New HCW – Updating your Hybrid Configuration Wizard

Within the past month, Microsoft has released a new Hybrid Configuration Wizard or HCW. The past version of this program was version 16.x and with the latest update, Microsoft has created a brand new REV, hence the 17.x version moniker. What does this mean? It means that you will have a much better experience when running the HCW. The update includes error corrections, logging, better handling of DNS records, better handling of common errors and much more. Thus updating to the new version is a good recommendation for anyone with the older version in their environment.
Administrator Experience Updating to the latest version:
Well, let’s take a look. For this post I am using my own environment to show what a real world run-through would look like. Your experience may vary depending on your own individual configuration.
First, Microsoft’s announcement – announcement link
Download – http://aka.ms/hybridwizard
Upgrade Process
Can we update the 16.x to 17.x in-place? Let’s see? First, we click on our current HCW icon and we see this:

Hey! There’s a new version, maybe this will update our HCW to version 17 for us?

Wait for the download:

Click run once its downloaded:

Click yes to run the update:

Click Next:

Event after the upgrade, notice that the version is still 16.x. How do we get the 17.x version into the environment?
Step 1 – Uninstall the HCW 16.x
This still will simply remove the program from the server it is installed on. No alterations will be made to your Hybrid Object in your environment either.
** Note ** This is NOT required, but recommended.
Find it in Programs and Features:

Click OK to remove.

Step 2 – Install the new HCW – 17
Using the download link provided at the beginning of the article we can install the new version:

Wait for the download to process:

Click ‘Run’ to start the install process:

Click ‘Yes’ to allow the install:

Click Next to start the wizard:

Wait for the program to find the right server, if you want, you can specify a particular server. Click Next:

Enter credentials:

Enter an Admin account with appropriate permissions in O365:

Enter your password:

Click Next if the credentials look good:

Wait for both item to succeed. If they fail, it might be bad credentials. Click Next.

Select the best option for you. I am leaving ‘Full Hybrid Config’ for my tenant. I also did not check the transfer option as I’ve already performed this task. Click Next.

Select your domains and if you wish to set AutoD options and click Next:

Choose what you need here as well and click Next.

If you need Centralized Mail Transport, select Advanced and then check the box below and click Next:

Choose a server and click Next:

Choose a server and click Next:

Select your certificate and click Next:

Select your FQDN for connection and click Next:

Click Update:

Wait for the install to complete:

If no errors, click Closed. You can also review logs as needed:

After all is said and done, the Hybrid configuration has only one change:

One thing to remember is that the uninstall process is not required. We are simply removing an old HCW to remove any confusion as to which icon to click to run the HCW.
If you have any feedback, make sure to send it their way! Good luck.