I receive the following error when attempting to install Exchange Server 2013 on the same machine running Windows Server 2012 R2 Essentials:

"An unsupported operating system was detected. Exchange Server 2013 Client Access and Mailbox Server roles support Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1 or later and Windows Server 2012"

SP1 for Exchange Server 2013 was released but I'm not sure how to integrate it or whether or not I even need to. Please let me know if there is a fix or workaround.

Thank you.

Installation of Exchange Server 2013 on Windows Server 2012 Essentials is not supported.

Windows Server 2012 R2 support came with Exchange Server 2013 SP1. Download and run your installation from that media on another server and integrate it with Windows Server 2012 Essentials. 

Integrate an On-Premises Exchange Server with Windows Server Essentials
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/jj200172.aspx

CK

• Edited by CanKILIC Friday, March 28, 2014 12:59 AM
• Proposed as answer by CanKILIC Friday, March 28, 2014 12:59 AM
• Marked as answer by Jusstyn Chillengilli Monday, March 31, 2014 7:01 PM

Thanks for your help.

I'm limited to just one machine running Windows Server 2012 R2 Essentials. That machine is a DC with AD.

Are you saying just the Essentials edition is incompatible with Exchange 2013 but Standard & Datacenter editions are?

This is correct, Essentials is not supported to host Exchange 2013

You need to install Exchange on supported OS:

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/aa996719(v=exchg.150).aspx

For all your compatibility questions

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/compatibility/CompatCenter/Home

and also you can check

https://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/exchange/en-US/b094ca15-f755-4a19-aaea-210fd1d4256f/exchange-2013-sp1-uninstall-to-migrate-to-server-2012-r2?forum=exchangesvrdeploy