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MR&D, Home of Mark Minasi > Categories > Hypervisors: Hyper-V, VMWare, VirtualBox... > Windows Server 2008 R2 domain - 2012 R2 cluster
 
 


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JamesNT

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Posted Reply with quote  #1 
Can I add a 2012 R2 cluster to a 2008 R2 domain or should I set up a 2012 R2 DC first?

If I should add the 2012 R2 DC, can I do an in-place upgrade of the 2008 R2 DC or should I set up a fresh DC and transfer the FSMO roles then decommission the 2008 R2 DC?

JamesNT
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jsclmedave

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Posted Reply with quote  #2 
"If I should add the 2012 R2 DC, can I do an in-place upgrade of the 2008 R2 DC or should I set up a fresh DC and transfer the FSMO roles then decommission the 2008 R2 DC?"

1) The & A
2) In-Place upgrade

I presuming this is a small office?  

Is this On Premises or Cloud?

I would definitely move to 2 2012 R2 DCs including Forest and Domain levels.  Not for the 2008 R2 Cluster mind you, but to get the Domain to a state that I am comfortable with and can get Microsoft assistance as needed without the speech about why are we still........

We have 2008 R2 Clusters and I have not "heard of any issues" since we moved the Domain Level to 2012 R2 with 2012 R2 DC's.

I would never (again) do an in-place upgrade of a DC...

I would always have some fail-over...


If they are willing to do the work I would use this as an opportunity to get the DC's & Domain & Forest into 2012 R2.
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JamesNT

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Posted Reply with quote  #3 
Tim,

I'm adding a TWO THOUSDAND TWELVE R2 cluster to a 2008 R2 domain.  Is that possible?  You either miss-read what I said or misspelled in your answer.

The reason I want to add the cluster first is so I can spin up the new DC on the cluster where I have plenty of room.  Existing infrastructure is almost at capacity.

JamesNT
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jsclmedave

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Posted Reply with quote  #4 

Yeah I miss-read your post but it should still work

You can have a 2012 R2 DC in a 2008 R2 Domain so why not a 2012 R2 cluster..?

I don't know of any issues but, due to the size of our environment IF there were any there is a good chance that info never made it to my team.
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Tim Bolton @jsclmedave
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wobble_wobble

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Posted Reply with quote  #5 
Quote:
Originally Posted by JamesNT
Can I add a 2012 R2 cluster to a 2008 R2 domain


Yes

Quote:
Originally Posted by JamesNT

or should I set up a 2012 R2 DC first?


You could have the DC on the 2012R2 host (not domain joined as Hyper-V doesn't really rely on domain. then join the host to the domain, add it to the cluster, move the DC to the CSV if your having one)

Quote:
Originally Posted by JamesNT

If I should add the 2012 R2 DC, can I do an in-place upgrade of the 2008 R2 DC

I wouldn't do an inplace upgrade unless it was really really really necessary. 

Quote:
Originally Posted by JamesNT

or should I set up a fresh DC and transfer the FSMO roles then decommission the 2008 R2 DC?

JamesNT


Answered already I feel, but yes, new DC on a new host/ cluster/ work group host.
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Wes

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Posted Reply with quote  #6 
Starting with 2008r2 I no longer fear in-place upgrades.  We haven't had any issues with dozens of them going from 2008r2 to 2012/2012r2.
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JamesNT

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Posted Reply with quote  #7 
Well, since the current 2008 R2 DC is on a 2008 R2 hyper v host, I can always back it up by doing an export first then doing the in-place upgrade.

JamesNT
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Wes

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Posted Reply with quote  #8 
And that raid0 must make for some speedy backup and restore! [wink]
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JamesNT

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Posted Reply with quote  #9 
That RAID 0 thing just isn't going to go away......[rolleyes]

JamesNT
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dennis-360ict

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Posted Reply with quote  #10 
There are some things to think of;
- hyperv does not require ad to start, but the cluster service does. This will change in server 2016 btw, you can have workgroup clusters!
- i would recommend to install 2 dc's on every node but don't add them to the clustering. In this way you dc's will always come up even when the cluster service is noy yet running.
- i would set delays on all the vms to make sure the dcs are started, you might have to this for the cluster service too (try setting the cluster service to delayed start).


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wobble_wobble

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Posted Reply with quote  #11 
Quote:
Originally Posted by JamesNT
That RAID 0 thing just isn't going to go away......[rolleyes]

JamesNT


I still have tears in my eyes...

And a smile on my face....

So no, not ever.


We'll add it to your man files when you pass away.
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