[German]I have reported on Exchange Server SE several times in this blog. Microsoft has now generally released the Exchange Server Subscription Edition SE on July 1, 2025. The product will replace Exchange Server 2016 and Exchange Server 2019, both of which will be withdrawn from support on October 14, 2025. Microsoft has published some information about the release of Exchange Server SE in a Techcommunity article.
In the blog post Exchange Server 2016 / 2019 reach their EOL in October 2025, I pointed out Microsoft's recommendation to prepare the organization for an upgrade to the Exchange Server Subscription Edition (SE). According to Microsoft, this should be available at the beginning of the second half of 2025.
German blog reader MaxM pointed out the general release of Microsoft Exchange Server Subscription Edition SE in this comment. Microsoft has disclosed some information in the Techcommunity post Exchange Server Subscription Edition (SE) is now available.
The Exchange Server Subscription Edition SE Release to Manufacturing (RTM) build can be installed as a Cumulative Update (CU) on Exchange Server 2019 CU14 or CU15. Both Exchange 2016 and Exchange 2019 can be updated to Microsoft Exchange Server Subscription Edition SE. For Exchange 2016, this requires a classic mailbox migration. All details on the upgrade process and the associated FAQs can be found at Upgrading your organization from current versions to Exchange Server SE.
For customers with Microsoft Exchange 2019, Microsoft recommends installing CU14 or CU15 and then upgrading to Exchange SE. Exchange SE RTM differs from previous Exchange RTM releases as it does not include a major code upgrade and does not include major changes compared to Exchange 2019 CU15. For more information, see Why "in-place upgrade" from Exchange 2019 to Exchange SE is low risk.
The in-place upgrade process from Exchange 2019 to Exchange Server Subscription Edition SE does not remove or add any features. Also, no changes were made to the Active Directory schema (/PrepareAD may be required when upgrading from CU14).
Microsoft states that no installation requirements have been changed and no new license keys are required. Microsoft states the following differences to Exchange 2019 CU15:
- The license agreement (an RTF file that is only displayed in the GUI version of Setup) has been updated.
- The name has been changed from Microsoft Exchange Server 2019 to Microsoft Exchange Server Subscription Edition.
- The build and version numbers have been updated.
- Updates released since Exchange 2019 CU15 will be integrated into Exchange SE RTM (this happens with every CU update)
The Exchange Server Subscription Edition is subject to the Subscription Edition of the Modern Lifecycle Policy. Support is no longer tied to a fixed end date, as long as customers keep their configurations up to date. Instead, the Exchange SE code base will be continuously maintained as a product, with no further major releases with annual numbers. The RTM is available at VLSC and in the Download Center.
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