The prerequisites that are needed to install Exchange 2013 on a Windows Server 2012 server depends on which Exchange roles you want to install.

Exchange Server 2013 has only two roles, Mailbox and Client Access server roles. Exchange Server 2013 can be installed Either as:

• Mailbox server role or combined Mailbox and Client Access server roles

• Client Access server role

Note :  If you want to install as a Client Access Server role only, then you neither need to install Microsoft Office 2010 Filter Packs 64 bit nor Microsoft Office 2010 Filter Packs SP1 64 bit

1. The minimum requirement for Active Directory at this point is the forest functional level set at least to Windows Server 2003
   
   If you need to check your current Forest Functional Level, then read this article : How to Raise the Forest and Domain Functional Levels in Windows Server 2008/R2
   
   My current domain controller is Windows Server 2008 R2 and the forest functional level is Windows Server 2008.
   
   
   
   
   

2. Join the server to the Domain. Exchange Server needs to be a domain member.
   
   Exchange Server 2013 will update Active Directory schema. Make sure the user you are going to login with is a domain user that has the following privileges : Domain Admin, Enterprise Admin and Schema Admin.
   
   
   
   
   
   

3. Make sure server is fully updated before running Exchange Server setup.
   
   
   

4. Install Windows Features using PowerShell
   
   Run Windows PowerShell as Administrator and Paste the following :
   
   Install-WindowsFeature AS-HTTP-Activation, Desktop-Experience, NET-Framework-45-Features, RPC-over-HTTP-proxy, RSAT-Clustering, RSAT-Clustering-CmdInterface, RSAT-Clustering-Mgmt, RSAT-Clustering-PowerShell, Web-Mgmt-Console, WAS-Process-Model, Web-Asp-Net45, Web-Basic-Auth, Web-Client-Auth, Web-Digest-Auth, Web-Dir-Browsing, Web-Dyn-Compression, Web-Http-Errors, Web-Http-Logging, Web-Http-Redirect, Web-Http-Tracing, Web-ISAPI-Ext, Web-ISAPI-Filter, Web-Lgcy-Mgmt-Console, Web-Metabase, Web-Mgmt-Console, Web-Mgmt-Service, Web-Net-Ext45, Web-Request-Monitor, Web-Server, Web-Stat-Compression, Web-Static-Content, Web-Windows-Auth, Web-WMI, Windows-Identity-Foundation, RSAT-ADDS
   
   
   
   
   
   Installation will start
   
   
   
   After installation is completed, a restart is required. So close everything and reboot your server.
   
   
   
   

5. Prepare Active Directory Domain by running the following command inside an elevated command prompt:
   
   Setup /PrepareAD /OrganizationName:OrganizationName /IAcceptExchangeServerLicenseTerms
   
   Where OrganizationName is your Exchange Server Organization name
   
   In Windows Server 2013 Start Screen, type cmd and from the left side pane, right click on Command prompt and choose Run as administrator
   
   
   
   
   
   Browse to the Exchange Setup files, in my case, the DVD drive letter is E: , then type the below command and hit Enter
   
   Setup /PrepareAD /OrganizationName:ELMAJDAL /IAcceptExchangeServerLicenseTerms
   
   Note: My Organization Name  is ELMAJDAL, so replace ELMAJDAL with your organization name.
   
   
   
   Organization preparation will be completed.
   
   
   
   

6. Download and Install Microsoft Unified Communications Managed API 4.0, Core Runtime 64-bit
   
   Download it from : http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=34992
   
   
   
   Run the installer and Click Next
   
   
   
   Accept the license terms and then click Install
   
   
   
   When installation is completed, click Finish
   
   
   
   

7. Download and Install Microsoft Office 2010 Filter Packs 64 bit
   
   Download it from : http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=17062
   
   
   
   Once download is completed, run the Filter Pack setup, and then click Next on the Welcome to the Microsoft Filter Pack 2.0 Setup Wizard page
   
   
   
   Accept the license terms and click Next
   
   
   
   Filter Pack 2.0 will be installed successfully, click OK
   
   
   
   

8. Download and Install Microsoft Office 2010 Filter Packs SP1 64 bit
   
   Download it from : http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=26604
   
   
   
   After we installed Microsoft Filter Packs 2.0 64bit, we need to update it to SP1. Run the setup, accept the license terms  and click Continue
   
   
   
   
   
   With the installation of Service Pack 1 for Microsoft Filter Pack 2010 64bit, our Server is up and ready for Exchange Server 2013 installation. 
   

In this article, we have made the server which will host Exchange Server 2013 ready and setup with all the required prerequisites. In the next article, We will install Exchange Server 2013.