If you are using Exchange Server 2019, running on Windows Server 2019 and Office Online Server (Office Web Apps) running on Windows Server 2016 or older operating systems, you will get an error as shown below:
“Sorry, there was a problem and we can’t open this document. If this happens again, try opening the document in Microsoft Word.”
Step 01: Enable OOS ULS Logging
To troubleshoot the above, we need to enable logging on the Office Online Server (OOS). Please follow the steps to enable logging.
Open up PowerShell and run the below command to enable logging.
Set-OfficeWebAppsFarm -LogVerbosity “High”
Restart the Office Online service by running the below command.
Restart-Service WACSM -force
Step 02: Check Logs
Upon going through the logs, map your Session ID with the log lines. In my case, the error noted a .NET exception where the connection was forcibly closed by the remote host, which is the Exchange Server.
ServiceHostLoader.GetCheckedBaseDocument: Caught a FileUnknownException: Microsoft.Office.Web.Common.EnvironmentAdapters.FileUnknownException: WOPI Check File —> Microsoft.Office.Web.Common.EnvironmentAdapters.UnexpectedErrorException: HttpRequest failed. —> Microsoft.Office.Web.Common.HttpRequestAsyncException: No Response in WebException —> System.Net.WebException: The underlying connection was closed: An unexpected error occurred on a send. —> System.IO.IOException: Unable to read data from the transport connection: An existing connection was forcibly closed by the remote host. —> System.Net.Sockets.SocketException: An existing connection was forcibly closed by the remote host
Step 03: Enable TLS and .NET Strong Encryption
Exchange Server 2019 only supports TLS v1.2 along with enhanced ciphers and hashing algorithms. Since the older operating systems may not be enabled with these settings, we need to manually enable them through registry.
Verify that same TLS versions are enabled on both Office Online Server and Exchange Servers
After much await Microsoft has decided to release the Role Requirements Calculator for Exchange Server 2019.
However unlike other versions, Microsoft has decided to make getting this extremely difficult. How? By including the file only inside the Exchange Server 2019 CU2 update. Yes, now you have to download a 5GB+ file just to get a 761KB file. Well that’s a bummer indeed.
Anyhow, if anyone wants to give a try, you can get the Exchange Server 2019 CU 4 Role Requirements Calculator here..
The following section describes a step-by-step guide for the installation of Microsoft® Exchange Server 2019 Preview. The installation considers a single server deployment of Exchange Server 2019. Additional details of the topology and architecture of the lab environment which was used in the installation is described here;
Active Directory Domain Controller(s)
Operating System
Windows Server 2019 preview
Forest Functional Level
Windows Server 2019 preview
Domain Functional Level
Windows Server 2019 preview
Exchange 2019 server(s)
Operating System
Windows Server 2019 preview
.Net Framework Version
4.7.2 (default)
Exchange 2019 prerequisites
Domain Controller Support
The following Active Directory writable Domain Controller(s) are supported;
Windows Server 2012 R2
Windows Server 2016 (Core and Desktop Experience)
Windows Server 2019 preview (Core and Desktop Experience)
Operating System Support
Windows Server 2016 (Core and Desktop Experience)
Windows Server 2019 preview (Core and Desktop Experience)
The first task in the installation of any version of Exchange is to prepare the Active Directory environment where the Exchange Server will be placed. However, prior to the preparation, it should be checked against the above Domain Controller support prerequisites mentioned earlier. Once the above requirements are verified for consistency, proceed with the following preparation tasks on the server/computer which will be used to prepare the Active Directory.
We will be using the Exchange Server itself to prepare the Active Directory.
To prepare the active Directory and the Domains for Exchange 2019, follow the following steps. To execute the commands, the commands should be run using the Schema Admins group and the Enterprise Admins group membership.
Mount the Exchange Server 2019 Preview Installation Media
Now that your Active Directory forest and the domains are prepared, we can finally get running the Exchange Installation Wizard
Install Exchange Server 2019
If you’re installing the first Exchange 2019 Preview server in the organization, and the Active Directory preparation steps have not been performed, the account you use must have membership in the Enterprise Administrators group. If you haven’t previously prepared the Active Directory Schema, the account must also be a member of the Schema Admins group.
Mount the Exchange Server 2013 Preview Installation Media
Start Exchange 2019 Preview Setup by double-clicking Setup.exe
On the Check for Updates page, select whether you want Setup to connect to the Internet and download product and security updates for Exchange 2019 Preview and click Next
Once you click Next, the setup will copy the installation binaries to the local drive and prepare for the installation
Once completed, you will be prompted with the Introduction Page
The Introduction page gives additional guidance for the installation procedure. Review the content and Click Next to continue
On the License Agreement page, review the terms. If you agree to the terms, select I accept the terms in the license agreement, and then click next
On the Error Recommended Settings page, select whether you want to use or not the recommended settings such as error checks and usage feedback etc. and then click next
As you can see, just like Exchange 2016, Exchange 2019 only has a Mailbox role and Edge role only. Proceed with your requirement and to be sure, make a tick on the “Automatically install windows server roles and features…” Although we have covered this initially, running this will ensure that if we have missed anything, the setup will install it for us
On the Installation Space and Location page, either accept the default installation location or click Browse to choose a new location with adequate storage space, click next to proceed
If installing the Mailbox role a Malware Protection Settings page will appear. Choose whether to enable or disable malware scanning and click Next. (For demo purposes, I will be proceeding with Yes)
On the Readiness Checks page, view the status to determine if the organization and server role prerequisite checks completed successfully. If unsuccessful, perform the required tasks and click Back, and Next to run the Readiness check again. If successful, click install to proceed with installing Exchange Server 2019
Now the installation will proceed, note that this will take time depend on your environment
Once the setup completes the installation, on the Completion page, click Finish
Now that the Exchange installation is complete, it’s always good to reboot your server
Review Exchange Installation
Once all the above tasks are performed, proceed with the below steps to verify the installation using the Exchange 2019 Administrative Center and PowerShell.
The Exchange Administration Center (EAC) is the web-based management console in Microsoft Exchange Server 2019 Preview that allows for ease of use and is optimized for on-premises, online, or hybrid Exchange deployments. To navigate to the Exchange Admin Center;
Open the web browser.
Navigate to the bellow URL, provide your credentials and then click sign in.
Review the tabs and sections in the new Admin Center
There you go. Time to play! Hope this guide helped you. Don’t forget to keep on checking for some exiting new posts on how to play around with the all new Admin Center as well as a step by step guide for installing Skype for Business Server 2019 preview in the next couple of days.
Really appreciate all your comments, especially if i have missed anything or made a mistake regarding the installation. 🙂
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