Hi all,

Basically what has happened is I visualized the companies Windows Server 2012 domain controller and its now hosted on a Server 2012 R2 Host. Everything is working fine, apart from exchange.

I rejoined all organisation workstations to the domain as required (Trusted domain issue), and opened outlook and it says 'Connected to Microsoft Exchange'. However, when sending emails they sit in the Outbox. In regards to incoming mail, emails are received by our provider in our Cpanel mailboxes and are downloaded by the exchange server. Those emails are not making it from the exchange server to each users mailbox in outlook.

Network setup details:

Server Host: Windows Server 2012 R2 (Physical)
Domain controller: Windows Server 2012 R2 (Virtual)
Exchange Server Version: 2013 CU9
Outlook Clients: Outlook 2010 (15 Users), Outlook 2013 (3 Users).

What I think is the issue:

I used my own mailbox as a test. I removed my mailbox from within Exchange Admin Center, and the tried re-adding my user mailbox, however, my user account does not show up when browsing the active directory. When checking Active Directory Users and Computers on the domain controller my account had completely disappeared. I then recreated my user account and exchange mailbox. After accessing my OWA mailbox I still couldn't see emails.

I've also tried removing my outlook profile and recreating it, reinstalling outlook e.t.c. My next thought is that I may need to reinstall exchange (Although i'll avoid it if possible).

Anyone know how to fix this?

Thank you in advance!

Regards,

Manning

EDIT:

Upon visiting Exchange Admin Centre and going to DNS lookup, i receive the following error:

"

Error
Could not read network adapter information. Error: Invalid class

Click here for help

"

Is this possible a network issue caused by hyper-v?

• Edited by Manning___ 21 hours 1 minutes ago

Environment:

1 Physical Server Hosting 2 Virtual Servers

Physical Server Roles:
Hyper-V

Virtual Server 1 Roles:
Domain Controller
Active Directory
Active Directory Certificate Server
Exchange Server
IIS

Virtual Server 2 Roles:
SQL Server
IIS Server

In our previous environment (before the DC was virtualised) the server which is now Virtual Server 1 was a physical server.

When I speak of removing my mailbox, I hit the trash can icon (my mistake I didn't realise it would remove the user from AD).

I'm able to login to OWA, but the account shows the same emails sitting in my outbox as the outlook client. The inbox also remains empty.

Email is not sending internally or externally and isn't being recieved internally or externally, however all services are running and the exchange server is downloading emails via POP3 as our external provider has said our IP has been downloading over POP3.

Update:

I tried to repair exchange server using CU9 installer - It fails - 'unsupported operating system detected'

I tried to repair exchange server using control panel - It fails - 'unsupported operating system detected'

I tried to uninstall exchange server using control panel - It fails - 'The local domain needs to be prepared using Setup /prepare Domain' and 'unsupported operating system detected'

Just to confirm, its installing on Windows Server 2012 R2

Hi Manning,

As asked by Ed earlier, did you install Exchange on the DC or Promote the Exchange as a DC.

Later is not supported, prior is not recommended and you are bound to see these issues.

Please plan and get the roles separated(new servers I mean) and mailboxes moved out.

Try this cmdlet:

Test-MailFl

the server was setup as a dc first then exchange was installed. I don't understand what you mean, installing exchange on a dc is extremely common.

• Edited by Manning___ 8 hours 25 minutes ago typos

Hi Manning,

It might be "extremely common", but highly not recommended. Here are few articles mentioning that, there are many more.

Installing Exchange on a domain controller is not recommended:

https://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms.exch.setupreadiness.warninginstallexchangerolesondomaincontroller(v=exchg.150).aspx

This Exchange server is also a domain controller, which is not a recommended configuration:

https://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/aa997407(v=exchg.80).aspx

You can install Exchange 2013 on a Domain Controller, but Microsoft officially does not recommend this. MS recommend that you install Exchange 2013 on a member server.

Saw one article which says "removed remote desktop service on the machine, works". Do you have RD installed on the server as well.

What are the details on the setup.log

Try running the Setup.exe /Prepare commands again one at a time with gap in b

I appreciate that it is not recommended, however, you are not answering my question.

Please do't post unless you are willing to help.

The organisation I work for cannot afford to purchase a separate OS to run exchange and therefore has directed me to install it on the DC. Therefore, If you are willing to help in this scenario, please feel free, it is much appreciated. If not, don't comment.

Thanks.

Hi Manning,

Sorry if hadn't put it right. Please refer to my last 3 lines in the earlier post which talks about resolving your issue.

Secondly if you still run into issues and not able to get any help, the articles would help you prove to your Org management that this is something technical and not your fault.

As you already seem to have a Win2012 R2 Standard license, you could have considered Hyper-V, with 2 free OS licenses for Guest.

Standard

Standard edition is ideal for those customers that want to have a physical or lightly virtualized environment. This edition will now enable a customer to run up to two virtual instances of Windows Server with each license and provide all of the same features as Datacenter edition. The licensing for Standard edition will change with the release of Windows Server 2012 and will now be the same as Datacenter edition. The licensing for Standard edition will be processor plus CAL, where each license will cover up to two physical processors on a single s

I've managed to resolve the issue.

I recreated our DC, re-installed Exchange, migrated users across and all is working. I will deploy the new VM into my live environment tonight and test.

Thanks.