leave “Stamp header” option:
Enable Sender Filter:
Enable Receipent Filtering:
Enable Backscatter:
Enable Content Filter:
Configure SCL:
You can leave default other options and services of Forefront Protection. I finished this part. Next part, I’ll show you how to create organizations and users. But if you did exact same steps with me, that means you have a fully working Hosted Exchange 2010.
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