How to Download and Install the Latest Exchange 2019 CU
If you are running Exchange Server 2019 in your organization, you might be wondering how to keep it up to date with the latest Cumulative Update (CU). A CU is a full installation of Exchange that includes all updates and changes from previous CUs, and sometimes also adds new features and functionality. It is very important to keep your Exchange servers up to date with the latest CUs and Security Updates (SUs) to ensure the security and performance of your environment. In this article, I will guide you through the steps to download and install the latest Exchange 2019 CU, which is CU13 as of June 2023. I will also explain the benefits of updating your Exchange servers, and some common issues that you might encounter during or after the installation process. Let's get started!
What is a Cumulative Update?
A Cumulative Update (CU) is a package that contains all the fixes and changes that have been made to Exchange Server since its initial release or a previous CU. Each CU is a full installation of Exchange that can be used to install a new server or upgrade an existing one. You don't need to install any previous CUs or RTM versions before installing the latest CU. For example, if you want to install Exchange Server 2019 CU13, you don't need to install Exchange Server 2019 RTM or any earlier CUs first.
download latest exchange 2019 cu
CUs are released on a quarterly basis, usually in March, June, September, and December. They are identified by their build number, which follows a format like 15.2.xxxx.yyy, where xxxx is the major version number and yyy is the minor version number. For example, Exchange Server 2019 CU13 has a build number of 15.2.1258.016.
CUs sometimes also include new features and functionality that are not available in previous versions of Exchange. For example, Exchange Server 2019 CU12 introduced support for Windows Server Core as an installation option for Mailbox servers.
Why Should You Update Your Exchange Servers?
Security Benefits
One of the main reasons why you should update your Exchange servers regularly is to protect them from security threats and vulnerabilities. Microsoft releases Security Updates (SUs) for Exchange Server as needed on a monthly basis, usually on the second Tuesday of each month (also known as Patch Tuesday). SUs contain fixes for security issues that have been discovered and reported by Microsoft or external sources.
SUs are cumulative for each CU version, which means that they include all the security fixes that have been released for that CU since its release. For example, if you have installed Exchange Server 2019 CU12 on your server, you only need to install the latest SU for CU12 to get all the Another example is Exchange Server 2019 CU13, which introduced support for Transport Layer Security (TLS) 1.3 as an optional protocol for securing communications between Exchange servers and clients. TLS 1.3 is the latest version of the TLS protocol that provides improved security and performance over previous versions. By enabling TLS 1.3 on your Exchange servers, you can enhance the security and speed of your email communications, and comply with the latest industry standards and regulations.
By installing the latest CUs on your Exchange servers, you can ensure that you are using the most current and advanced version of Exchange Server, and that you are leveraging the new features and functionality that can benefit your organization and users.
How to Download the Latest Exchange 2019 CU
The first step to update your Exchange servers is to download the latest CU from the Microsoft Download Center. You can find the download link for the latest CU on the Exchange Server Updates: build numbers and release dates page on Microsoft Docs. Alternatively, you can use the following direct link to download Exchange Server 2019 CU13:
How to download and install Cumulative Update 13 for Exchange Server 2019
Exchange Server 2019 Cumulative Update 12 download link and installation guide
What's new in Exchange Server 2019 Cumulative Update 13
Exchange Server 2019 CU13 release date and features
Exchange Server 2019 CU12 issues and fixes
Exchange Server 2019 latest cumulative update requirements and prerequisites
Exchange Server 2019 cumulative update installation best practices
Exchange Server 2019 CU13 vs CU12 comparison and differences
Exchange Server 2019 cumulative update list and history
Exchange Server 2019 CU13 download size and checksum
Exchange Server 2019 CU12 security updates and patches
Exchange Server 2019 cumulative update support lifecycle and policy
Exchange Server 2019 CU13 known issues and limitations
Exchange Server 2019 CU12 performance improvements and enhancements
Exchange Server 2019 cumulative update uninstallation and rollback steps
Exchange Server 2019 CU13 compatibility and interoperability with other products
Exchange Server 2019 CU12 troubleshooting tips and tools
Exchange Server 2019 cumulative update frequently asked questions and answers
Exchange Server 2019 CU13 feedback and reviews
Exchange Server 2019 CU12 documentation and resources
The download file is a self-extracting executable file with a name like ExchangeServer2019-x64-CU13.exe. The file size is about 6 GB, so it might take some time to download depending on your internet connection speed. You can use a download manager or a browser extension to resume the download if it is interrupted or paused.
