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Applies to: Exchange Server 2013
Learn about the Exchange 2013 requirements that you need to know before you install Exchange 2013. For example, you'll learn about the hardware, network, and operating system requirements.
Before you install Microsoft Exchange Server 2013, we recommend that you review this topic to ensure that your network, hardware, software, clients, and other elements meet the requirements for Exchange 2013. In addition, make sure you understand the coexistence scenarios that are supported for Exchange 2013 and earlier versions of Exchange.
Supported coexistence scenarios
The following table lists the scenarios in which coexistence between Exchange 2013 and earlier versions of Exchange is supported.
Coexistence of Exchange 2013 and earlier versions of Exchange Server
| Exchange version | Exchange organization coexistence |
|---|---|
| Exchange Server 2003 and earlier versions | Not supported |
| Exchange 2007 | Supported with the following minimum versions of Exchange:
|
| Exchange 2010 | Supported with the following minimum versions of Exchange:
|
| Mixed Exchange 2010 and Exchange 2007 organization | Supported with the following minimum versions of Exchange:
|
1 If you want to create an EdgeSync Subscription between an Exchange 2007 Hub Transport server and an Exchange 2013 SP1 Edge Transport server, you need to install Exchange 2007 SP3 Update Rollup 13 or later on the Exchange 2007 Hub Transport server.
2 If you want to create an EdgeSync Subscription between an Exchange 2010 Hub Transport server and an Exchange 2013 SP1 Edge Transport server, you need to install Exchange 2010 SP3 Update Rollup 5 or later on the Exchange 2010 Hub Transport server.
Supported hybrid deployment scenarios
Exchange 2013 supports hybrid deployments with Microsoft 365 or Office 365 organizations that have been upgraded to the latest version of Microsoft 365 or Office 365. For more information about specific hybrid deployments, see Hybrid deployment prerequisites.
Network and directory servers
The following table lists the requirements for the network and the directory servers in your Exchange 2013 organization.
| Component | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Schema master | By default, the schema master runs on the first Active Directory domain controller installed in a forest. The schema master must be running one of the following:
|
| Global catalog server | In each Active Directory site where you plan to install Exchange 2013, you must have at least one global catalog server running one of the following:
For more information about global catalog servers, see What is the Global Catalog. |
| Domain controller | In each Active Directory site where you plan to install Exchange 2013, you must have at least one writeable domain controller running one of the following:
|
| Active Directory forest | Active Directory must be at Windows Server 2003 forest functionality mode or higher.2 |
| DNS namespace support | Exchange 2013 supports the following domain name system (DNS) namespaces:
For more information about DNS namespaces supported by Exchange, see KB2269838. |
| IPv6 support | In Exchange 2013, IPv6 is supported only when IPv4 is also installed and enabled. If Exchange 2013 is deployed in this configuration, and the network supports IPv4 and IPv6, all Exchange servers can send data to and receive data from devices, servers, and clients that use IPv6 addresses. For more information, see IPv6 support in Exchange 2013. |
1 Windows Server 2012 R2 and Windows Server 2016 are supported only with Exchange 2013 SP1 or later.
2 Windows Server 2012 R2 or Windows Server 2016 forest functionality mode is supported only with Exchange 2013 SP1 or later.
3 Windows Server 2022 is supported only with Exchange Server 2013 CU23 or later.
Directory server architecture
The use of 64-bit Active Directory domain controllers increases directory service performance for Exchange 2013.
Note
In multi-domain environments, on Windows Server 2008 domain controllers that have the Active Directory language locale set to Japanese, your servers might not receive some attributes that are stored on an object during inbound replication. For more information, see Microsoft Knowledge Base article 949189, A Windows Server 2008 domain controller that is configured with the Japanese language locale may not apply updates to attributes on an object during inbound replication.
Installing Exchange 2013 on directory servers
For security and performance reasons, we recommend that you install Exchange 2013 only on member servers and not on Active Directory directory servers. However, you can't run DCPromo on a computer running Exchange 2013. After Exchange 2013 is installed, changing its role from a member server to a directory server, or vice versa, isn't supported.
