Windows Server 2012 R2

Migration and Upgrade Guide

Guidance and resources for migrating from
Windows Server
Windows Server 2012 R2
migration process
Windows Server 2008 to Windows Server 2012 R2
Catalog your software and workloads running on Windows Server 2008
Self-service tools can help you with the process:
• Microsoft Assessment and Planning (MAP) Toolkit
• Third-party discovery offerings. (See Appendix.)

Windows Server 2008 to Windows Server 2012 R2

Categorize applications and workloads
After completing the assessment, you can prioritize workloads and applications for migration.

By type

Microsoft Microsoft Custom Third-party

server roles applications applications applications

By criticality

Mission-critical Important Marginal Can be retired

By complexity and risk

Low Medium High

Windows Server 2008 to Windows Server 2012 R2

• Disk2vhd
Disk2vhd is a utility that creates VHD versions of physical disks for use in Microsoft Virtual PC or Hyper-V
virtual machines.
• Do-it-yourself tools
Microsoft offers Windows Server Migration Tools.
Several Microsoft partners offer do-it-yourself tools to assist in migration. (See Appendix.) .

Windows Server 2008 to Windows Server 2012 R2

Windows Server 2012 R2
migration resources and tools
Install, Use, and Remove Windows Server Migration Tools
(How to migrate server roles, features, operating system settings, and other data and shares.)
http://technet.microsoft.com/library/jj134202.aspx

Using the Windows Server 2008 R2 Migration Tools

(Use for additional context.)
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/events/ee335985.aspx

Installing Migration Tools

http://blogs.technet.com/b/matthewms/archive/2013/02/13/migration-and-deployment-installing-the-migration-tools-part-8-of-
19.aspx

Microsoft Assessment and Planning Toolkit

(Use to inventory computers and applications.)
http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=7826

Disk2vhd
(Use for VHD creation.)
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinternals/ee656415.aspx
Windows Server 2008 to Windows Server 2012 R2
Server and cloud platform
http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/server-cloud/products/windows-server-2012-r2/default.aspx#fbid=g05NRtubdPw

Windows Server Technet Library documentation

http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=41182

Microsoft Virtual Academy training: Migrating to Windows Server 2012

http://www.microsoftvirtualacademy.com/training-courses/migrating-to-windows-server-2012-training

Microsoft Certification and Training Resources: Windows Server 2012

http://www.microsoft.com/learning/en-us/mcsa-windows-server-certification.aspx

Windows Server 2012 JumpStart

http://blogs.technet.com/b/jeffa36/archive/2012/08/22/windows-server-2012-jump-start-series-online-now.aspx

Migrating Roles and Features in Windows Server

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/windowsserver/jj554790

E-book gallery for Microsoft technologies

http://social.technet.microsoft.com/wiki/contents/articles/11608.e-book-gallery-for-microsoft-technologies.aspx#MigrateRoles

Windows Server 2008 to Windows Server 2012 R2

Migrate Remote Access to Windows Server 2012
http://technet.microsoft.com/library/hh831423

Migrate Print and Document Services to Windows Server 2012

http://technet.microsoft.com/library/jj134150

Migrate Health Registration Authority to Windows Server 2012

http://technet.microsoft.com/library/hh831513

Migrate Hyper-V to Windows Server 2012 from Windows 2008 R2

http://technet.microsoft.com/library/jj574113

Migrate Network Policy Server to Windows Server 2012

http://technet.microsoft.com/library/hh831652

Migrate Windows Server Update Services to Windows Server 2012

http://technet.microsoft.com/library/hh852339.aspx

Single Hyper-V Server Running Windows Server 2008 R2 with GUI in Place Upgrade to Windows Server 2012 with GUI
http://social.technet.microsoft.com/wiki/contents/articles/16289.single-hyper-v-server-running-windows-server-2008-r2-with-gui-in-place-upgrade-to-windows-server-2012-
with-gui.aspx

Windows Server 2008 to Windows Server 2012 R2

Windows Server 2012 R2
workload, role and application
migration resources
Windows Server 2008 to Windows Server 2012 R2
Migrate Windows Server 2008 R2 Active Directory Domain Services To Windows Server 2012
http://blogs.technet.com/b/canitpro/archive/2014/05/28/step-by-step-active-directory-migration-from-windows-server-2008-r2-to-
windows-server-2012.aspx

How to Migrate Windows 2008 Active Directory to Windows 2012 Active Directory
http://social.technet.microsoft.com/wiki/contents/articles/11993.how-to-migrate-windows-2008-active-directory-to-windows-2012-
active-directory.aspx

Active Directory Domain Services and DNS Server Migration Guide

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/dd379558(v=WS.10).aspx

Migrating to Windows Server 2012 training: Upgrading Active Directory

http://www.microsoftvirtualacademy.com/Content/ViewContent.aspx?et=2863&m=2857&ct=16753

