I recently turned off our last on-prem Exchange 2016 server as outlined in Microsoft's guide. Since then, we've mostly just added SMTP proxy addresses through the attribute editor on user accounts, which has been working fine. The guide mentions that when a new cumulative update (CU) is released, we should upgrade the schema, install only the management tools, and then run scripts to clean up Active Directory. I'm curious if anyone has done this with Exchange Server Management Tools since there's no official word from Microsoft on it yet. Currently, I have Exchange 2019 CU 15 tools installed and I'm wondering if I should update.
2 Answers
We still keep our Exchange server running for internal SMTP relay instead of paying third-party services. Plus, it’s handy having the management interface since some features like email address policies aren't available in Exchange Online. Sure, we could script it, but why bother when we can still use these free tools?
Just a heads up! If you're using the SMTP relay option, you'll need a regular Exchange license now, as the hybrid license isn't sufficient anymore.
You're right, CU15 and the SE are built on the same code base. It seems like they're just labeled differently for marketing or support purposes. If you're planning to upgrade, just remember that Microsoft's approach is usually to ensure compatibility across updates, so it shouldn't be a problem installing the newer management tools.
That makes sense! I just thought SE might be a transitional step before a bigger update. Good to know it's all pretty much the same.
Totally get that! We recently set up an external SMTP relay to avoid running one internally, and it works great now. Just made sure to lock down the firewall for security.