Once you have downloaded the file, you need to extract it to a folder on your local drive or a network share. You can do this by double-clicking the file or using a command-line tool like 7-Zip. The extraction process will create a folder with a name like ExchangeServer2019-x64-CU13, which contains all the files and folders required for the installation of the CU.
You need to download and extract the CU file only once, and then use it to update all your Exchange servers in your organization. You don't need to download and extract the CU file separately for each server.
How to Install the Latest Exchange 2019 CU
Prerequisites
Before you install the latest CU on your Exchange servers, you need to make sure that you have met the following prerequisites:
You have a valid license for Exchange Server 2019.
You have backed up your Exchange servers and databases, or have a recovery plan in place in case something goes wrong during or after the installation.
You have installed the latest Windows updates and SUs on your Exchange servers.
You have installed any required prerequisites for Exchange Server 2019, such as .NET Framework, Visual C++ Redistributable, and Unified Communications Managed API.
You have disabled any antivirus or malware protection software on your Exchange servers during the installation.
You have enough disk space on your Exchange servers to accommodate the installation files and logs.
You have enough time to complete the installation process, which might take several hours depending on your server configuration and performance.
You have notified your users and stakeholders about the planned downtime of your Exchange services during the installation.
Steps
Once you have met the prerequisites, you can proceed to install the latest CU on your Exchange servers. The installation process is similar for all Exchange server roles, such as Mailbox, Edge Transport, and Unified Messaging. However, there are some differences and considerations depending on your server role and topology. For example, if you have a Database Availability Group (DAG) in your organization, you need to follow some additional steps to update your DAG members. For more information, see on Microsoft Docs.
Here are the general steps to install the latest CU on your Exchange servers:
Log on to your Exchange server as a local administrator or a domain user who is a member of the local Administrators group.
Open a command prompt as an administrator.
Navigate to the folder where you have extracted the CU files.
Run the following command to start the setup wizard: Setup.exe /IAcceptExchangeServerLicenseTerms
On the Check for Updates page, choose whether you want to connect to the internet and download any available updates for the CU. If you choose not to, you can still install the CU without any updates.
On the Upgrade page, review the list of Exchange servers that will be updated, and click Upgrade.
The setup wizard will perform several checks and tasks to prepare your server for the installation. This might take some time depending on your server configuration and performance.
Once the setup wizard has completed the preparation phase, it will start installing the CU files and updating your Exchange server. This might also take some time depending on your server configuration and performance.
When the installation is complete, click Finish.
Restart your Exchange server to apply the changes.
You need to repeat these steps for each Exchange server in your organization that you want to update. You can also use an unattended mode or a script to automate the installation process for multiple servers. For more information, see on Microsoft Docs.
How to Verify the Installation of the Latest Exchange 2019 CU
After you have installed the latest CU on your Exchange servers, you need to verify that the installation was successful and that your servers are functioning properly. Here are some ways to verify the installation of the latest CU:
Check the build number of your Exchange server by running the following command in Exchange Management Shell: Get-ExchangeServer Format-List Name,Edition,AdminDisplayVersion. The build number should match the build number of the CU that you have installed. For example, if you have installed Exchange Server 2019 CU13, the build number should be 15.2.1258.016.
Check the health and status of your Exchange server by running the following command in Exchange Management Shell: Test-ServiceHealth. The command should return a list of required services for each server role and their status. All services should be running unless they are intentionally stopped or disabled.
Check the functionality and performance of your Exchange server by performing some basic tasks and tests, such as sending and receiving emails, accessing Outlook on the web or Outlook client, creating and modifying mailboxes and distribution groups, running backup and restore operations, etc. You can also use tools like to monitor and analyze your Exchange server.
If everything looks good, you have successfully updated your Exchange server to the latest CU. If you encounter any issues or errors, you need to troubleshoot them accordingly.
Common Issues with Exchange 2019 CU Installation and How to Troubleshoot Them
HTTP 500 Errors in OWA or ECP
Sometimes, after installing a CU or an SU on your Exchange server, you might experience HTTP 500 errors when trying to access Outlook on the web (OWA) or Exchange Control Panel (ECP). This might happen because of corrupted or mismatched web.config files in your Exchange installation folder.
To fix this issue, you need to restore the web.config files from a backup or a working server with the same CU or SU version. You can use the following steps to do this:
Navigate to C:\Program Files\Microsoft\Exchange Server\V15\FrontEnd\HttpProxy\owa\web.config and C:\Program Files\Microsoft\Exchange Server\V15\F rontEnd\HttpProxy\ecp\web.config and make a backup copy of these files.
