Exchange Server is Microsoft’s enterprise messaging platform, designed to centralize and manage email, calendars, contacts, and tasks for an organization. Unlike free or cloud-based email services, Exchange is installed directly on the company’s servers, allowing full control over both information and infrastructure.
With Exchange, users can access their email and calendar from Outlook on their computer, via the web version, or from mobile devices, keeping all information synchronized. It also facilitates collaboration through features such as shared calendars, room bookings, and centralized contact directories.
Remember to enable outbound SMTP traffic.
If you want to send email to the internet, you must enable outbound SMTP traffic. You can read more about how to enable it in the following article: Outbound SMTP Traffic.
Before starting, make sure you have:
- A Windows Server installed and configured.
- An Active Directory (AD) properly deployed.
If you haven’t done so yet, install and configure Active Directory (AD) on your Windows server.
How to Install and Configure Active Directory on Windows Server
Downloading Exchange Server 2019
Download the Exchange Server ISO from Microsoft’s official site:
Cumulative Update 14 for Exchange Server 2019 (KB5035606) - Microsoft Support
Starting the Installation
Mount the ISO and run setup.exe. If it takes too long to open or doesn’t start, run exchangeserver.msi.
The installer will ask if you want to check for updates. Since we’re using the latest version, select Don’t check for updates.
Select Recommended settings.
Select Mailbox Role and Automatically install Windows Server roles and features that are required.
Do not select Apply Active Directory split permissions.
Leave Malware scanning enabled.
In the next step, the installer will check for required components. Any marked as errors must be installed, with a direct link provided for installation.
If you have trouble opening the links, make sure Microsoft Edge is set as default and not Internet Explorer.
Once the requirements are installed, click Install to begin the installation.
Activating the Anti-Spam Agent
After installation finishes, open Exchange Management Shell and run the following command:
& $env:ExchangeInstallPath\Scripts\Install-AntiSpamAgents.ps1
Accessing the Exchange Admin Center (ECP)
Once complete, open the Exchange Admin Center 2019 with an administrator account:
Configuring Send Connectors
To send mail via the internet, you must correctly configure DNS and create a Send Connector (A record pointing to the IP and MX record).
In the Exchange Admin Center, go to Mail Flow → Send Connectors.
Assign a name, then select Use the external DNS lookup settings on servers with transport roles.
In the next field, add the routes where mail can be sent — for example, using an asterisk * to allow all destinations.
Select the server and save the changes.
Testing Sending
Access Outlook Web Access (OWA): https://localhost/owa/
Send a test email to: https://www.mail-tester.com/
If everything is correct, the email will send without issues.
Configuring Additional Domains
If you need to add a subdomain or another domain:
In the ECP, go to Mail Flow → Accepted Domains. Add the new domain.
Update policies in Email Address Policies so mailboxes use the new domain.
We hope this tutorial helps 🙂. Remember, if you have questions about this or other server-related issues in Clouding, write to soporte@clouding.io. We’re here to help!