Server 2016 Essential DC

Question

Good evening, I have a server 2016 essential edition configured as a Domain Controller of a small network, the client has purchased a new server with Windows Server 2019 standard edition installed. Can the latter be attested to the existing domain as a member server?
Thanks.

Answer 1

Hi,

Yes, Windows 2019 sever can be a member server to the existing domain.

Thanks,

Eleven

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Answer 2

Follow along here to migrate essentials to standard. The two prerequisites to introducing the first 2019 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
https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/t5/Storage-at-Microsoft/Streamlined-Migration-of-FRS-to-DFSR-SYSVOL/ba-p/425405

I'd use dcdiag / repadmin tools to verify health correcting all errors found before starting any operations. Then stand up the new 2019, 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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