Just checking to see if there are any differences I should know when I migrate a Server Essentials 2012 that is not R2 to Server Standard 2016 to which I will apply the Essentials role. Note that the Server 2012 was changed to Standard so we could accommodate additional users but the Essential role is still installed.
I want to be sure there are not quirks that will cause problems.
NOTE: The new server will run as a VM on the Server 2016 Standard system. Does that present any issues?
Lots of questions.
Thanks.
--Art
Hello Art,
Good to see you back. Hope all is well?
When you change from the Essentials license (max 25 users) to Standard and you still have the Essentials role installed it is basically the same functionality. Also, for migrating that to server standard 2016 the same procedure is valid but there is one decision to make and that is whether you want to install the Essentials Role on the new 2016 server. It makes it a lot easier for you to install the Essentials role also on the new DC because the file structure of redirected folders will be the same as on the old server and you will get all the Essentials goodies like Access Anywhere.
So, if you are going to use How to migrate Windows Server 2012 R2 (Essentials) to Windows Server 2016 (Essentials) you will see at chapter 6 step 10 you see the Essentials Wizard kicks in and this does not happen if you use Standard media. In chapter 8 I install the Essentials Experience role and you should also do that.
This guide How to migrate Windows Server 2012 R2 (Essentials) to Windows Server 2016 (Essentials) is a complete rewrite I published 4 weeks ago.