We’re happy to announce the latest updates to the Exchange Server 2013 Deployment Assistant!
We’ve updated the Deployment Assistant to include the following new scenarios:
- Upgrading from a mixed Exchange 2007/Exchange 2010 deployment to Exchange 2013
- Configuring an Exchange 2013-based hybrid deployment for Exchange 2010 organizations
These new scenarios provide step-by-step guidance about how to upgrade your mixed Exchange 2007/Exchange 2010 organization to benefit from the improvements and new features of Exchange 2013. Additionally, Exchange 2010 organizations can now configure a hybrid deployment with Office 365 using Exchange 2013 if you would like to leverage the newest improvements to the Hybrid Configuration Wizard.
And, we’re working on even more future improvements to the Deployment Assistant! We’ve listened to your feedback for improving both the Exchange 2013 and Exchange 2010 Deployment Assistants and we’re combining both of these tools into a single deployment resource. All the on-premises and hybrid deployment scenarios for Exchange 2010 in the Exchange Server 2010 Deployment Assistant will soon be incorporated into the Exchange Server 2013 Deployment Assistant. The new and improved “Exchange Server Deployment Assistant” will soon be a one-stop shop for deploying multiple versions of Exchange. Keep checking back here for an announcement to learn when this is available!
In case you're not familiar with it, the Exchange Server 2013 Deployment Assistant is a web-based tool that helps you deploy Exchange 2013 in your on-premises organization, configure a hybrid deployment between your on-premises organization and Office 365, or migrate to Office 365. Supported on most major browsers, the tool asks you a small set of simple questions and then, based on your answers, creates a customized checklist with instructions to deploy or configure Exchange 2013. Instead of trying to find what you need in the Exchange library, the Deployment Assistant gives you exactly the right information you need to complete your task.
And until we’ve finished our upcoming updates for the Deployment Assistants, if you still need to deploy Exchange 2010, or are interested in configuring an Exchange 2010-based hybrid deployment with Office 365, you can continue to access the Exchange Server 2010 Deployment Assistant.
Do you have a deployment success story about the Deployment Assistant? Do you have suggestions on how to improve the tool? We would love your feedback and comments! Feel free to leave a comment here, or send an email to edafdbk@microsoft.com directly or via the Feedback link located in the header of every page of the Deployment Assistant.
Happy deploying!