After assembling the host server hardware, install one of the following operating systems:

• The 64-bit edition of Windows Server 2008 Standard, or the 64-bit edition of Windows Server 2008 Enterprise
  
  
• Windows Server 2003 R2 Standard x64 Edition with SP2, or Windows Server 2003 R2 Enterprise x64 Edition with SP2
  
  
• Windows Server 2003 Standard x64 Edition with SP2, or Windows Server 2003 Enterprise x64 Edition with SP2
  
  

Note:
Follow your organization’s guidance for applying updates and patches to the host server operating system.

When your host server is prepared with Windows Server, join the server to your Active Directory domain.

Note:
Follow your organization’s procedures for joining servers to the Active Directory domain.

No other software is needed before you install the Mediation Server.

After the host server is prepared and joined to the domain, you need to verify the following items:

• Check the Domain Name System (DNS) to ensure that the new Mediation Server host is registered and that the fully qualified domain name (FQDN) is valid.
  
  
• Verify that the other Office Communications Servers can ping the new Mediation Server host by name and by IP.
  
  
• Verify that the new Mediation Server host can ping the other Office Communications Servers by name and by IP.
  
  
• Verify that the new Mediation Server host can ping the media gateway device that you plan to use as the next hop server for the new Mediation Server.