If you are still running Windows Server, you should upgrade to Windows Server 2019 since Windows Server 2012 R2 will end the support. In this post from MiniTool Solution, you can see a full guide on the Windows Server upgrade. Also, some things that should be done before the upgrade are described here.
Windows Server is a family of operating systems created by Microsoft specifically for use on servers. Servers are extremely powerful machines designed to run continuously and provide resources to other computers. This means that in almost all cases, Windows Server is only used in business environments.
It Is Necessary to Upgrade Windows Server 2012 R2 to 2019
Since Windows Server 2012 R2 has ended mainstream support in 2018 and extended support in 2023, it’s recommended to upgrade Windows 2012 R2 to 2019.
Besides, there are other significant reasons.
1. The new system is more compatible with new services and applications.
Windows Server 2019 makes it easier to integrate Linux with new features such as Linux Containers on Windows, Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL), and the new Windows Server 2019 application platform.
2. The new system is safer.
Windows Server 2019 is built on its strong security foundation. Now it not only blocks threats but also monitors and reacts to perceived threats. Windows Server 2019 is designed to be used with or in the cloud. Users can more easily connect their existing on-premises environments to Microsoft Azure.
Can You Upgrade Windows Server 2012 R2 to 2019?
Can you upgrade Windows Server 2012 R2 to 2019? The answer is Yes. You can upgrade Windows Server 2012 R2 to 2019. However, if you are upgrading Windows Server 2012 to 2019, you will need to upgrade Windows Server 2012 to 2016, and then upgrade from 2016 to 2019. Otherwise, you can only do a fresh install of 2019 to overwrite the existing OS and avoid data loss, it is necessary to back up the server in advance.
Before you upgrade Windows Server 2012 R2 to 2019, the following are some system requirements you need to meet:
Processor:
- 1.4 GHz 64-bit processor
- Compatible with x64 instruction set
- NX and DEP support
- Supports CMPXCHG16b, LAHF/SAHF and PrefetchW
- Supports secondary address translation (EPT or NPT)
Memory:
- 512 MB (2 GB for servers with Desktop Experience install option)
- ECC (Error Correcting Code) type or similar technology for physical host deployments
Disk space for system partition: A fresh or fresh installation requires 32 GB of free disk space. To perform an in-place upgrade, you should plan for at least 60 GB of free disk space.
Network Adapter Requirements:
- Ethernet adapter with at least gigabit throughput
- Compliant with PCI Express Architecture Specification
Other demands: DVD drive (if you plan to install the operating system from DVD media)
Another point you may need to consider is the price. How much will it cost to upgrade Windows Server 2012 R2 to 2019?
There are many factors affecting price, such as hardware, virtualization, etc. However, if you’re referring to the cost of upgrading licenses, the answer is clear. Microsoft typically doesn’t offer an upgrade sale, so you’ll need to buy a copy of Windows Server 2019 separately.
If you want to know the exact price, you can go to the Microfost official website.
Another issue worth considering is that some third-party applications may not be compatible with Windows Server 2019. So you had better check if the third-party applications support Windows Server 2019 before upgrading.
Public or private cloud companies may also support an in-place upgrade of Server 2012 R2 to 2019, but you will need to consult your cloud provider for details. Also, you cannot perform an in-place upgrade on any Windows Server that is configured to boot from a VHD. In-place upgrades from Windows Storage Server editions to Windows Server 2019 are also not supported. In this case, you can do a migration or a fresh install.
How to Upgrade Windows Server 2012 R2 to 2019
Before You Upgrade
If you decide to upgrade Windows Server 2012 R2 to 2019, there are some things you should pay attention to before the update to avoid some potential problems.
- Patch your Windows Server 2012 R2 with the latest updates.
- Insert and install Windows Server 2019 installation media.
- Before upgrading, Microsoft recommends that you collect some information about your device. You can use it for troubleshooting when an upgrade fails.
- Cannot run any virtual machines during an in-place upgrade.
- Create a system image for your system so that you can restore the system to a normal state if the update causes some system issues.
