Microsoft has released its quarterly updates for Exchange:
- Exchange 2016 CU17.
- Exchange 2013 CU18.
It has been quiet around these updates, and they do not bring a whole lot of features.
Important to note is that the minimum Forest Functional Level (FFL) has been raised to Windows Server 2008 R2. Personally I think this is an indication that more exciting stuff is along the way, especially around Exchange 2016 (my personal expectation, don’t shoot the messenger :-))
There are schema changes in Exchange 2016 CU7, so when installing this update you have to execute the following commands:
Setup.exe /PrepareSchema /IAcceptExchangeServerLicenseTerms Setup.exe /PrepareAD /IAcceptExchangeServerLicenseTerms Setup.exe /PrepareDomain /IAcceptExchangeServerLicenseTerms
When it comes to the .NET Framework, Microsoft is working on a new .NET Framework release (version 4.7.1). The upcoming quarterly update of December 2018 will support this version of the .NET Framework.
More information (well, not a lot more) can be found here: https://blogs.technet.microsoft.com/exchange/2017/09/19/released-september-2017-quarterly-exchange-updates/
Jaap Wesselius 
Thanks for this. What’s the process from going from 2016 CU4. I understand it will be two-step with the .net versions?
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Yes, it’s a multi-step approach.
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There are schema changes in Exchange 2016 CU17
**(Should be CU7)**
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Thanks for letting me know, this is changed now.
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The whole DOTNET 4.7 issue is just ridiculous. I’ve an Exchange 2013 CU9 box that was automatically updated to 4.7. I don’t even know what should I do. CU9 isn’t even supported with DOTNET 4.6.2.
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What else can I say… Unfortunately you are 100% right 😦
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