Hardware
The recommended hardware requirements for Exchange 2013 servers vary depending on a number of factors including the server roles that are installed and the anticipated load that will be placed on the servers.
For detailed information on how to properly size and configure your deployment, see Exchange 2013 Sizing and Configuration Recommendations.
For information about deploying Exchange in a virtualized environment, see Exchange 2013 virtualization.
| Component | Requirement | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Processor |
| See the Operating system section later in this topic for supported operating systems. |
| Memory | Varies depending on Exchange roles that are installed:
| None. |
| Paging file size | The page file size minimum and maximum must be set to physical RAM plus 10 MB, to a maximum size of 32778MB if you're using more than 32GB of RAM. | For detailed pagefile recommendations, see Pagefile. |
| Disk space |
| For detailed information on storage recommendations, see Exchange 2013 storage configuration options. |
| Drive | DVD-ROM drive, local or network accessible | None. |
| Screen resolution | 1024 x 768 pixels or higher | None. |
| File format | Disk partitions formatted as NTFS file systems, which applies to the following partitions:
Disk partitions containing the following types of files can be formatted as ReFS:
| None. |
Operating system
The following table lists the supported operating systems for Exchange 2013.
Important
We don't support the installation of Exchange 2013 on a computer that's running in Windows Server Core mode. The computer must be running the full installation of Windows Server.
If you want to install Exchange 2013 on a computer that's running in Windows Server Core mode, you must convert the server to a full installation of Windows Server by doing one of the following steps:
Windows Server 2008 R2: Reinstall Windows Server and select the Full Installation option.
Windows Server 2012 R2 or Windows Server 2012: Convert your Windows Server Core mode server to a full installation by running the following command:
Install-WindowsFeature Server-Gui-Mgmt-Infra,Server-Gui-Shell -Restart
Supported operating systems for Exchange 2013
| Component | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Mailbox, Client Access, and Edge Transport server roles | One of the following:
|
| Management tools | One of the following:
|
1 Windows Server 2012 R2 is supported only with Exchange 2013 SP1 or later.
2 Windows 8.1 is supported only with Exchange 2013 SP1 or later.
Supported Windows Management Framework versions for Exchange 2013
Exchange 2013 only supports the version of Windows Management Framework that's built into the release of Windows that you're installing Exchange on. Don't install versions of Windows Management Framework that are made available as stand-alone downloads on servers running Exchange.
.NET Framework
We strongly recommend that you use the latest version of .NET Framework that's supported by the release of Exchange you're installing.
| Exchange 2013 version | .NET Framework 4.8 | .NET Framework 4.7.2 | .NET Framework 4.7.1 | .NET Framework 4.6.2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CU23 | X | X | ||
| CU21, CU22 | X | X | ||
| CU19, CU20 | X | X | ||
| CU16, CU17, CU18 | X | |||
| CU15 | X |
Note
For older versions of the .NET Framework, see the Exchange Server supportability matrix
Supported clients
Exchange 2013 supports the following versions of Outlook and Entourage for Mac:
- Microsoft 365 Apps for enterprise
- Outlook 2019
- Outlook 2016
- Outlook 2013
- Outlook 2010
- Outlook 2007
- Entourage 2008 for Mac, Web Services Edition
- Outlook for Mac for Office 365
- Outlook for Mac 2011
For a list of Outlook releases that Exchange supports, see Outlook Updates.
Important
We strongly recommend that you install the latest available service packs and updates available so that your users receive the best possible experience when connecting to Exchange.
Outlook clients earlier than Outlook 2007 are not supported. Email clients on Mac operating systems that require DAV, such as Entourage 2008 for Mac RTM and Entourage 2004, are not supported.
Outlook Web App supports several browsers on a variety of operating systems and devices. For detailed information, see What's new for Outlook Web App in Exchange 2013.
