Forum Discussion
Request on Exchange Server SE CU1 Codebase and Trial Version Behavior
Dear Microsoft Exchange Team and Community,
I have questions about Exchange Server Subscription Edition (SE):
Codebase of Exchange SE CU1 vs. Exchange 2019 CU15
The roadmap says Exchange SE RTM matches Exchange 2019 CU15 codebase, with new features starting in SE CU1.
Is SE CU1 a standalone codebase or a direct continuation of Exchange 2019 CU15 with added features?
Behavior after Exchange SE trial expiration
What happens when the SE trial expires?
Are all functions fully retained?
Are any services or features restricted or disabled?
Will the server remain usable?
Thanks for your clarification!
hi Mahmood20 here you go
1.Exchange Server Subscription Edition (SE) CU1 vs. Exchange 2019 CU15
Is SE CU1 a standalone codebase or a continuation of Exchange 2019 CU15?
Answer:
Exchange Server SE CU1 is a direct continuation of Exchange Server 2019 CU15.- Exchange SE RTM (released October 2022) was code-identical to Exchange 2019 CU15.
- Exchange SE CU1 (May 2023) builds on that baseline, introducing new features and updates that are only available in SE (not backported to 2019 CU16 or later—since there are no further 2019 CUs).
- Microsoft has forked development at CU15: Exchange 2019 has effectively ended major feature updates; SE is now the active codebase.
Summary:
Exchange SE CU1 = Exchange 2019 CU15 + New Features.
It’s not a clean rewrite—just a subscription-bound evolution of 2019.2.What happens when the Exchange SE Trial expires?
The Exchange Server SE trial is 180 days. Here's what happens when it expires:
Functionality After Expiration:
- All core server functionality continues to operate.
- Mail flow, mailbox access, calendaring, and OWA/ECP still work.
- No artificial block is introduced that brings the server down or stops services.
However:
- The server will be in an unlicensed state, and you may:
- See warnings in the admin interface, event logs, and PowerShell.
- Be non-compliant with Microsoft licensing terms.
- Some cumulative updates or support might be restricted if you're unlicensed (from a Microsoft support contract point of view).
Server usability:
The server remains usable after trial expiration, but it's not legally licensed for production use.
Suggested Actions:
If you're using the SE trial and intend to continue:
- Convert to a fully licensed SE install by purchasing the appropriate subscription licenses via Volume Licensing or CSP.
- Use PowerShell to activate:
Set-ExchangeServer -Identity "YourServerName" -ProductKey XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX
Question
Answer
Is SE CU1 a new codebase?
No. It’s a continuation of Exchange 2019 CU15 with SE-only features.
What happens after SE trial ends?
Server still works; no functionality loss. But it becomes unlicensed (legal risk, warnings).
Is the server still usable?
Yes. Fully functional but not in compliance without a valid license.
4 Replies
hi Mahmood20 here you go
1.Exchange Server Subscription Edition (SE) CU1 vs. Exchange 2019 CU15
Is SE CU1 a standalone codebase or a continuation of Exchange 2019 CU15?
Answer:
Exchange Server SE CU1 is a direct continuation of Exchange Server 2019 CU15.- Exchange SE RTM (released October 2022) was code-identical to Exchange 2019 CU15.
- Exchange SE CU1 (May 2023) builds on that baseline, introducing new features and updates that are only available in SE (not backported to 2019 CU16 or later—since there are no further 2019 CUs).
- Microsoft has forked development at CU15: Exchange 2019 has effectively ended major feature updates; SE is now the active codebase.
Summary:
Exchange SE CU1 = Exchange 2019 CU15 + New Features.
It’s not a clean rewrite—just a subscription-bound evolution of 2019.2.What happens when the Exchange SE Trial expires?
The Exchange Server SE trial is 180 days. Here's what happens when it expires:
Functionality After Expiration:
- All core server functionality continues to operate.
- Mail flow, mailbox access, calendaring, and OWA/ECP still work.
- No artificial block is introduced that brings the server down or stops services.
However:
- The server will be in an unlicensed state, and you may:
- See warnings in the admin interface, event logs, and PowerShell.
- Be non-compliant with Microsoft licensing terms.
- Some cumulative updates or support might be restricted if you're unlicensed (from a Microsoft support contract point of view).
Server usability:
The server remains usable after trial expiration, but it's not legally licensed for production use.
Suggested Actions:
If you're using the SE trial and intend to continue:
- Convert to a fully licensed SE install by purchasing the appropriate subscription licenses via Volume Licensing or CSP.
- Use PowerShell to activate:
Set-ExchangeServer -Identity "YourServerName" -ProductKey XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX
Question
Answer
Is SE CU1 a new codebase?
No. It’s a continuation of Exchange 2019 CU15 with SE-only features.
What happens after SE trial ends?
Server still works; no functionality loss. But it becomes unlicensed (legal risk, warnings).
Is the server still usable?
Yes. Fully functional but not in compliance without a valid license.
hi Mahmood20 pl close the thread if you are not looking for additional details
Hello Surya_Narayana ,
thank you very much for your quick response and clarification.
I have one more quick question about the legal use of the server after the trial period has expired:
,,The server remains usable after trial expiration, but it is not legally licensed for production use."How does this apply in a trial or development environment? Is its use still legally unobjectionable there, or are there certain legal requirements that I need to observe?
Thank you in advance for your support!
Best regards,
Mahmood
hi Mahmood20 here you go
For Production Environment
- After the trial expires, the server enters Limited Functionality Mode.
- You cannot legally use it in production unless you have:
- A valid Exchange Server SE license, AND
- Proper Client Access Licenses (CALs)
Development or Testing Environment
Microsoft does not allow use of the trial edition indefinitely even for test/dev unless you’re covered by an appropriate license:
❗ Trial ≠ Dev/Test License
- The trial license is time-limited (typically 180 days).
- After that, you must license it or uninstall it — even for test/dev purposes.
Legally Acceptable Options for Dev/Test:
- MSDN / Visual Studio Subscription:
- Includes legal rights to install and use Exchange Server (SE and older) for development, testing, or demonstration purposes.
- Not allowed for production use.
- Requires an active, paid subscription.
- Microsoft Action Pack / Partner Programs:
- If you're a Microsoft partner, you may get Exchange licenses for dev/test through these channels.
- Evaluation Labs or Short-Term Tests:
- If you're just exploring for learning or evaluation and the trial is still active, that's fine.
- Once the trial ends, you must remove or license it, regardless of the environment.
Once the trial expires, you cannot continue to use Exchange SE — even for non-production — unless you're legally licensed through MSDN or a similar dev/test entitlement.
