Hello Everyone,
I am a software developer using Microsoft products with a BS in Computer Science, so I have a decent background. I am capable, but relatively new to server management. Let me say thank you in advance for any input.
I have a physical Server 2008 R2 Domain Controller that I have set up over a year ago, and with the occasional hiccup, it has been running fine. It also provides DHCP and DNS services. Lately it has been flaking out a little (internet connection drops on all of my computers, assuming that it is not providing DNS for some reason) and requires a restart to start working again. I am not trying to troubleshoot this right now.
I am setting up a development environment on my home network, to get into some more of the advanced deployment scenarios that I am researching for work. As a side note, this will be revolving around SQL, Sharepoint, numerous application ideas that I want to test, TFS, and TFS's Automated Build/Deploy (Most important to me). I am doing this at home, because security at work is preventing me from exploring all avenues, and it like waging a war getting things to change there. I can do it quicker at home, and that is perfectly acceptable for my research. I just need to provide an informed assesment of the technology to my managers.
I have added a Windows Server 2012 virtual Domain Controller to my network and set it up to share the Active Directory, DHCP, and DNS roles. My network is now working with these in tandem, and everything is fine as long as one or the other is running.
On to my question.
I would like to upgrade my Server 2008 R2 to Server 2012. I know that this is not necessary, but I may end up looking into one of the new features that is available in the 2012 functional forest level, and I cannot raise the forest to that level as long as it contains a 2008 R2 server, if I understand correctly. Since the 2008 R2 server was there first, and the domain was set up using that server, are there any considerations that I must look into before I upgrade the 2008 R2 server? It appears that it is possible to do an in place upgrade from 2008 R2 to 2012. Will that destroy the domain on that server? Do I need to "transfer" anything to the 2012 server before I do the upgrade?
Thanks in advance for any help.