Windows Server 2008 to Windows Server 2012 R2

for specific servers and services

Active Directory Certificate Services Migration Guide for Windows Server 2012 R2
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/dn486797.aspx

Migrating Active Directory Federation Services Role Service to Windows Server 2012 R2
http://technet.microsoft.com/library/dn486815.aspx

RMS to AD RMS Migration and Upgrade Guide

http://technet.microsoft.com/library/cc754277.aspx

Active Directory Domain Migration From Windows Server 2008 to Windows Server 2012
http://social.technet.microsoft.com/wiki/contents/articles/16268.active-directory-domain-migration-from-windows-server-2008-to-
windows-server-2012.aspx

Migrate DHCP Server to Windows Server 2012 R2

http://technet.microsoft.com/library/dn495425.aspx

Upgrade Domain Services to Windows Server 2012

http://technet.microsoft.com/library/hh994618.aspx

Windows Server 2008 to Windows Server 2012 R2

Windows Server 2008 to Windows Server 2012 R2
File and Storage Services: Prepare to Migrate
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-US/library/dn479284.aspx

Migrate File and Storage Services to Windows Server 2012 R2

http://technet.microsoft.com/library/dn479292.aspx

File and Storage Services: Migrate the File and Storage Services Role
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-US/library/dn479285.aspx

File and Storage Services: Migrate Network File System

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-US/library/dn479295.aspx

File and Storage Services: Migrate an iSCSI Software Target

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/dn479297.aspx

Windows Server 2008 to Windows Server 2012 R2

Migrating to Windows Server 2012 training
A. http://www.microsoftvirtualacademy.com/Content/ViewContent.aspx?et=2863&m=2862&ct=16763
B. http://www.microsoftvirtualacademy.com/Content/ViewContent.aspx?et=2863&m=2862&ct=16765

File and Storage Services: Verify Migration

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/jj863560.aspx

File and Storage Services: Post-Migration Tasks

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-US/library/dn479290.aspx

File and Storage Services: Appendix A: Optional Procedures

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-US/library/dn479298.aspx

Windows Server 2008 to Windows Server 2012 R2

Windows Server 2008 to Windows Server 2012 R2
Do not delay.

Windows Server 2008 to Windows Server 2012 R2

Repair,
rewrite, or
refactor

Upgrade

Windows Server 2008 to Windows Server 2012 R2

 SaaS

Windows Server 2008 to Windows Server 2012 R2

The application Use a different app Modify the Use technology to The application
can be migrated or SaaS offering to application to work counter must be upgraded
without change achieve the same on the new incompatibilities to the latest
business result platform version

Windows Server 2008 to Windows Server 2012 R2

Windows Server compatibility cookbook
http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=27416

Microsoft Application Compatibility Toolkit

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc507852.aspx

Migrating Clustered Services and Applications to Windows Server 2012

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/dn530779.aspx

Windows Server 2008 to Windows Server 2012 R2

Windows Server 2008 to Windows Server 2012 R2
 SQL Server

Exchange Server

SharePoint

SQL Server 2012 Upgrade Technical Guide

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/dn144931.aspx

How to upgrade to SQL Server 2012 Technical Reference Guide

http://blogs.technet.com/technet_blog_images/b/sql_server_sizing_ha_and_performance_hints/archive/2012/05/21/how-to-upgrade-to-
sql-server-2012-technical-reference-guide.aspx

A Step-by-Step Migration Guide

http://sqlmag.com/sql-server-2012/migrating-sql-server-2012

Windows Server 2008 to Windows Server 2012 R2

 SQL Server

Exchange Server

SharePoint

SQL Server 2012 Upgrade and Application Compatibility

http://social.technet.microsoft.com/wiki/contents/articles/7009.sql-server-2012-upgrade-and-application-compatibility.aspx

Upgrading to Microsoft SQL Server 2012 “Done Right”

http://channel9.msdn.com/Events/TechEd/NorthAmerica/2012/DBI335

Upgrade Assistant Tool for SQL Server 2012

http://social.technet.microsoft.com/wiki/contents/articles/2558.upgrade-assistant-tool-for-sql-server-2012.aspx

SQL Server 2012 Developer Training Kit

http://social.technet.microsoft.com/wiki/contents/articles/6976.sql-server-2012-developer-training-kit-content.aspx

Upgrade Assistant for SQL Server 2012: Create a Test Environment

http://social.technet.microsoft.com/wiki/contents/articles/2635.upgrade-assistant-for-sql-server-2012-create-a-test-
environment/rss.aspx

Windows Server 2008 to Windows Server 2012 R2

 SQL Server

Exchange Server

SharePoint

Upgrade to SQL Server 2014

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb677622.aspx

Upgrade to SQL Server 2014 Using the Installation Wizard (Setup)

