Windows Server 2019 Evaluation Upgrade

Question

Good morning, would just like to ask if we can upgrade Windows Server 2019 Standard Evaluation to its full edition? I happened to watch a video showing how it can be done, but the thing is I read an article saying that I cannot upgrade if the server is being used as an active directory domain controller? Any insights and help will be highly appreciated. Thank you.

Answer 1

Thank you for your response. May I know if you have documentation on how we can do the demotion etc?

Answer 2

Hello Louie Ilar,

Thank you for posting in Microsoft Community forum.

If it is only one Windows Server 2019 Evaluation server without any role on it, you can upgrade it via buying an official version of the key and installing this key, then it will upgrade to its full edition.

In your case, you have installed one AD DS role on this Windows Server 2019 Evaluation server, and you want to upgrade it.

The recommended way to upgrade a domain is to promote new servers to DCs that run a newer version of Windows Server. So you can add one new version server to this existing domain and promote it as Domain Controller and transfer the FSMO roles on this new Domain Controller.

Then demote this Windows Server 2019 Evaluation Domain Controller to one member server and perform in-place upgrade the operating system to its full edition based on your need.

After that you can readd AD DS role on this upgraded server and promote it as Domain Controller again.

Reference:
Upgrade domain controllers to a newer version of Windows Server | Microsoft Learn

I hope the information above is helpful.

If you have any question or concern, please feel free to let us know.

Best Regards,
Daisy Zhou

Answer 3

Hello Louie Ilar,

Good day!

Here is a link for your reference.

Demoting Domain Controllers and Domains (Level 200) | Microsoft Learn

If you have any question or concern, please feel free to let us know.

Best Regards,
Daisy Zhou