Hey everyone,
I'm in a bit of a tricky spot and need some advice on upgrading our domain controller. We're currently running a single domain controller on Windows Server 2012 R2, but we're planning to add a second one eventually. I want to move to Windows Server 2025, but a direct side-by-side migration isn't feasible due to the limitations of the 2012 R2 structure. An in-place upgrade is permitted, but I'm weighing my options. My choices are either going for an in-place upgrade directly or setting up a new 2019 server first, then migrating the domain controller and finally moving to 2025. What do you all think?
5 Answers
The clean and less risky route would be to get a 2019 server up as a temporary DC, then migrate. Do not go straight to 2025 without testing. Make sure to have proper replication and backups before making any moves.
And don’t forget to test everything before shutting down your old DC!
You definitely want to get a second DC running before making any upgrades. Skipping to 2025 directly from 2012 R2 poses too many risks. Upgrade through the versions step by step, raise the domain level, then finally move to 2025.
Sounds like a solid plan. I always prefer a cautious approach with critical servers like this.
That’s a great tip! I wasn’t aware about needing to raise the domain level first.
First thing's first, you definitely want to add a second domain controller as soon as possible. After that, it's safe to either do an in-place upgrade or just skip it and wipe the old one to put on 2025. Be very careful though; having a single domain controller is risky. Make sure to transfer the FSMO roles to the new DC after it's set up. This way, you'll be minimizing downtime and avoiding any major issues.
Totally agree! Your DC is crucial to your setup. Don't hesitate on getting that redundancy in place before making any big moves.
If you’re not set up for that, consider virtualizing! It makes spinning up new DCs a lot easier.
I wouldn't recommend an in-place upgrade either. Instead, create a new DC with Windows Server 2022 and then migrate your roles over to it. The 2025 version is a bit buggy right now, so it's safer to wait a while before upgrading to that.
Really? I thought 2025 would be solid by now. I guess it's better to be safe than sorry.
Exactly! A clean install is always going to be more reliable than an in-place upgrade.
Wait until you get that second DC fully operational. Then either go for a fresh install of 2025 or upgrade the old one to 2022 and then to 2025. Honestly, clean installs just work better in the long run.
For sure! I can’t stress enough how in-place upgrades can be shaky, especially with only one DC.
I really think installing 2022 first is the way to go. Better to play it safe!
Exactly! Always have backups in case something goes sideways.