Below you can find some (older) IT and Security-related remarks, tips & tricks:

Just a few tips on this installation (in order to avoid possible errors, like error 8224 - concerning the FSMO roles - for example):

• current Active Directory installation must be working properly, because the Exchange installation uses its schema (it changes the Schema Master properties etc.)

• the AD has to be replicated before installation (i.e. the replication itself also has to be working properly), with at least one replication partner

• the Remote Server Administration Tool has to be installed (this can be done by entering Install-WindowsFeature RSAT-ADDS ¹ in the Windows PowerShell window)

• the IIS (Internet Information Services) - along with some additional features - has to be installed on the target server as well (the PowerShell code is pretty lengthy, therefore you'll find it at the end of the article ²)

• you would (otherwise) also be prompted to install the Unified Communications Managed API 4.0 Runtime - you can install it in advance to simplify the procedure

 That should be it...

¹ On Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1 use the following code: Add-WindowsFeature RSAT-ADDS

² Install-WindowsFeature AS-HTTP-Activation, Desktop-Experience, NET-Framework-45-Features, RPC-over-HTTP-proxy, RSAT-Clustering, RSAT-Clustering-CmdInterface, RSAT-Clustering-Mgmt, RSAT-Clustering-PowerShell, Web-Mgmt-Console, 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-Lgcy-Mgmt-Console, 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