Upgrade RDS server 2012 R2 to 2019

Edeejay 41 Reputation points
2021-10-14T09:56:40.34+00:00

Hi to everyone,

I Have a question...
We have a 2012 r2 server with RDS licenses installed for 2012 servers.
We have bought a pack with RDS Licenses for 2019 servers.
Could I Upgrade my 2012 r2 server to 2019 for install these new licenses?
Or RDS 2012 licenses will not work after the upgrade?

I would like to have both of licenses.

Could you help me?

Thanks in advance.

Windows Server 2012
Windows Server 2012
A Microsoft server operating system that supports enterprise-level management, data storage, applications, and communications.
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Windows Server
Windows Server
A family of Microsoft server operating systems that support enterprise-level management, data storage, applications, and communications.
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  1. cthivierge 4,056 Reputation points
    2021-10-14T14:56:07.533+00:00

    Personally, i don't do any in-place upgrade. I do prefer to start with fresh install servers.

    I think in-place upgrade should work but i do not recommend it. Also, you may have downtime compare to build a new RDS farm.

    Here is the compatibility matrix for RDS Licensing

    https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-server/remote/remote-desktop-services/rds-client-access-license

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  1. Dave Patrick 426.1K Reputation points MVP
    2021-10-14T13:28:33.127+00:00

    You can't use older CALs to access newer Windows Server versions, but you can use newer CALs to access older Windows Server versions.

    Looks like an in-place upgrade is not supported.
    https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-server/remote/remote-desktop-services/upgrade-to-rds

    --please don't forget to upvote and Accept as answer if the reply is helpful--

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  2. cthivierge 4,056 Reputation points
    2021-10-14T13:52:57.733+00:00
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  3. Edeejay 41 Reputation points
    2021-10-14T14:48:23.157+00:00

    Thanks for your reply, @Dave Patrick @cthivierge

    I´m sorry but You want to say that I have to do this steps:

    Create a new server with Windows Server 2019
    Install RDS rol
    Install 2019 licenses
    Move 2012 licenses from older server to new server.

    And I can´t upgrade 2012 r2 to 2019, hold 2012 licenses and install new 2019 licenses....

  4. Edeejay 41 Reputation points
    2021-11-16T12:43:27.753+00:00

    Good afternoon @Dave Patrick @cthivierge , Sorry I have a question..
    I have already created the new license server (Windows server 2019) with the 2019 CALs installed.
    I have configured all Windows server 2019 and few Windows server 2012 R2 clients with this new Windows 2019 License server.
    When a new user connects to a Windows 2012 r2 client,I see thay they are directly assigned a 2012 CAL (which is nonexistent) instead of a 2019 CAL.
    The old license server 2012 with CALs from 2012, is still Online ...
    My question is:
    I have to migrate the 2012 CALs to the 2019 server but, what step is the first?
    1 - Configure the new 2019 license server on the other 2012 Clients
    2 - Migrate 2012 licenses to the new Windows server 2019 server

    Thanks in advance.

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