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Join us for our March 9 “Ask Microsoft Anything” chat about Windows Server updates and upgrades. We’ll cover your questions on how to stay more secure by upgrading older servers (2008 and 2012 versio...
EricStarker
Updated Mar 09, 2023
windows server
CharlieFraser's avatar
CharlieFraser
Copper Contributor
Mar 09, 2023
In my quest to shut down my remaining Server 2008 R2 servers. In a few instances I can't decommission them. Is it possible to do an in place upgrade to 2012 R2 then 2016 to buy me some time?
  • Rob-Hindman's avatar
    Rob-Hindman
    Icon for Microsoft rankMicrosoft
    Mar 09, 2023
    Note also that some customers move their WS 2008 R2 servers to VMs and run them in Azure IaaS before upgrading them to WS 2012 R2 or WS 2016 or WS 2019. -Rob.
  • Keith_Hoffman's avatar
    Keith_Hoffman
    Former Employee
    Mar 09, 2023
    Yes, this is technically supported. Though as always please make sure you have verified backups and you will want to verify any third party services/apps running on those boxes will handle the upgrade as expected.
    • SQLHA's avatar
      SQLHA
      Copper Contributor
      Mar 09, 2023
      It may be supported from an OS perspective, but if, for example, you're running older versions of SQL Server they may not be supported on WS2012 R2 or 2016. Also, things like WSFCs cannot be upgraded in place so that's also an issue. TL;DR consider more than just the OS.