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Visual C++ 2012 is out of support, but is required for Exchange 2016 - how can we remove it and still run exchange?
We are required to uninstall any software that is no longer in support but still need to use Exchange 2016 which requires C++ 2012 - now out of support.
There were indications from Microsoft that only C++ 2013 was required so, as a test, I remove C++ 2012 and Exchange then failed to start - so I assume I was mislead by Microsoft?
Any thoughts, ideas etc?
There are cases where the VC++ redistributables are supported for alternate time periods. From Support for older versions of Visual Studio -- "There are a few specific instances where we continue to support the Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable beyond the underlying Visual Studio product lifecycle for security fixes only, and only in the context and timeframe of the Microsoft product(s) that depend on it. One such instance is when the Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable is distributed in other Microsoft products, such as SQL Server, Windows Server, or Microsoft Office". I suggest you confirm with Microsoft whether Exchange 2016 is such a product.
getting any answer from Microsoft on this is my main problem, they dont seem to want to respond
@Mark Ashley, Have you seen this https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/topic/a-component-used-within-exchange-requires-a-new-visual-c-prerequisite-for-exchange-server-2016-2013-and-2010-6715fdab-88a8-7b89-6f6f-d19c7911d2fe with respect to using the VC++ 2013 redistributable?
We have Exchange 2016 CU23 so I assumed that it would be OK to remove C++ 2012 so I tried it. It broke Exchange quite spectacularly.
Maybe Exchange needs to have both versions of the redistributables available. The referenced link from Microsoft only referred to a "component used within Exchange" and did not speak to the entire product. Perhaps your assumption is incorrect.
Yes, it looks like they added a need for C++ 2013 but did not replace the need for C++ 2012
It seems to me that you'll need to get hold of a "Microsoft Licensing Specialist" to determine if the installed VC++ 2012 & VC++ 2013 redistributables are included in Exchange 2016 support as mentioned in the first link that I posted in my answer.
If you do get a definitive response from Microsoft please share it for the benefit of others that find themselves in this situation.
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Hi @Mark Ashley,
First of all, I would like to explain that Visual C++2012 and 2013 are both versions supported by Exchange2016 and are one of the prerequisites for Exchange server2016. To ensure successful running of Exchange 2016, you need to install both versions of Visual C++. You can refer to the documentation linked below for more details:
https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/exchange/plan-and-deploy/prerequisites?view=exchserver-2016
But C++ 2012 is no longer supported? Does that mean that Exchange 2016 is no longer supported?
As I see it the real issue is whether the prerequisite VC++ 2012 and 2013 redistributables are supported pursuant to the Exchange Server 2016 life cycle or not. In other words, are these redistributables supported for security fixes through October 14, 2025 which is the end date for Exchange Server 2016 extended support?
@Mark Ashley, The same support issue will soon exist for the VC++ 2013 redistributables since Visual Studio 2013 will reach the end of extended support on April 9, 2024.