Hi, folks!
Version 1.0 has already been published here (simple script for automation of Exchange 2016 installation. can be used on multiple servers).
Today’s version is a little bit improved (2 separate files for 2-node configuration, 535 and 420 strings respectively, can be easy scaled out with copy-paste to more than 2 nodes). It helps you to install Exchange, prepare environment for DAG (prestage CNO, witness and etc) and create one with at least 2 members
Each node can be configured simultaneously (it’s not needed to wait while fist node finishes all tasks and etc. just run both scripts, relax and get a cup of coffee). It’s also ideally suitable for using as a part of VMM Service Templates or other kinds of unattended installations (I’ll show you it later)
If you’d like to get script files – write me directly or leave request in the comments. I’ll send you zip-file.
What does script do (exch01.ps1)?
- Sets network settings (DNS, IP, GW) on targeted server
#..........
xIPAddress NewIPAddress #Set IPv4 on Ethernet adapter
{
IPAddress = $ip
InterfaceAlias = "Ethernet"
SubnetMask = 24
AddressFamily = "IPV4"
DependsOn = "[xDhcpClient]DisabledDhcpClient"
}
xDefaultGatewayAddress GW #Set GW address
{
Address = $gw
InterfaceAlias = "Ethernet"
AddressFamily = "IPv4"
DependsOn = "[xIPAddress]NewIPAddress"
}
#...........
- Installs required prerequisites for Exchange (including UCMA) and does reboot if it’s really required
#........
WindowsFeature WebNet45
{
Ensure = 'Present'
Name = 'Web-Net-Ext45'
}
WindowsFeature WebReq
{
Ensure = 'Present'
Name = 'Web-Request-Monitor'
}
WindowsFeature WebSrv
{
Ensure = 'Present'
Name = 'Web-Server'
}
#.........
- Adds server to domain and reboots it to apply changes
xComputer DomainJoin
{
Name = $nodename
DomainName = $domainname
Credential = $creds
DependsOn = "[xDnsServerAddress]DNSServers"
}
- Setups Exchange and checks if reboot is required after installation
xExchInstall InstallExchange
{
Path = "C:\ExchInstall\Exch\Setup.exe"
Arguments = "/mode:Install /role:Mailbox /OrganizationName:""$netbios"" /Iacceptexchangeserverlicenseterms"
Credential = $Creds
DependsOn = '[xPendingReboot]BeforeExchangeInstall'
}
- Adds and checks that DAG CNO is existed and required permissions are applied
#...........
SetScript = {
$creds = New-Object Management.Automation.PSCredential("$($using:netbios)\Administrator",(ConvertTo-SecureString $using:pass -AsPlainText -Force))
New-ADComputer -Name DAG01 -DNSHostName DAG01 -DisplayName DAG01 -Enabled $false -Credential $creds -verbose
$DC=(Get-ADDomainController -Credential $creds).HostName
ICM -ComputerName $DC -Credential $creds -ScriptBlock {
#Variables
$dagacc = Get-ADComputer DAG01 #-Credential $creds
$dagldap="LDAP" + '://' + $dagacc.DistinguishedName
$dagadsi = New-Object DirectoryServices.DirectoryEntry $dagldap
#.....
}
#...........
- Configures witness server, DAG and generates status of successful completion
#........
xExchDatabaseAvailabilityGroup DAG
{
Name = $dagSettings.DAGName
Credential = $creds
AutoDagTotalNumberOfServers = $dagSettings.AutoDagTotalNumberOfServers
AutoDagDatabaseCopiesPerVolume = $dagSettings.AutoDagDatabaseCopiesPerVolume
#.......
WitnessDirectory = 'C:\FSW'
WitnessServer = $dagSettings.WitnessServer
}
#.........
Script file named as exch02.ps1 has almost the same steps with the following differences:
- Waits while Exchange setup initiated on the first node finishes Active Directory preparation and then starts Exchanges installation on the second node
- Waits while DAG becomes online and only then starts adding the second node
- No witness and DAG CNO preparation (hope it’s clear)
Requirements are still the same: exchange media, UCMA package, certificates for securing MOF-files (optional). All prerequisites (except Exchange media files) are in the zip-file (all-in-one).
Thanks for reading and have a nice week!
