Sunday, 10 October 2010

Installing Exchange 2010 SP1 In Hosting Mode…

Exchange 2010 SP1 has built-in multi-tenant support, which helps service providers to host multiple organizations in a single Active Directory environment. There are few features which are available only in hosting mode and few others which are not available, compared to a normal deployment of Exchange 2010 SP1. 2010 SP1 will form part of the suite of multi-tenant capable products that will replace the Hosted Messaging and Collaboration solution.

Few points to note about installing 2010 SP1 in hosting mode:

  • The installation can only be done in command line.
  • You need to use /InstallWindowsComponents while running the setup to install all windows components required for Exchange.
  • You need to use /Hosting switch while running the setup to install Exchange in hosting mode.
  • 2010 SP1 is required.
  • Exchange Management Console will not be installed.

Exchange 2010 SP1 doesn't support the following features in Hosting mode (from Technet):

  • Exchange Management Console
  • Public Folders
  • Unified Messaging Server role
  • GalSync
  • Federation
  • Business-to-Business features such as cross-premises message tracking and calendar sharing
  • IRM
  • Outlook 2003 support (EnableLegacyOutlook)
  • Edge Transport Server role
  • Same forest upgrade from Exchange 2007
  • Resource forest
  • Parent-child domains
  • Discontiguous namespace
  • Disjoint namespace

In order to install Exchange 2010 SP1 in hosting mode, run the following from an elevated command prompt.

Setup.com /Roles:m,h,c /InstallWindowsComponents /Hosting /OrganizationName:<OrgName>

Install 2010 SP1 in hosting mode

Don’t press any key as it will cancel the setup process.

No keypress in 2010 SP1 Hosting mode install

Installation pre-checks are carried out.

Role Checks

After the pre-checks are completed successfully, setup starts installing the three roles.

Hosting Mode Install Complete

As explained above, there is no EMC after the installation, only Exchange Shell & Help.

Tools in 2010 Sp1 hosting mode

Happy installing!


3 comments:

JC said...

As always, a thorough post. Thank you. With that said, is Microsoft kidding with this option? Look at the number of missing key features, ones that would be necessary if the the use of "hosting" mode would be to offer a complete hosted environment for multiple companies:

Exchange Management Console
Public Folders
Unified Messaging Server role
GalSync
Calendar sharing
Parent-child domains
Discontiguous namespace
Disjoint namespace

I've continually been disappointed with the lack of features in 2010 that were in 2007, as well as features that aren't well thought out or are purposely gimped, like this one.

I'm having a hard time seeing Exchange as a solution for hosting multiple companies. What are your thoughts?

Thanks

JD said...

I'm struggling to see why i need to upgrade from 2007.
"/Quote" 've continually been disappointed with the lack of features in 2010 that were in 2007, as well as features that aren't well thought out or are purposely gimped, like this one. "\quote"
I just can't justify it.
/highfiveforthegoodcall

Rajith Jose Enchiparambil said...

Hi JD,

I agree that too many features that are in 2010 are missed in the hosting mode.

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