I have a client that just purchased a new server with Windows Server 2012 Essentials installed.
They have an existing SBS2003 server that they wish to keep as the primary server and use the 2012 machine to run an inhouse application and do file/print serving. They need to keep the 2003 machine as it runs a 32-bit application that is not compatible with 64-bit.
Microsoft Sales led us to believe that we could add the new Server 2012 Essentials server to the existing domain and run it as an additional server.
However, it appears this may not be the case.
When installing the Server 2012 software, it asks if you wish to migrate from small business server or run as a standalone domain.
If you choose the option of migrate, it states you have 21 days to complete the migration before it shuts down the SBS2003 server.
If you choose to run as a standalone, you can not change the domain name once installed.
Can someone please confirm if what we are trying to do is possible. Was Windows Server 2012 Essentials to right software to purchase, or should we have purchased something different.
Brenton
