Exchange 2013 Service Pack 1:
Microsoft announced at the end of 2013 that Service Pack 1 for Exchange 2013 will be released early in 2014. I wanted to highlight a few things that we can expect to see in SP1.
- Windows Server 2012 R2 Support – Finally! For those that have tried, I am sorry. Windows Server 2012 R2 is NOT supported as an OS platform for Exchange Server 2013. Windows Server 2012 R2 support will come with Exchange 2013 SP1.
- S/Mime Support for OWA – Not sure how many people noticed but this feature was removed. It will be back with SP1. Users will have S/Mime support across Outlook, Exchange Activesync, and OWA
- Edge Transport Server Role – Edge Transport role for Exchange Server 2013 will be available with SP1.
- General Fixes – SP1 will include the usual fixes, security updates, and improvements that Microsoft has been able to accumulate since Exchange 2013 was released.
SP1 is the first full service pack issued in the new Exchange server cumulative update release model. It follows Exchange 2013 Cumulative Update 3 which was released late in November 2013. SP1 will be cumulative so it will include all fixes that have been released previously. As is typical, Exchange 2013 SP1 will require an update to the Active Directory schema.
Jacob Eker, PEI
