5

Specifically for Azure VM. What is the recommended way to upgrade from Server 2012 VM to Server 2012 R2 on the same VM?

I prefer not to have to create a new 2012 R2 VM and really rather upgrade my existing Server 2012 as I have installed different software on it and configurations.

This question was also asked last year per http://social.msdn.microsoft.com/Forums/windowsazure/en-US/15e8a17d-0004-4337-a74d-1aa47df4e92d/server-2012-r2-upgrade?forum=WAVirtualMachinesforWindows and remains unanswered.

Julie S.
  • 51
  • 1
  • 5

2 Answers2

2

In-place upgrades of Azure VMs are not supported by Microsoft.

Ref: https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/2721672

Microsoft does not support an upgrade of the operating system of a Microsoft Azure virtual machine. Instead, you should create a new Azure virtual machine that is running the supported version of the operating system that is required and then migrate the workload.

I realise this might not be all that helpful, but since the Microsoft support position on this wasn't mentioned here, I thought it important to make it clear.

cbailiss
  • 181
  • 2
0

There is no recommended way. If you prefer an in-place update, do it. If you prefer the migration-approach, do it.

My personal preference is to rebuild the machine, because I have a "clean" machine again afterwards, but this is personal preference. Especially if you might have had troubles with the VM in the past.

MichelZ
  • 11,068
  • 4
  • 32
  • 59
  • Thank you for your feedback. Could you give me any indication how to do an in-place upgrade ? I could not find documentation on a specific step by step. – Julie S. May 04 '14 at 20:29
  • Put in CD/Mount ISO. Press Upgrade. Plug in Key. Wait X minutes. Done. :) – MichelZ May 05 '14 at 05:37
  • I don't think a CD works since this is an Azure VM. Is it not possible to download an upgrade and install so it overwrites the old one ? If so, I'd appreciate the link. – Julie S. May 05 '14 at 11:36
  • Yes, use the normal Windows 2012 R2 download (it's an ISO), mount it on the 2012 Computer, and start the upgrade. – MichelZ May 05 '14 at 13:42
  • @JulieS. did you ever try this? Did it work?? – georgiosd Aug 11 '15 at 15:55
  • No. I opted to start a new VM in Azure that already comes with R2. – Julie S. Aug 12 '15 at 16:47