Update version of Hyper V - Advice

Fiorano2022 1 Reputation point
2021-01-21T15:40:05.833+00:00

Hi, We have two physical servers. One is running Windows Server 2012 R2 and one running Windows Server 2016.

The 2012 R2 Server is running Hyper-V Manager Version: 6.3.9600.16384

The 2016 Server is running Hyper-V Manager Version: 10.0.14393.0

We need to update the 2012 server Hyper V Manager so we can recover/replicate VMs across servers. Is this possible and is there a step by step process to go through?

Many thanks,

Fiorano2022

Windows Server 2016
Windows Server 2016
A Microsoft server operating system that supports enterprise-level management updated to data storage.
2,383 questions
Windows Server 2012
Windows Server 2012
A Microsoft server operating system that supports enterprise-level management, data storage, applications, and communications.
1,532 questions
Hyper-V
Hyper-V
A Windows technology providing a hypervisor-based virtualization solution enabling customers to consolidate workloads onto a single server.
2,550 questions
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  1. Dave Patrick 426.1K Reputation points MVP
    2021-01-21T16:02:41.613+00:00

    Assuming the hardware is supported https://www.windowsservercatalog.com/
    the simplest / safest solution would be to export / save the virtual machines off somewhere, clean install the operating system (Server 2016), patch fully, add hyper-v role, import virtual machines.

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  2. Mico Mi 1,921 Reputation points
    2021-01-22T06:48:40.967+00:00

    Hi,
    The Hyper-V console cannot be upgrated.
    If you want to replicate you vm from server 2012 R2 to 2016 or from 2016 to 2012R2, there may be some limitations on supported versions:
    59448-image.png

    So, it is suggested to upgrade server 2012R2 to 2016:
    Keep notes if you don't have documentation of your HYPER-V Server configuration like:

    • Virtual Switches.
    • Network interfaces that mapped in Virtual Switches.
    • Ip Addresses of Network Interfaces.
    • Name of Network Interfaces if you have change it.
    • Virtual Network Interfaces
    • VLAN that apply in every Network Interface
    • Any other configuration that maybe has apply in your HYPER-V Server

    Prepare the Virtual Machines

    • Backup all your Virtual Machines
    • Be sure that all the Virtual Machines included in separated Disk of the OS Disk (C:)
    • Shutdown all the Virtual Machines
    • Delete any checkpoint from Virtual Machines

    Do a clean installation of Windows Server 2016. Don't proceed with in-place upgrade of your OS. It's very important to know that the backbone of your Virtual Machines it's clean without old configuration that maybe cause problems in the future.

    Thanks for your time!
    Best Regards,
    Mico Mi

    -----------------------------

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