Advice on migrating from 2016 Essentials to new hardware running 2022 Standard

Question

Hey everyone, sorry if this has been answered before but I've been tasked with migrating a server running 2016 Essentials that is also acting as a domain controller to new hardware that is running 2022 Standard. I was thinking for simplicity sake it would be better to change the new hardware down to 2016 Essentials and then migrate over, then upgrade from 2016 Essentials to 2022 standard. Basically "Across, then up" as opposed to "Across and up." That way I could address any issues that arise from a hardware migration without any added software issues. Sorry, if this seems dumb, it's my first server migration.

However, when I was researching how to do this I came across this:

"If the server is an Active Directory domain controller, you cannot convert it to a retail version." from https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-server/get-started/upgrade-conversion-options

Answer 1

The two prerequisites to introducing the first 2019 or 2022 domain controller are that domain functional level needs to be 2008 or higher and older sysvol FRS replication needs to have been migrated to DFSR

I'd use dcdiag / repadmin tools to verify health correcting all errors found before starting any operations. Then stand up the new 2019 or 2022, patch it fully, license it, join existing domain, add active directory domain services, promote it also making it a GC (recommended), transfer FSMO roles over (optional), transfer pdc emulator role (optional), use dcdiag / repadmin tools to again verify health, when all is good you can decommission / demote old one.

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