Migration and Deployment : Upgrade Implications for Active Directory – Windows Server 2008 to Windows Server 2012 (Part 7 of 19) by Blain Barton

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Now that Windows Server 2012 has been out for 6 months, I’m sure more and more IT Pros are evaluating the requirements and steps to upgrade or migrate some of their Windows Server 2008 / 2008 R2 infrastructure over to Windows Server 2012. One of the common items is Active Directory. If this is a topic you are interested in, please read Blain’s post from February 12, 2012 that provides some information on the implications of implementing a Windows Server 2012 Domain Controller in your existing Forest.

I am including a small snippet from Blain’s blog post, but you will want to read the full article by going to his post directly.

When we look at upgrading our existing infrastructure to the latest Windows Server edition we always have to consider the implications when upgrading Active Directory. The first thing you need to plan for is what you are wanting to accomplish in your new migration.

This post provides background information about Active Directory Domain Services in Windows Server 2012 and explains the process for upgrading domain controllers from Windows Server 2008 or Windows Server 2008 R2.

The best place to start is to consider the in place-upgrade scenarios and what can be accomplished in your move.

YES – You can upgrade domain controllers that run 64-bit versions of Windows Server 2008 or Windows Server 2008 R2 to Windows Server 2012.

NO - You cannot upgrade domain controllers that run Windows Server 2003 or 32-bit versions of Windows Server 2008.

To replace them, install domain controllers that run Windows Server 2012 in the domain, and then remove the domain controllers that Windows Server 2003.

Harold Wong