FAQs
What is the minimum RAM requirement to install Exchange Server 2013? ›
Exchange Server 2013 Minimums
8GB RAM for MBX, 4GB for CAS, or 8GB for Multi-Role. Page File = RAM + 10MB. 30GB Free on install drive plus 500MB for each language pack. 200MB free on system drive.
- What do you need to know before you begin?
- Active Directory preparation.
- Windows Server 2012 R2 and Windows Server 2012 prerequisites.
- Mailbox or Client Access server roles.
- Install the Edge Transport server role.
- Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1 prerequisites.
- Client Access or Mailbox server roles.
- Read the release notes. ...
- Verify system requirements. ...
- Confirm prerequisite steps are done. ...
- Configure disjoint namespace. ...
- Install the Mailbox server role. ...
- Install the Client Access server role. ...
- Install the Edge Transport server role. ...
- Create an EdgeSync subscription.
Exchange Server 2013 will reach its end of support on April 11, 2023. If you haven't already begun your migration from Exchange 2013 to Microsoft 365, Office 365, or Exchange 2019, now's the time to start planning.
What kind of SSL certificate do I need for Exchange 2013? ›Exchange 2013 uses a type of SSL certificate that is known as a “Subject Alternate Name” (SAN) certificate. In some cases this will be called a “Unified Communications” (UC) certificate by providers such as Digicert.
How many GB of RAM does a server need? ›In terms of size, for high-end workstations 16GB minimum is probably best, whereas for more budget friendly home set ups, 8GB should about do. Looking at servers, 16GB and 32GB are common capacities of server memory, although they can support up to 6TB for 2933 MT/s DDR4.
What are the requirements for exchange? ›- At least 30 GB of free space on the drive where you're installing Exchange.
- At least 200 MB of free space on the system drive.
- At least 500 MB of free space on the drive that contains the message queue database.
| System | Disk space for granular restore operations |
|---|---|
| Compatible hardware that is supported by the 64-bit operating system and Microsoft Exchange Server | At least 2.1 GB of disk space for required Microsoft software, which is installed automatically |
Click Show Profiles, click Add, enter a name for this profile, and then select OK. On the Auto Account Setup page of the Add Account wizard, select Manual setup or additional server types, and then click Next. On the Choose Service page, select Microsoft Exchange or compatible service, and then click Next.
What is the latest version of Exchange 2013? ›To get the latest version of Exchange 2013, download and install Microsoft Exchange Server 2013 Cumulative Update 23. Because each CU is a full installation of Exchange and includes updates and changes from all previous CUs, you don't need to install any previous CUs or service packs first.
Is Exchange a POP or IMAP? ›
By default, POP3 and IMAP4 are enabled for all users in Exchange Online. To enable or disable POP3 and IMAP4 for individual users, see Enable or Disable POP3 or IMAP4 access for a user. To customize the POP3 or IMAP4 settings for a user, see Set POP3 or IMAP4 settings for a user.
Does Exchange 2013 use SQL? ›Although this change bodes well in terms of higher availability and resiliency, it doesn't mean the ESE (Extensible Storage Engine) database engine has been replaced with SQL, as many admins would like. Exchange 2013 continues to use ESE as the database engine.
What is the difference between Exchange 2013 and 2019? ›Unified Messaging (UM) has been removed from Exchange 2019. Other than that, the Mailbox server in Exchange 2019 includes all of the server components from the Exchange 2013 Mailbox and Client Access server roles: Client Access services provide authentication, limited redirection, and proxy services.
Can Exchange 2013 be upgraded to 2019? ›If you are migrating from Exchange 2013 to Exchange 2019, you need to ensure the following before getting started: Update Exchange 2013 with the latest Cumulative Update 23 (CU23) released in July 2021 or later.
Will there be an Exchange Server 2022? ›The 2022 Microsoft Product Roadmap
Microsoft has a lot in the docket for 2022, including new products like SQL Server 2022, Exchange Subscription Edition and Visual Studio 2022 for Mac.
- Extended Validation (EV)
- Organization Validation (OV)
- Domain Validation (DV)
TLS supersedes Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) and is often referred to as SSL 3.1. Exchange Online uses TLS to encrypt the connections between Exchange servers and the connections between Exchange servers and other servers such as your on-premises Exchange servers or your recipients' mail servers.
