Microsoft Exchange Server

How to configure a Database Availability Group in Exchange Server 2013.

In this blog, we’ll go through the configure of Exchange 2013 Database Availability Group with two members. The DAG will have a Primary network as well as one replication network. The file share witness is another member server in the domain that has no Exchange 2013 server roles installed. I am using my domain controller as a file share witness server.

Configure Database Availability Group Exchange 2013

In my environment
SRV2012-DC (File share witness server)
10.0.0.20
Exch2013-1 (Node 1)
10.0.0.24
192.168.0.1
Exch2013-2 (Node 2)
10.0.0.25
192.168.0.2
First, we need to prepare the Environment for the DAG

1- I have two networks one Primary and one Replication for my DAG replication for all the nodes which I am planning to add in DAG.

network connections

Make sure these networks are in a different class of IP Addresses.
2- Primary Network.

internet protocol ipv4 properties

3- Replication Network.

internet protocol ipv4 properties

4- Replication IP Address should ping with other replication IP Address – So that DAG replication will happen through these Networks.
Verify my NIC binding are Correct
Advanced > Advanced Settings.

network connections

5- 1- Primary Network

2- Replication Network

network connections advanced settings

Need to create a computer account to pre-stage the Cluster Cluster Name Object.
6- Open active directory users and computers > expand your local domain > select computers > right-click select new and computer account.

active directory users and computers

7- Type a DAG name and click ok.

create computer account active directory

8- Right-click on dag name and select Disable Account.

active directory computer account

9- Click Yes.

disable computer account active directory

10- Click OK.

active directory object disabled

Give Full Control for Exchange Trusted Subsystems
11- Right-click on dag computer name and select properties.

computers in active directory

12- Select Exchange Trusted Subsystem > select full control and click apply.

computer account properties security

13- Now under security click Add.

computer account properties security

14- Select Object Types.

enter the object names to

15- Select Computers and click ok.

enter the name object type

16-Type your First node name > click check names and click ok.

enter the object names to

17- First Node Computer account added > give Full Control and click add.

computer account properties security

18- Type second node computer name > click check names and click ok.

enter the object names to

19- Give full control > Apply for the Permissions and click ok.

computer account properties security

Now we are creating a Database Availability Groupe.

The Exchange Trusted Subsystem should be a member of the local Administrator group on the specified witness server. I am using my active directory server as a witness server.
20- Open active directory users and computers expand domain controller and select Microsoft Exchange Security Group and then right Exchange Trusted Subsystem and select properties.

active directory users and computers

21- Select Member of and then click add.

exchange trusted subsystem properties

22- Type administrator > click check names and then click ok.

enter the object names to

23- So click OK.

exchange trusted subsystem properties

24- Login to Exchange Admin Center > select Servers > select Database Availability Groups and then select the + add button.

exchange admin center 2013 Database Availability Group

25- Type DAG name > Witness Server Name > Witness Location > Add Two DAG IP Address (Static IP for the DAG )
1 for Primary Site and 1 for DR site

If you’ve got different subnet or a special class of IP Addresses on either Sites.
Have Two IP address for the DAG in order that DAG resource are often online while failover on either site
If you’ve got just one Subnet then you’ll have just one IP Address for the DAG.

create and configure database availability group

26- Now my DAG configuration is ready and add a member to it and then Select Manage DAG Membership.

exchange admin center 2013 Database Availability Group

27- Select add + icon.

manage database availability group members

28- Select first node > click add and then click ok.

database availability group add members servers

29- Select Save.

manage database availability group members servers

31- First node member completed successfully and then click close.

Database Availability Group add member server

31- Now you can add the 2nd DAG member so again Select Manage DAG Membership.

configure database availability group exchange 2013

32- Select + Add icon.

database availability group add members servers

33- Select 2nd node > click add and then click ok.

database availability group add members servers

34- Click Save.

manage database availability group members

35- 2nd node completed successfully and then click close.

Database Availability Group add member server

36- Now both the nodes successfully added.

create database availability group exchange 2013

For more information click here

Jamil Parvez

Jamil Pervez works as a Network Administrator, based in Kuwait with a Primary focus on Microsoft technologies. Microsoft Certified MCSE, MCTP, MCITP, CCNP, CCIP, CCVP with 20 years of experience in administering Windows Servers, Exchange, VMWare, Veeam B&R, Veritas BackupExec.

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