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Punditji avatar image
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Punditji asked ·

Migrate Windows Server Essential 2012 R2 to Azure IaaS

Hello Team
I have windows server essential 2012 R2 on Prem with Active Directory and I want to migrate to azure but still need Active Directory Domain Services and want to be on the latest Windows 2019 server.
I don't think I can deploy replica domain controller in azure on 2019 as windows server essential can have only one DC. Correct?
So what will be the migration process?

Thx in advance for any help

azure-virtual-machines
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1 Answer

thgibard avatar image
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thgibard answered ·

I don't think you can create an Essentials edition of Windows Server in Azure today. I checked and it's not available in the templates on Azure Subscribtion. However, it's not a big deal, if you agree with the pricing of a VM in Azure, the licences cost is integrated so no surprise on this. The template will be Standard or Datacenter.

Sure you can go to the cloud ! There is nothing that is preventing you from migrating to Azure. A lot of customers are doing so and want to keep their Active Directory Domain Services in this case they are "extending" their datacenter to Azure thanks to VPN S2S or Azure ExpressRoute. In this way, Azure will appear as an extension of your own personal datacenter. VM on-prem and VM in Azure will be able to speak together.

So in this case, you just need to create a new virtual machine IAAS in Azure and you will just manage it the same way as you do locally. You go in Server Manager and you install the ADDS Role. And it will replicate for an existing Domain Controller.

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Punditji avatar image Punditji ·

I dont want to keep on Prem infrastructure. In this case how I can move my Domain Controller on Windows server essential on prem to move to azure with latest 2019 Datacenter edition Active Directory?
As far as I know I cannot create replica domain controller with windows server essential with windows server 2019 in azure IaaS VM can be 2012 r2 only.
In that case how will I migrate on Prem windows server essential 2012R2 to Azure 2019 Data center edition?

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thgibard avatar image thgibard Punditji ·

Unfortunately, I'm not working on Essentials versions and I don't want to give you bad information.
You will need to wait for another person that could assist on this.

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