Now with Exchange server 2013 scenario testing on the way it’s time again to install Exchange Server 2007 in our lab again. Since Windows 2008 R2 is fully supported with Exchange Server 2007 SP3 this is my preferred server.

The easiest way to install the prerequisite server roles and features is to use PowerShell. The first server you’re going to install (and that is going to change Active Directory) needs the Remote Server Administration Tools (RSAT). RSAT also includes Active Directory Users and Computers, it can be useful to install it on other servers as well. Use the following command to install RSAT:

Import-Module ServerManager
Add-WindowsFeature RSAT-ADDS

CAS Server

To install the prerequisite server roles and features for an Exchange 2007 SP3 Client Access Server use the following commands in a Powershell window:

Import-Module ServerManager
Add-WindowsFeature Web-Server, Web-ISAPI-Ext, Web-Metabase, Web-Lgcy-Mgmt-Console, Web-Basic-Auth, Web-Digest-Auth, Web-Windows-Auth, Web-Dyn-Compression, RPC-over-HTTP-proxy

Note. The RPC-over-HTTP-Proxy option can be removed if you don’t plan to use Outlook Anywhere (RPC over HTTPS).

Hub Transport

To install the prerequisite server roles and features for an Exchange 2007 SP3 Hub Transport Server (used for management purposes) use the following commands in a Powershell window:

Import-Module ServerManager
Add-WindowsFeature Web-Metabase, Web-Lgcy-Mgmt-Console

Combined CAS/HUB Server

To install the prerequisite server roles and features for a combined Exchange 2007 SP3 Client Access and Hub Transport Server use the following commands in a Powershell window:

Import-Module ServerManager
Add-WindowsFeature Web-Server, Web-ISAPI-Ext, Web-Metabase, Web-Lgcy-Mgmt-Console, Web-Basic-Auth, Web-Digest-Auth, Web-Windows-Auth, Web-Dyn-Compression, RPC-over-HTTP-proxy

Note. The RPC-over-HTTP-Proxy option can be removed if you don’t plan to use Outlook Anywhere (RPC over HTTPS).

Mailbox Server

To install the prerequisite server roles and features for an Exchange 2007 SP3 Mailbox Server use the following command in a Powershell window:

Import-Module ServerManager
Add-WindowsFeature Web-Server, Web-ISAPI-Ext, Web-Metabase, Web-Lgcy-Mgmt-Console, Web-Basic-Auth, Web-Windows-Auth, Failover-Clustering

Note. You can remove the Failover-Clustering option if you are not going to install a CCR or SCR cluster.

UM Server

To install the prerequisite server roles and features for an Exchange 2007 SP3 Unified Messaging server use the following commands in a Powershell window:

Import-Module ServerManager
Add-WindowsFeature Web-Metabase, Web-Lgcy-Mgmt-Console, Desktop-Experience

Typical Server

To install the prerequisite server roles and features for an Exchange 2007 SP3 Typical Server, i.e. a server with CAS, HUB and MBX server role installed, use the following commands in a Powershell window:

Import-Module ServerManager
Add-WindowsFeature Web-Server, Web-ISAPI-Ext, Web-Metabase, Web-Lgcy-Mgmt-Console, Web-Basic-Auth, Web-Digest-Auth, Web-Windows-Auth, Web-Dyn-Compression, RPC-over-HTTP-proxy

Note. There’s no Failover-Clustering option in this command since CCR/SCR is not supported on a multi-role server in Exchange Server 2007.

For more information about this topic, including steps how to configure this using the graphical Server Manager visit the following TechNet site: How to Install Exchange 2007 SP1 and SP2 Prerequisites on Windows Server 2008 or Windows Vista – http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb691354(v=exchg.80).aspx