How to Upgrade Windows 2012 R2 DC to Windows Server 2016

Note: Windows Server 2016 requires a Windows Server 2003 domain and forest functional level. To check the forest functional level, open Active Directory Domains and Trusts. Right click on domain and select Property.

  1. Install and join the new Windows Server 2016 to your forest. Restart when prompted.
  2. Login administrator account and open Server Manager, click Add Roles and Features.

3. In Before you screen begin, click Next.

4. In Select installation type, the default is Role-based or feature-based installation. Click Next.

5 In Select destination server, click Next.

6. In Select server role, check the Active Directory Domain Service and click Next.

7. Click on Add Features in Add Roles and features Wizard popup.

8. Click Next in Select features.

9. Click Next in Active Directory Domain Service.

10. Click Install in Confirm installation selections. Note: you may check Restart the destination automatically if required.

11. The installation may take a while. In Server Manager, click the yellow triangle, and from the drop-down click Promote the server to a domain controller.

12. On the Deployment Configuration screen, select Add a domain controller to an existing forest and click Next.

13. You have options to enable DNS and GC or RODC options in Domain Controller Options. Enter the password and click Next.

14. If you enable DNS on the new DC, you may receive a warning. Just click OK to continue.

15. In Additional Options, click Next to continue.

16. Click Next in Paths.

17. Click Next in Preparation Options.

18. For the remainder of the screens click Next. On the Prerequisite Check screen, click install.

19. After the restart, not it is time to transfer FSMO roles. On the Windows Server 2012 R2 server, in Server Manager, under tools, select Active Directory Module for Windows PowerShell.

20. In the PowerShell windows use the Move-ADDirectoryServerOperationMasterRole to move the FSMO roles. You can type the name of each -OperationMasterRole or use numbers to specify the roles.

For example

Move-ADDirectoryServerOperationMasterRole -Identity “DC2016-1” -OperationMasterRole 0,1,2,3,4

DC2016-1 is the new DC hostname. Replace it with your windows 2016 DC name.

Please view this step by step video:

Published by

Bob Lin

Bob Lin, Chicagotech-MVP, MCSE & CNE Data recovery, Windows OS Recovery, Networking, and Computer Troubleshooting on http://www.ChicagoTech.net How to Install and Configure Windows, VMware, Virtualization and Cisco on http://www.HowToNetworking.com