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TTadmin-5133 asked LeonLaude commented

windows server 2003 SP2 x86 upgrade to 2019

hi

I have 2 windows servers 2003 sp2 on virtual machines one of them is main the other is a replication both of them are life and now I need to upgrade to windows server 2019 for both of them, I just want to confirm a few points. as I know I have to upgrade first from 2003 to 2016 then from 2016 to 2019

  • the existing windows server is x86 can i use x64 on windows server 2016 and 2019 or I should use x86 for both

  • should I stop the replication before proceeding with the upgrade notes that both of them are Global catalog.

  • the existing 2003 is AD and file server and wins server theses can be migrated to 2016 and 2019 or not?


windows-serverwindows-server-update-services
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1 Answer

LeonLaude avatar image
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LeonLaude answered LeonLaude commented

Hi @TTadmin-5133,

Unfortunately all Windows Server versions that came out after Windows Server 2008 R2 are only available in 64-Bit, which means that you cannot upgrade your existing Windows Server 2003 SP2 32-Bit operating systems to Windows Server 2016/2019.

The recommended approach is to install new servers and migrate everything from the old servers to the new servers.

There are many articles that describe how to migrate Active Directory (AD) from Windows Server 2003 to newer operating systems, here's a few:

Here's also an old TechNet forum thread about a similar query:
Server 2003 to 2019, alternative way to migrate users and shares?


(If the reply was helpful please don't forget to upvote and/or accept as answer, thank you)


Best regards,
Leon

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@ LeonLaude

Thanks for your reply, As per the links shared I have to join the new 2016 machine to the domain first then transfer the operation master role, should i stop replication before doing that?

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No need to stop the replication, the links provided should help you out, here's also an official step-by-step guide for AD 2003 -> AD 2012 R2:
https://docs.microsoft.com/en-gb/archive/blogs/canitpro/step-by-step-active-directory-migration-from-windows-server-2003-to-windows-server-2012-r2

Do note that you will have to migrate your FSR to DFSR as well, here's a full guide on how to accomplish this:
https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/t5/storage-at-microsoft/streamlined-migration-of-frs-to-dfsr-sysvol/ba-p/425405

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