I'm planning to migrate to two VMs from SBS2008. One VM will be a domain controller and the second will be used as a SQL server with a LOB App. Creating member servers on the existing SBS domain can be executed first but can the Essentials Role be held back until the new SQL server LOB is operating and the data and printers have been migrated? Does the 21 days grace period still apply to the Essentials Role on a Standard server as well as the Essentials Server with the 25 user limit?
The grace period of 21 days has nothing to with the version of the new DC. The grace period kicks in if you move roles to the new domain controller.
Thanks Mariette
I know it has nothing to do with the DC but is there not a difference between the Essentials Server (25 Users) and Standard Server with the Essentials Role? Am I not correct to believe that you can enable the Essentials Role on more than one server in a network? That was the reasoning behind the question. Enabling the Essentials Role on an Essentials server must detect that there is a Small Business Server on the network and the grace period of 21 days kicks in. But with the Essentials Role on a Standard or Enterprise server it clearly doesn't consider another Essentials Role as a barrier and hence the question regarding another Small Business Server?
I found this that seems to only refer to the Essentials Server having a 21 day restriction. https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-server-essentials/install/install-and-configure-windows-server-essentials-or-windows-server-essentials-experience
To be honest the project I have in mind is not likely to need a period longer than 21 days in any case but I wanted to understand if it applies.
If the Windows Server Essentials SKU is used (the one with the 25 user limit) then you have also the 21 days grace period on that server. Yes, you can install the Essentials Experience role on multiple servers if it is Standard but remember that Azure integration or Office 365 integration can only be done on the DC with the Essentials Experience role.
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