To create a system image, you can use the professional Windows backup software, MiniTool ShadowMaker. It is designed to back up the system by default. Besides, you can use it to back up files, disks, and partitions. Just download it by following the button below.
It is compatible with Windows 11/10/8/8.1/7 and Windows Server 2022/2019/2016/2012/2012 R2/2008/2008 R2. Now get its trial edition by clicking the following download button and install it on your Windows Server.
MiniTool ShadowMaker TrialClick to Download100%Clean & Safe
How to back up your PC before starting to update Windows Server 2012 R2 to 2019:
1. Double-click the icon of MiniTool ShadowMaker to launch it to its main interface.
2. When going to the Backup tab, you can see this software backs up the system by default. You only need to choose a destination to store the system image.
If you need to back up files, go to SOURCE to choose items that you want to back up and go to DESTINATION to select a storage path.
3. Click Back Up Now to start backing up immediately or click Back Up Later to delay the task.
It is recommended to create a bootable USB flash drive with MiniTool Media Builder so that you can perform a system recovery when your PC doesn’t work properly after Windows Server 2012 R2 to 2019 update.
Start to Upgrade
Now that you have completed the prerequisites you can perform the upgrade. In this section, you will use Windows Server Setup to choose upgrade settings. Windows Server Setup will use these settings to upgrade your version of Windows Server, during which time your computer will restart several times. Follow the guide below:
Step 1: Open File Explorer, and go to the Windows Server Setup media. Then open setup.exe. For example, if you’re using removal media the file path might be D:\setup.exe.
Depending on your security settings, User Account Control may prompt you to allow setup to make changes to your device. If you're happy to continue select Yes.
Step 2: By default, the setup will automatically download updates for the installation. After checking the default settings, click Next to continue.
If you don’t want Setup to automatically download updates, you can select Change how Setup downloads updates and choose the option appropriate to your environment, then select Next.
Step 3: If prompted, enter your product key, then select Next.
Step 4: Select the edition of Windows Server you want to install, then select Next.
Step 5: Review the applicable notices and license terms, if you agree to the terms, select Accept.
Step 6: Select Keep personal files and apps to choose to do an in-place upgrade, then select Next.
Step 7: After Setup finishes analyzing your device, the setup will display the Ready to install screen, to continue the upgrade select Install.
The in-place upgrade will start, and you should see a progress bar. After the upgrade finishes, your server will restart.
Check If Your Upgrade Was Successful
After the upgrade to Windows Server is done, you must make sure the upgrade was successful. To make sure your upgrade was successful:
Step 1: Open an elevated PowerShell prompt, and run the following command to verify the version and edition match the media and values you selected during setup.
PowerShellCopy
Get-ComputerInfo -Property WindowsProductName
Step 2: Make sure all of your applications are running and that your client connections to the applications are successful.
Bottom Line
Do you need to upgrade Windows Server 2012 R2 to 2019? How to Windows Server 2012 R2 to 2019? After reading this post, you know it. Also, what to do before the update is also told to you. Now, don’t hesitate to perform the Windows Server update by following the guide above.
On the other hand, if you have any questions or suggestions, remember to let us know. Leaving a comment below or contacting [email protected] is for you to choose.
Upgrade Windows Server 2012 R2 to 2019 FAQ
Yes, you can upgrade Windows Server 2016 to 2019. The steps are similar to is the same as the steps for upgrading 2012 R2 to 2019. You can take a reference from the content above.
The support for Windows Server 2012 R2 will end on October 10, 2023. After this date, Windows Server 2012 and 2012 R2 will stop receiving regular patches or critical security updates. Thus, you had better upgrade your Windows Server 2012 R2 as soon as possible.
However, according to a report by a leading analyst firm, the potential useful life of servers is between 7 and 10 years (typically 6 years for rack-mounted servers and 10 years for integrated systems).
SQL Server 2019 is not supported on Windows 8.1 or Windows Server 2012 R2. To download SQL Server 2019, you can refer to this post - SQL Server 2019 Download & Install – Step by Step Guide.