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Upgrading windows server 1709 to 1803?
Hi, I am wondering if this is even possible or supported? I was trying to complete the upgrade as described here https://marklewis.blog/2018/05/24/windows-server-1803/ Running the command fr...
Lars Andersen, in-place upgrades from Windows Server 1709 to Windows Server 1803 were part of the initial Insider previews, and were promoted as a feature of that version early on.
https://redmondmag.com/articles/2018/01/23/windows-server-in-place-upgrades.aspx
However, it looks like they dropped that feature when they announced, in late March, that the SAC versions would be focused entirely on "modern applications and innovation scenarios such as containers", and would drop most of the infrastructure roles.
https://cloudblogs.microsoft.com/windowsserver/2018/03/29/windows-server-semi-annual-channel-update/
Accordingly, 1803 has even fewer infrastructure services than 1709 (which dropped Storage Space Direct just as it was released). So an in-place upgrade would have likely stripped out features from a 1709 installation, causing issues for administrator who (rightfully) expect an in-place upgrade to maintain roughly the same feature set.
I haven't seen any indication if 1809 will offer an in-place upgrade, since all the attention has been focused on the LTSC Windows Server 2019 version.
Dave Patrick, I just want to make sure that this is clear for everyone. There is no such thing as Windows Server 2016 1803. There is only one RTM release of Server 2016, and that was 1607. There is Windows Server 2016 and then there is Windows Server 1803. You must view them as two different product offerings.
The Windows Server releases with YYMM build numbers, like 1607, 1709, 1803, etc... are part of the windows semi-annual channel (SAC) and will be released every six months. These releases will be bleeding edge releases and will not support the GUI interface at all, only a core install. They will only have a support life span of 18 month. Even though there is cases of engineers upgrading a SAC deployment to the next release, this is not supported and MS is expecting you to deploy brand new installs when the new version is released.
The Windows server release with the actual year referenced are the Long Term Servicing Channel. They are what we are used to seeing released every so many years, 2012, 2016, 2019, etc... They will include some of the technologies that have been released in the SAC channel that have been deemed production stable and supportable. These releases will have the normal mainstream support of 5 years. These releases on the other hand can be upgraded from old to new releases.
Great Ref: Windows Server Semi-Annual Channel overview
JohnWC Great answer was the link to 'Windows Server Semi-Annual Channel overview'. This cleared the waters completely!!! Thanks!! sfsutherland007