Convert a domain controller from datacenter to standard

Question

Hi

We have many domain controllers with Datacenter licence. Can we convert them to Standard version ?

Answer 1

Hello,

The standard license is sufficient for a domain controller. it's recommended to use Standard , because it's less expensive, and there is no difference between the both version.

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Answer 2

No, you cannot downgrade the installation of windows from DataCenter to Standard. The simplest solution is to stand up a new one for replacement.

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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