This topic provides the steps for installing the necessary Windows Server 2012 R2, Windows Server 2012 and Windows Server 2008 R2 with Service Pack 1 (SP1) operating system prerequisites for the Microsoft Exchange 2013 Mailbox, Client Access, and Edge Transport server roles. It also provides the prerequisites required to install the Exchange 2013 management tools on Windows 8, Windows 8.1, and Windows 7 client computers.
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
Edge Transport server role
Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1 prerequisites
Mailbox or Client Access server roles
Edge Transport server role
Windows 7 prerequisites (admin tools only)
Windows 8 and Windows 8.1 prerequisites (admin tools only)
What do you need to know before you begin?

The information in this topic is applicable to Service Pack 1 and later versions of Exchange 2013.
The Edge Transport server role is available starting with Exchange 2013 SP1.
Make sure that the functional level of your forest is at least Windows Server 2003, and that the schema master is running Windows Server 2003 with Service Pack 2 or later. For more information about the Windows functional level, see Managing Domains and Forests.
The full installation option of Windows Server 2012 R2, Windows Server 2012 and Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1 must be used for all servers running Exchange 2013 server roles or management tools.
You must first join the computer to the appropriate internal Active Directory forest and domain.
Some prerequisites require you to reboot the server to complete installation.
Install the latest Windows updates on your computer. For more information, see Deployment security checklist.
NoteNote:
If you're installing the Mailbox server role and you intend for the server to