AWS Quick Starts

Exchange Server on AWS

Email, messaging, scheduling with high availability on the AWS Cloud

Deploy on AWS into a new VPC

(or deploy into an existing VPC)

View guide  — HTML | PDF

Quick Start architecture for Exchange Server on the AWS Cloud

To deploy Exchange Server with AD DS and RD Gateway on AWS, view the Quick Start deployment guide. To install Exchange Server with other Windows servers on AWS in a single deployment, see the Quick Start for Microsoft servers, or view our complete Quick Start catalog.

Exchange-Server_Logo


This Quick Start deploys Microsoft Exchange Server 2013 automatically into a configuration of your choice on the AWS Cloud. The deployment includes Active Directory Domain Services (AD DS) for directory services, and Remote Desktop (RD) Gateway for remote administration over the Internet.

The default configuration deploys the minimal infrastructure required to run Exchange Server on AWS with high availability for 250 mailboxes. You can also align your environment to the Microsoft preferred architecture for 250 mailboxes (two Exchange servers per Availability Zone) or 2,500 mailboxes (four Exchange servers per Availability Zone).

The Quick Start includes AWS CloudFormation templates that automate the deployment, and a guide that provides step-by-step deployment and configuration instructions to help you get started with Exchange Server on AWS.

  • What you'll build

    • A virtual private cloud (VPC) configured with public and private subnets across two Availability Zones. This provides the network infrastructure for your Exchange Server deployment.*
    • An Internet gateway to provide access to the Internet.*
    • In the public subnets, network address translation (NAT) instances to allow outbound Internet access for resources in the private subnets.*
    • In the public subnets, RD Gateway instances to provide remote administration through the Internet.*
    • (Optional) In the public subnets, Exchange Edge Transport role (an SMTP gateway) for routing Internet email in and out of your environment.
    • In the private subnets, Active Directory domain controllers.*
    • In the private subnets, multi-role Exchange servers.
    • Your choice to create a new VPC or deploy into your existing VPC on AWS. The template that deploys the Quick Start into an existing VPC skips the components marked by asterisks above.


    For details, see the Quick Start deployment guide.

  • Deployment details

    Build your highly available Exchange Server environment in a few simple steps:

    1. Plan your deployment, following the Quick Start guidance for performance and high availability.
    2. Sign up for an AWS account at https://aws.amazon.com.
    3. Launch the Quick Start into a new VPC, if you want to build a new AWS infrastructure. (View template)
      -or-
      Launch the Quick Start into an existing VPC, if you already have your AWS environment and AD DS set up. (View template)
      The deployment takes approximately 3 hours.
    4. Take care of post-deployment configuration tasks.


    To customize your deployment, you can choose different instance types for your resources, configure CIDR blocks and IP addresses, and optionally include Exchange Edge Transport servers.  

    For detailed deployment and configuration instructions, see the Quick Start deployment guide.

  • Cost and licenses

    You are responsible for the cost of the AWS services used while running this Quick Start reference deployment. There is no additional cost for using the Quick Start.

    The AWS CloudFormation template for this Quick Start includes configuration parameters that you can customize. Some of these settings, such as instance type, will affect the cost of deployment. See the pricing pages for each AWS service you will be using or the AWS Simple Monthly Calculator for cost estimates.

    You must obtain a license for Exchange Server before you deploy this Quick Start. Microsoft Exchange Server 2013 can be deployed and licensed via the Microsoft License Mobility through Software Assurance program. For development and test environments, you can leverage your existing MSDN licenses for Exchange Server using Amazon EC2 Dedicated Instances. For details, see the MSDN on AWS page.