Upgrading/moving the AD Server from 2012 R2 Datacenter to new instance Server 2022 Standard

Question

Hi,

I'd like to know if upgrading/moving the AD Server from 2012 R2 Datacenter to new instance Server 2022 Standard have any conflict or incompatibility? I'm worrying about the difference in edition when I saw this article https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-server/get-started/upgrade-conversion-options

Best regards,

VSP

Answer 1

Hi @ovsp

You don’t need a Datacenter license for a domain controller. A standard license is enough. To add a domain controller window 2022 to an existing domain, the replication system for sysvol must be dfsr not frs and domain and forest function level Must be Windows 2008R2 or higher.

The recommended method to upgrade a domain controller from Windows 2012 r2 to Windows 2022 is to add a additional domain controller under windows 2022 then migrate all fsmo roles, DNS , application settings if they are using the name of the domain controller as ldap server.

You can use a upgrade in place by performing a upgrade to Windows 2016 or 2019 then window 2022 but this method is not recommended.

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Answer 2

Hello ovsp,

Thank you for posting in Q&A forum.

I'd like to know if upgrading/moving the AD Server from 2012 R2 Datacenter to new instance Server 2022 Standard have any conflict or incompatibility?
A: There is no conflict or incompatibility. You can add one 2022 Standard or 2022 Datacenter to the existing domain and promote it as Domain Controller.

But you should consider functional level and SYSVOl replication engine before you add 2022 Domain Controller to domain. For more information, please read link below.

Forest and Domain Functional Levels

https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-server/identity/ad-ds/active-directory-functional-levels

Upgrade domain controllers to a newer version of Windows Server
https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-server/identity/ad-ds/deploy/upgrade-domain-controllers

Additionally, you can verify application compatibility if needed. If you change the functional level or Domain Controller operating system version, if all the applications in your domain meets compatibility.

I hope the information above is helpful.

If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to let us know.

Best Regards,

Daisy Zhou

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