Does anyone know if running the HCW on Windows Core is supported? Please let me know. Can you also provide a link if possible to provide to the client? Thank you

Running the Exchange Hybrid Configuration Wizard (HCW) on Windows Server Core is not supported. The Exchange Hybrid Configuration Wizard requires a graphical user interface (GUI) to run. To run HCW, you'll need to use a version of Windows Server with a Desktop Experience (the full GUI) or run it from a client machine like Windows 10 or Windows 11. Alternatively, you can run the HCW on a management workstation or another server with the Desktop Experience, and it will still configure the hybrid setup for your Exchange environment. If the above response helps answer your question, remember to "Accept Answer" so that others in the community facing similar issues can easily find the solution. Your contribution is highly appreciated. hth Marcin

Hybrid Configuration Wizard on Windows Server Core

Accepted answer

Marcin Policht 26,460 Reputation points MVP

2024-09-28T03:23:06.91+00:00

Running the Exchange Hybrid Configuration Wizard (HCW) on Windows Server Core is not supported.

The Exchange Hybrid Configuration Wizard requires a graphical user interface (GUI) to run. To run HCW, you'll need to use a version of Windows Server with a Desktop Experience (the full GUI) or run it from a client machine like Windows 10 or Windows 11.

Alternatively, you can run the HCW on a management workstation or another server with the Desktop Experience, and it will still configure the hybrid setup for your Exchange environment.

If the above response helps answer your question, remember to "Accept Answer" so that others in the community facing similar issues can easily find the solution. Your contribution is highly appreciated.

hth

Marcin
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Alex Zhang-MSFT 1,915 Reputation points Microsoft Vendor

2024-09-30T08:13:46.8166667+00:00

Hello, @Chabango,

Welcome to the Microsoft Q&A platform!

Based on your description, I understand that you want to know whether running the HCW on Windows Core is supported or not.

As Marcin Policht said, the Exchange Hybrid Configuration Wizard requires a graphical user interface (GUI) to run. And according to the description of Server Core in Microsoft's official documentation, the Server Core installation eliminates any services and other features that are not essential for the support of certain commonly used server roles, the GUI is included. Consequently, running the Exchange Hybrid Configuration Wizard (HCW) on Windows Server Core is not supported.

If you want to find a version of Windows that supports running HCW, please refer to Marcin Policht's advice or click on Hybrid deployment prerequisites | Microsoft Learn for reference to know more about Hybrid deployment prerequisites besides the version of Windows.

If the answer is helpful, please click "Accept Answer" and kindly upvote it. If you have extra questions about this answer, please click "Comment".

Thank you for your support and understanding.

Best Wishes,

Alex Zhang
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Hybrid Configuration Wizard on Windows Server Core

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