Microsoft Exchange 2013 RTM available for download. Microsoft has published the RTM code of Exchange Server 2013. You can download and install full-featured software for a 180-day trial, as for now. The product should be available for MSDN subscribers during the days to come. The Micosoft Exchange 2013 RTM brings in several new (simplified) capabilities, starting with the reduction of server roles from five to two only.
Here is what's new in this release of Exchange Server 2013:
- Reduction in server roles to just two; Client Access server and Mailbox server.
- New streamlined Outlook 2013 and Outlook Web App user interfaces, and offline access for OWA.
- No more Exchange Management Console, all administration is now performed using the new web-basedExchange Administration Center and the Exchange Management Shell (using PowerShell 3.0).
- Improvements to high availability features and manageability.
- Public folders are now stored in mailbox databases and can take advantage of Database Availability Groups for replication and high availability.
- Data loss prevention capabilities that can be integrated into Transport Rules.
Microsoft Exchange 2013 Requirements:
You won't be able to coexist Exchange 2013 with old Exchange 2003, but Exchange 2007 SP3 are supported systems.
No problem with Exchange 2010 when it comes to coexisting together in one organization. But SP3 for Exchange 2010 has to be installed as well.
Note that Microsoft has announced that Exchange 2010 SP3 will be released some time in the first half of 2013.
Where you can install Exchange 2013 onto?
– You can use Windows Server 2008R2
– Windows Server 2012.
No core installation are supported, only full with GUI. You can convert existing core installation of Windows Server 2012 with this powershell command:
Install-WindowsFeature Server-Gui-Mgmt-Infra, Server-Gui-Shell -Restart
Supported Clients:
– Outlook 2013
– Outlook 2010 SP1 with April 2012 Cumulative Update
– Outlook 2007 SP3 with July 2012 Cumulative Update
Microsoft Exchange 2013 – Some useful links:
- Installing Exchange Server 2013 Pre-Requisites on Windows Server 2008 R2
- Installing Exchange Server 2013 Pre-Requisites on Windows Server 2012
- How to Install Exchange Server 2013
Exchange Server 2013 delivers a shift in management tools from the previous versions. The MMC-based Exchange Management Console is gone, replaced with the new web-based Exchange Admin Center.
I found a quick video which shows the new management tools in action:
You can download a 180 days trial from this page at Microsoft Technet Website.
