How to Upgrade a Domain Controller to Windows Server 2016

How to Upgrade a Domain Controller to Windows Server 2016

Pre-requisites

The recommended way to upgrade a domain is to promote domain controllers that run newer versions of Windows Server and demote the older domain controllers as needed. That method is preferable to upgrading the operating system of an existing domain controller. This list covers general steps to follow before you promote a domain controller that runs a newer version of Windows Server:

1. Verify the target server meets system requirements.
2. Verify Application compatibility.
3. Review Recommendations for moving to Windows Server 2016
4. Verify security settings. 
5. Check connectivity to the target server from the computer where you plan to run the installation.
6. Check for availability of necessary operation master roles:
   • To install the first DC that runs Windows Server 2016 in an existing domain and forest, the machine where you run the installation needs connectivity to the schema master in order to run adprep /forestprep and the infrastructure master in order to run adprep /domainprep.
   • To install the first DC in a domain where the forest schema is already extended, you only need connectivity to the infrastructure master.
   • To install or remove a domain in an existing forest, you need connectivity to the domain naming master.
   • Any domain controller installation also requires connectivity to the RID master.
   • If you are installing the first read-only domain controller in an existing forest, you need connectivity to the infrastructure master for each application directory partition, also known as a non-domain naming context or NDNC.

Installation steps and required administrative levels

The following table provides a summary of the upgrade steps and the permission requirements to accomplish these steps

Supported in-place upgrade paths

Domain controllers that run 64-bit versions of Windows Server 2012 or Windows Server 2012 R2 can be upgraded to Windows Server 2016. Only 64-bit version upgrades are supported because Windows Server 2016 only comes in a 64-bit version.

Adprep and Domainprep

If you are doing an in-place upgrade of an existing domain controller to the Windows Server 2016 operating system, you will need to run adprep /forestprep and adprep /domainprep manually. Adprep /forestprep needs to be run only once in the forest. Adprep /domainprep needs to be run once in each domain in which you have domain controllers that you are upgrading to Windows Server 2016.

If you are promoting a new Windows Server 2016 server you do not need to run these manually. These are integrated into the PowerShell and Server Manager experiences.

Functional level features and requirements

Windows Server 2016 requires a Windows Server 2003 forest functional level. That is, before you can add a domain controller that runs Windows Server 2016 to an existing Active Directory forest, the forest functional level must be Windows Server 2003 or higher. If the forest contains domain controllers running Windows Server 2003 or later but the forest functional level is still Windows 2000, the installation is also blocked.

Windows 2000 domain controllers must be removed prior to adding Windows Server 2016 domain controllers to your forest. In this case, consider the following workflow:

1. Install domain controllers that run Windows Server 2003 or later. These domain controllers can be deployed on an evaluation version of Windows Server. This step also requires running adprep.exe for that operating system release as a prerequisite.
2. Remove the Windows 2000 domain controllers. Specifically, gracefully demote or forcibly remove Windows Server 2000 domain controllers from the domain and used Active Directory Users and Computers to remove the domain controller accounts for all removed domain controllers.
3. Raise the forest functional level to Windows Server 2003 or higher.
4. Install domain controllers that run Windows Server 2016.
5. Remove domain controllers that run earlier versions of Windows Server.

Rolling back functional levels

After you set the forest functional level (FFL) to a certain value, you cannot roll back or lower the forest functional level, with the following exceptions:

• If you are upgrading from Windows Server 2012 R2 FFL, you can lower it back to Windows Server 2012 R2.
• If you are upgrading from Windows Server 2008 R2 FFL, you can lower it back to Windows Server 2008 R2.

After you set the domain functional level to a certain value, you cannot roll back or lower the domain functional level, with the following exceptions:

• When you raise the domain functional level to Windows Server 2016 and if the forest functional level is Windows Server 2012 or lower, you have the option of rolling the domain functional level back to Windows Server 2012 or Windows Server 2012 R2.

AD DS interoperability with other server roles and Windows operating systems

AD DS is not supported on the following Windows operating systems:

• Windows MultiPoint Server
• Windows Server 2016 Essentials

AD DS cannot be installed on a server that also runs the following server roles or role services:

• Microsoft Hyper-V Server 2016
• Remote Desktop Connection Broker

Administration of Windows Server 2016 servers

Use the Remote Server Administration Tools for Windows 10 to manage domain controllers and other servers that run Windows Server 2016. You can run the Windows Server 2016 Remote Server Administration Tools on a computer that runs Windows 10.

Step-by-Step for Upgrading to Windows Server 2016

The following is a simple example of upgrading the Contoso forest from Windows Server 2012 R2 to Windows Server 2016.

1. Join the new Windows Server 2016 to your forest. Restart when prompted.

   

2. Sign in to the new Windows Server 2016 with a domain admin account.

3. In Server Manager, under Add Roles and Features, install Active Directory Domain Services on the new Windows Server 2016. This will automatically run adprep on the 2012 R2 forest and domain.

   

4. In Server Manager, click the yellow triangle, and from the drop-down click Promote the server to a domain controller.

   

5. On the Deployment Configuration screen, select Add a domain controller to an existing forest and click next.

   

6. On the Domain Controller options screen, enter the Directory Services Restore Mode (DSRM) password and click next.

7. For the remainder of the screens click Next.

8. On the Prerequisite Check screen, click install. Once the restart has completed you can sign back in.

9. On the Windows Server 2012 R2 server, in Server Manager, under tools, select Active Directory Module for Windows PowerShell.

   

10. In the PowerShell windows use the Move-ADDirectoryServerOperationMasterRole to move the FSMO roles. You can type the name of each -OperationMasterRole or use numbers to specify the roles. 

    Move-ADDirectoryServerOperationMasterRole -Identity "DC-W2K16" -OperationMasterRole 0,1,2,3,4
    

    

11. Verify the roles have been moved by going to the Windows Server 2016 server, in Server Manager, under tools, select Active Directory Module for Windows PowerShell. Use the Get-ADDomain and Get-ADForest cmdlets to view the FSMO role holders.

    

    

12. Demote and remove the Windows Server 2012 R2 domain controller. 

13. Once the server is demoted and removed you can raise the forest functional and domain functional levels to Windows Server 2016.