Server 2016 Standard ISO - To Allow For In Place Upgrade From Server 2012R2 to Server 2022

Question

Good Day;

I have an EXCEPTIONALLY small charity client with a few Server 2012R2 Standard HyperV VM's that I will be migrating from an old HyperV host to a new Server 2022 Hyper V host. As part of the contract the client wants to IN PLACE UPGRADE two of their VM's.

Note that I understand the downside to doing an In Place Upgrade compared to Fresh Install, but the client has no budget and no time, so an In Place Upgrade it is.

The problem is that to upgrade S2012R2 to 2022, I need to upgrade to Server 2016 as an interim step but my customer only has Server 2022 Standard ISO's they licensed directly from Microsoft.

Can I upgrade Server 2012R2 Standard to 2016 using an Eval version https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/evalcenter/evaluate-windows-server-2016 and then upgrade to a licenced version of Server 2022 without blowing anything up or breaching licensing conditions?

Thoughts?

Answer 1

No you cannot perform an in-place upgrade using evaluation media. The much simpler / safer method is to stand up the new Server 2022, patch fully, activate, migrate roles over and move on.

--please don't forget to upvote and Accept as answer if the reply is helpful--

Answer 2

Thanks All;

The client actually licensed WS2022 STANDARD OEM directly from Dell and the client will not stand up new servers; they want an In Place Upgrade.

I know there are downgrade rights https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/answers/questions/170403/windows-server-2019-downgrade.html but I don't know where to source the downgraded WS2016 ISO to make this possible.

Thoughts?

Answer 3

I don't know where to source the downgraded WS2016 ISO to make this possible.

A VS subscription or the volume site are the microsoft options.

--please don't forget to upvote and Accept as answer if the reply is helpful--

Answer 4

I have the client checking with Dell to see if they provide an ISO / Key for Server 2016 as part of their OEM Server 2022.

I will reply as soon as the client hits me with the answer.

Thanks everyone :)