How do I check my Exchange 2013 SSL certificate? ›In Exchange Admin Center, in the menu on the left, click Servers and then in the menu at the top of the Servers section, click Certificates. In the Certificates section, select the SSL Certificate that you need to configure and then, click the Edit symbol (pencil).
Does RAM speed matter in server? ›As mentioned above, server memory speed is crucial to your server's performance. However, RAM speed is a bit of a misnomer. How fast your server RAM performs is actually dependent on several factors such as the frequency, latency, bandwidth, total number of channels, dual data rate (DDR), etc.
What is a good server RAM? ›The starting point for different projects can vary anywhere from 8 GB to 64 GB of server RAM, based on the project needs.
How much RAM is too much for a server? ›
If someone has a database in the 100 GB range, it's recommended to have anywhere from 16-64 RAM. Of course, there is no such thing as “too much RAM”, but for companies working on a budget, shelling out for maximum RAM may not be an option.
How much RAM do I need for Exchange Server? ›Less than 32 GB of RAM installed: Physical RAM plus 10 MB, up to a maximum value of 32 GB (32,778MB). 32 GB of RAM or more installed: 32 GB plus 10 MB (32,778MB)
What is the minimum system requirements for MS Office 2013? ›- Operating system: Windows 7 or newer.
- Memory (RAM): 4 GB RAM.
- Hard Disk: 3.0 GB available.
- Display: Graphics hardware acceleration requires a DirectX10 graphics card and a 1024 x 576 or higher resolution monitor.
The stated Windows Server 2012 R2 requirements include a single 1.4 GHz, 64-bit processor core, 512 MB of RAM, a 32 GB disk partition and a standard Ethernet (10/100 Mbps or faster) network connection.
Do you need ECC RAM for server? ›So while ECC RAM is certainly important for servers and systems with high-value data, non-ECC RAM is more than stable enough for use in most home or work systems.
What type of RAM is recommended for servers? ›Servers today are compatible with DDR4 memory modules running at speeds up to 3200MT/s. However, this memory speed can vary and clock down depending both on the processor model used and the number of memory modules installed.
Does RAM matter on a server? ›As mentioned above, server memory speed is crucial to your server's performance. However, RAM speed is a bit of a misnomer. How fast your server RAM performs is actually dependent on several factors such as the frequency, latency, bandwidth, total number of channels, dual data rate (DDR), etc.
What is minimum requirement for a server? ›Server Hardware Requirements
Dual-Core 1.6 Ghz or higher. 2 GB RAM. 500 MB free disk space.
Each Exchange server must communicate with Active Directory to retrieve information about recipients and information about the other Exchange servers. Mailbox servers store configuration information about mailbox users and mailbox stores in Active Directory.
How do I determine my server requirements? ›The three main hardware components to consider when choosing a web server are the CPU or processor, memory (RAM) and hard drive (storage). However, it is also important to consider other factors such as bandwidth, reliability, security, support, backups and other issues that help your server to run efficiently.
What are the Office system requirements? ›
- Computer and processor. Windows OS: 1.6 GHz or faster, 2-core. ...
- Memory. Windows OS: 4 GB RAM; 2 GB RAM (32-bit) ...
- Hard disk. Windows OS: 4 GB of available disk space. ...
- Display. ...
- Graphics. ...
- Operating system. ...
- Browser. ...
- .
If you have a Microsoft 365 subscription or non-subscription version such as Office Home and Business 2021, 2019, 2016 or 2013, in most cases you can't run these versions together on the same computer.
What is the minimum processor requirement for MS? ›| Processor (CPU): | Intel Core i5 (sixth generation or newer) or equivalent |
|---|---|
| Memory: | 8 GB RAM |
| Storage: | 500 GB internal storage drive |
| Monitor/Display: | 13" LCD monitor |
| Network Adapter: | 802.11ac 2.4/5 GHz wireless adapter |