cant configure Windows Defender firewall service, Exchange set up is failing

ali deeb 11 Reputation points
2021-04-02T18:41:11.027+00:00

Hi All,

here is the error I am getting when trying to set up exchange server on my Azure VM:

"Microsoft.PowerShell.Commands.ServiceCommandException: Service 'Windows Defender Firewall (MpsSvc)' cannot be
configured due to the following error: Access is denied ---> System.ComponentModel.Win32Exception: Access is denied

Microsoft Defender for Cloud
Microsoft Defender for Cloud
An Azure service that provides threat protection for workloads running in Azure, on-premises, and in other clouds. Previously known as Azure Security Center and Azure Defender.
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  1. Andreas Baumgarten 96,361 Reputation points MVP
    2021-04-02T20:58:12.8+00:00

    Hi @ali deeb ,

    a search in the internet with the error message will find some information about "unsupported" combinations of Exchange and Windows Server versions.
    Even if the combination Exchange Server 2016 and Windows Server 2012 is supported may I ask you why did you choose Windows Server 2012?

    Maybe it's an option to install the Exchange Sever 2016 on a Windows Server 2016. At least it's maybe worth to test if this is working without any issue.

    Are you using a local administrators account for installing Exchange Server?

    Maybe it's an option to deinstall Windows Defender to get the Exchange setup done: 

    # Run this before Exchange setup  
Remove-WindowsFeature Windows-Defender-Features  
# Run this after Echange setup is done  
Add-WindowsFeature Windows-Defender-Features,Windows-Defender-Gui

    ----------

    (If the reply was helpful please don't forget to upvote and/or accept as answer, thank you)

    Regards
    Andreas Baumgarten