Applies to: Exchange Server 2010 SP1

Topic Last Modified: 2011-08-05

Before you go any further with the Exchange Server Deployment Assistant, make sure that your organization's operating system, hardware, software, clients, and other elements meet the requirements for a hybrid deployment between your on-premises organization and the cloud-based service. If they don't, you won't be able to complete the steps in the Deployment Assistant and you won't be able to successfully configure the hybrid organization.

Learn more at: Understanding Prerequisites for an Exchange 2003 Hybrid Deployment

We recommend using the Microsoft Office 365 Deployment Readiness Tool to analyze your existing Exchange organization and confirm that the prerequisites for a hybrid deployment are met. The readiness tool is integrated with the guidance provided in the Microsoft Office 365 Beta Deployment Guide and provides detailed assessments for Exchange Online, user identity and account provisioning, client and end-user experience, and many other areas.

Learn more at: Microsoft Office 365 Deployment Readiness Tool

To successfully configure your current Exchange organization for a hybrid deployment, the following components are required.

Servers

You will need a single, physical server for each of the following hybrid deployment components:

  • Exchange 2010 hybrid server

  • Active Directory synchronization server

You will need two or more physical or virtual servers for the following hybrid deployment components:

  • Active Directory Federation Services (AD FS) server farm or AD FS proxy servers

Learn more at: Plan for and deploy Active Directory Federation Services 2.0 for use with single sign-on

Exchange 2010 Hybrid Server

The hybrid server must have one of the following operating systems installed:

  • 64-bit edition of Windows Server 2008 Standard Service Pack 2

  • 64-bit edition of Windows Server 2008 Enterprise Service Pack 2

  • 64-bit edition of Windows Server 2008 R2 Standard

  • 64-bit edition of Windows Server 2008 R2 Enterprise

Additionally, the following prerequisites must be installed:

  • .NET Framework 3.5 SP1

  • Internet Information Services (IIS)

  • Windows PowerShell V2.0

  • Windows Remote Management V2.0

Learn more at: Understanding Prerequisites for an Exchange 2003 Hybrid Deployment

Active Directory Federation Services Servers

When you set up single sign-on, it enables users to access both the on-premises and cloud-based organizations with a single user name and password. To use single sign-on, you'll need to make sure the AD FS servers meet specific requirements.

Learn more at: Prepare for single sign-on

Active Directory Synchronization Server

You must deploy an Active Directory synchronization server to replicate mail-enabled Active Directory objects to the cloud-based organization to support a unified global address list (GAL) between your organizations.

Note:
The Microsoft Office 365 service has an upper limit for replicating mail-enabled Active Directory objects to the cloud-based organization of 10,000 objects. If your Active Directory environment contains more than 10,000 objects, contact the Microsoft Online Services support team to open a service request for an exception and indicate the number of objects you need to synchronize.

Learn more at: Active Directory synchronization: Roadmap

Existing Directory Servers

In the Active Directory site where you plan to install the Exchange 2010 hybrid server, you must have at least one writeable domain controller running any of the following:

  • Windows Server 2003 Standard Edition with SP1 or later (32-bit or 64-bit)

  • Windows Server 2003 Enterprise Edition with SP1 or later (32-bit or 64-bit)

  • Windows Server 2008 Standard or Enterprise RTM or later (32-bit or 64-bit)

  • Windows Server 2008 R2 Standard or Enterprise RTM or later

  • Windows Server 2008 Datacenter RTM or later

  • Windows Server 2008 R2 Datacenter RTM or later

Additionally, the Active Directory forest must be Windows Server 2003 forest functional mode or higher.

Existing Exchange 2003 Servers

  • 32-bit edition of Microsoft Exchange Server 2003 SP2 or later

  • Exchange Server 2003 organization in native mode

Having problems? Ask for help in the Office 365 forums. To access the forums, you'll need to sign in using an account that's granted administrator access to your cloud-based service. Visit the forums at: Office 365 Forums