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms144267.aspx

SQL Server 2014 Upgrade Advisor

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ee210467.aspx

Planning a SQL Server Installation

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb500442(v=sql.120).aspx

Microsoft SQL Server 2014 Migration: Case Study Featuring In-Memory and Hybrid Cloud Scenarios
http://channel9.msdn.com/events/TechEd/NorthAmerica/2014/DBI-B382#fbid=

Microsoft SQL Server 2014: In-Memory OLTP End-to-End: Preparing for Migration
http://channel9.msdn.com/events/TechEd/NorthAmerica/2014/DBI-B384#fbid=

Windows Server 2008 to Windows Server 2012 R2

Windows Server 2008 to Windows Server 2012 R2
 SQL Server

Exchange Server

SharePoint

Time to Upgrade from Exchange 2003

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/dn201758(v=exchg.150).aspx

Upgrade from Exchange 2007 to Exchange 2013

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/jj898581%28v=exchg.150%29.aspx

Planning and Deploying Exchange Server 2013

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/aa998636(v=exchg.150).aspx

Exchange 2003 Migration Toolkit

http://blogs.technet.com/b/exchange/archive/2014/03/10/exchange-2003-migration-toolkit.aspx

Windows Server 2008 to Windows Server 2012 R2

 SQL Server

Exchange Server

SharePoint

Microsoft Exchange Server Deployment Assistant

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/exchange/jj657516

Microsoft Exchange Server 2013 Public Folder Migration

http://channel9.msdn.com/events/TechEd/NorthAmerica/2014/OFC-B313#fbid=

Microsoft Exchange Server 2013: Migration Experiences from the Field

http://channel9.msdn.com/events/TechEd/NorthAmerica/2014/OFC-B326#fbid=

Windows Server 2008 to Windows Server 2012 R2

Windows Server 2008 to Windows Server 2012 R2
 SQL Server

Exchange Server

SharePoint

Upgrade and migrate to SharePoint 2013

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/sharepoint/fp142375.aspx

Install SharePoint 2013

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc303424(v=office.15).aspx

Overview of the upgrade process to SharePoint 2013

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc262483(v=office.15)

Best practices for upgrading to SharePoint 2013

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc261992(v=office.15)

Upgrade service applications to SharePoint 2013

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/jj839719(v=office.15)

Troubleshoot database upgrade issues in SharePoint 2013

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc262967(v=office.15)

SharePoint for IT pros

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/sharepoint/ee198298.aspx
Windows Server 2008 to Windows Server 2012 R2
Windows Server 2008 to Windows Server 2012 R2
Migrate Remote Desktop Services to Windows Server 2012 R2
http://technet.microsoft.com/library/dn479239.aspx

Remote Desktop Services – Upgrade Guidelines for Windows Server 2012 R2

http://social.technet.microsoft.com/wiki/contents/articles/22069.remote-desktop-services-upgrade-guidelines-for-windows-server-2012-r2.aspx

Remote Desktop Services migration to Windows Server 2012 R2

http://blogs.msdn.com/b/rds/archive/2014/01/29/remote-desktop-services-upgrade-and-migration-guidelines-for-windows-server-2012-r2.aspx

Migration Guide for RDS WS2008 R2 RDSH Farm to WS2012 RDS Deployments
http://social.technet.microsoft.com/wiki/contents/articles/17021.migration-guide-for-rds-ws2008-r2-rdsh-farm-to-ws2012-rds-deployments.aspx

Remote Desktop Licensing Website

https://activate.microsoft.com/

Migrate client Access Licenses

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/hh553155(v=WS.10).aspx

Migrate Remote Access to Windows Server 2012

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/hh831423.aspx
Windows Server 2008 to Windows Server 2012 R2
Windows Server 2008 to Windows Server 2012 R2
IIS Learning Center
http://www.iis.net/learn

IIS Easy Migration Tool (IEMT)

http://www.iis.net/downloads/community/2013/04/iis-easy-migration-tool-(iemt)

IIS Sites Transfer

http://www.iis.net/downloads/community/2008/11/iis-sites-transfer

Installing IIS 8.5 on Windows Server 2012 R2

http://www.iis.net/learn/install/installing-iis-85/installing-iis-85-on-windows-server-2012-r2

Azure Web Sites Service

http://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/solutions/web/?WT.mc_id=azurebg_us_sem_google_br_solutions_nontest_web&WT.srch=1

Windows Server 2012 R2 – Resolving Port Conflict with IIS Websites and Work Folders
http://blogs.technet.com/b/filecab/archive/2013/10/15/windows-server-2012-r2-resolving-port-conflict-with-iis-websites-and-work-
folders.aspx

Windows Server 2008 to Windows Server 2012 R2

Windows Server 2008 to Windows Server 2012 R2
Windows Server 2008 to Windows Server 2012 R2