Copy the web.config files from a backup or a working server with the same CU or SU version to the same location on your affected server.
Restart the IIS service by running the following command in an elevated command prompt: iisreset /noforce
Try to access OWA or ECP again and see if the issue is resolved.
Services Don't Start After SU Installation
Another common issue that might occur after installing an SU on your Exchange server is that some or all of the Exchange services don't start automatically. This might happen because of a corrupted or missing registry key that prevents the services from starting.
To fix this issue, you need to recreate the registry key that controls the service startup type. You can use the following steps to do this:
Open Registry Editor by running regedit.exe in an elevated command prompt.
Navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\MSExchangeIS and check if there is a value named Start. If there is, delete it.
Create a new DWORD value named Start and set its value data to 2. This will set the service startup type to automatic.
Repeat steps 2 and 3 for any other Exchange service that is not starting, such as MSExchangeTransport, MSExchangeFrontEndTransport, MSExchangeHM, etc. You can find the list of Exchange services and their registry keys .
Restart your Exchange server to apply the changes.
Check if the Exchange services are starting automatically and functioning properly.
Setup Fails with "Cannot Start the Service" Error
Sometimes, when you try to install a CU or an SU on your Exchange server, you might encounter an error message that says "Cannot start service MSExchangeServiceHost on computer '.'." or something similar. This might happen because of a conflict or a dependency issue with another service on your server.
To fix this issue, you need to stop and disable the conflicting or dependent service before installing the CU or SU. You can use the following steps to do this:
Open Services Manager by running services.msc in an elevated command prompt.
Find the service that is causing the error, such as MSExchangeServiceHost, and double-click it to open its properties.
On the General tab, change the Startup type to Disabled and click Stop to stop the service.
On the Dependencies tab, check if there are any other services that depend on this service or that this service depends on. If there are, repeat steps 2 and 3 for those services as well.
Close Services Manager and try to install the CU or SU again.
After the installation is complete, open Services Manager again and change the Startup type of the disabled services back to their original values and start them.
Mail Flow Has Stopped
A final common issue that might occur after installing a CU or an SU on your Exchange server is that mail flow has stopped or become slow or unreliable. This might happen because of a configuration or a network issue that affects your transport services or connectors.
To fix this issue, you need to check and troubleshoot your transport services and connectors by using tools like on Microsoft Docs for more guidance and solutions.
Conclusion
In this article, I have shown you how to download and install the latest Exchange 2019 CU on your Exchange servers. I have also explained why you should update your Exchange servers regularly, and how to verify and troubleshoot the installation process. By following these steps, you can ensure that your Exchange servers are secure, reliable, and up to date with the latest features and functionality.
FAQs
Q: How often should I update my Exchange servers?
A: You should update your Exchange servers at least once every quarter, when Microsoft releases a new CU for Exchange Server. You should also update your Exchange servers whenever Microsoft releases an SU for Exchange Server, which might happen more frequently depending on the security situation. You can check the release dates and download links for the latest CUs and SUs on Microsoft Docs.
Q: How can I check the current CU or SU version of my Exchange server?
A: You can check the current CU or SU version of your Exchange server by running the following command in Exchange Management Shell: Get-ExchangeServer Format-List Name,Edition,AdminDisplayVersion. The command will return the name, edition, and build number of your Exchange server. You can compare the build number with the list of CUs and SUs on Microsoft Docs to determine the current version of your Exchange server.
Q: Can I skip a CU or an SU and install a later one?
A: You can skip a CU or an SU and install a later one, as long as you are installing the latest one. For example, if you have installed Exchange Server 2019 CU10 on your server, you can skip CU11 and CU12 and install CU13 directly. However, you cannot skip the latest CU or SU and install an earlier one. For example, if you have installed Exchange Server 2019 CU13 on your server, you cannot install CU12 or CU11.
Q: Can I uninstall a CU or an SU from my Exchange server?
A: You cannot uninstall a CU or an SU from your Exchange server. Once you have installed a CU or an SU on your Exchange server, it becomes part of the base installation and cannot be removed. If you want to revert to a previous version of Exchange Server, you need to uninstall Exchange Server completely and reinstall it with the desired version.
Q: Where can I find more information and support for Exchange Server updates?
A: You can find more information and support for Exchange Server updates on Microsoft Docs, Microsoft Support, Microsoft Tech Community, and other online resources. Here are some links that might be helpful:
I hope you have found this article helpful and informative. If you have any questions or feedback, please feel free to leave a comment below. Thank you for reading! 44f88ac181
Comments