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Migrate Windows Server Essential 2012 R2 to Azure IaaS

Girish 61 Reputation points
2020-04-23T00:16:06.46+00:00

Hello Team
I have windows server essential 2012 R2 on Prem with Active Directory and I want to migrate to azure but still need Active Directory Domain Services and want to be on the latest Windows 2019 server.
I don't think I can deploy replica domain controller in azure on 2019 as windows server essential can have only one DC. Correct?
So what will be the migration process?

Thx in advance for any help

Azure Virtual Machines
Azure Virtual Machines
An Azure service that is used to provision Windows and Linux virtual machines.
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  1. thgibard-MSFT 356 Reputation points
    2020-04-23T08:27:22.383+00:00

    I don't think you can create an Essentials edition of Windows Server in Azure today. I checked and it's not available in the templates on Azure Subscribtion. However, it's not a big deal, if you agree with the pricing of a VM in Azure, the licences cost is integrated so no surprise on this. The template will be Standard or Datacenter.

    Sure you can go to the cloud ! There is nothing that is preventing you from migrating to Azure. A lot of customers are doing so and want to keep their Active Directory Domain Services in this case they are "extending" their datacenter to Azure thanks to VPN S2S or Azure ExpressRoute. In this way, Azure will appear as an extension of your own personal datacenter. VM on-prem and VM in Azure will be able to speak together.

    So in this case, you just need to create a new virtual machine IAAS in Azure and you will just manage it the same way as you do locally. You go in Server Manager and you install the ADDS Role. And it will replicate for an existing Domain Controller.

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