How to Configure Licensing in Exchange Server 2010

In Exchange Server 2010, we do not enter a product key during installation. Instead, product key of provided after installation using Exchange Management Console (EMC). Exchange Server 2010 runs in trial mode only until we enter a product key. Once product key is entered, only then it is determined which edition is established on an Exchange Server.Once product key is entered, trial edition will be converted into a Standard or Enterprise Edition depending upon the key.

Follow the below steps to determine the established edition of Exchange Server and licensing on your Exchange Server:-

1. In the Exchange Management Console, select the Server Configuration node.

2. In the main pane, right-click the server you want to work with and then select Properties.

3. In the Properties dialog box, the established edition and license details are listed on the General tab.

Using the Exchange Management Console, we can enter a product key by completing the following steps:

1. Open the Exchange Management Console from the Start menu and select the Server Configuration node.

2. Right-click the server that requires the product key, and then select Enter Product Key. This starts the Enter Product Key Wizard.

3. Type the product key when for the Exchange Server 2010 edition you want to establish, either Standard or Enterprise, and then click Enter.

4. The wizard validates the product key and displays any appropriate warnings. Read the information provided, and then click Finish. Keep the following in mind:

· When you change the product key on a Mailbox server, you must restart the Microsoft Exchange Information Store service to apply the change.

· Product keys cannot be used to downgrade editions. To downgrade editions, you must uninstall and then reinstall Exchange Server.

· When you change the product key on an Edge Transport server, you must resubscribe the server in the Exchange organization to apply the change.

Product can also be entered from the PowerShell Cmdlets as shown below:-

Syntax

Set-ExchangeServer -Identity 'ServerName' -ProductKey 'ProductKey'

Usage

Set-ExchangeServer -Identity 'MailServerXXX' -ProductKey 'AAAAA-BBBBB-CCCCC-DDDDD-EEEEE'