Okay so here's my problem, We are currently at 2003 DFL and FFL. At our remote site (300 machines or so) I have a 2008r2 Domain Controller. I've gotten rid of all the 2003 servers and we are running 2012r2 servers everywhere else.

I can't upgrade the remote site's server, vmware 4.1 won't let you install 2012r2 as a guest. (And I can't upgrade that within the next week or two.) I've got a 10mb link. In any case we need to do the AD upgrade this week, the AD users and computers/ and Domain/Trusts are saying I can upgrade to 2012r2 Domain and Forest Functional levels. But is it going to crap since I have a 2008r2 DC?, I have a bunch of 2012r2 servers that are handling all the roles etc.. Yeah I could go ahead and push the button, but because of procedures etc, I need to get about a dozen people in the room before I push the button.

And to have it come up with an error about it and then tell them hold on I've gotta go demote a 2008 Server (and break DNS, and some other things at a remote site so we can do the upgrade) I'd rather try and deal with it ahead of time. (Not sure how yet, I may end up finding a desktop machine I can put 2012 on, till I can get the vmware node upgraded)

You should be ok to promote the Forest Functional Level to Windows 2012 without issue. Raising the domain functional level to 2012 while still having a 2008 DC though will break the 2008 DC. You could try installing 2012 on that remote site but tell VMware that it's OS is "Other 64bit" instead of Windows, I have had to do tricks like that in the past when new OS's come out after the visualization software in use came out.

I am not saying that you will definitely be able to install 2012 on ESX 4.1 using this method, but it's worth a shot if your AD upgrade depends on this.

That's the 1st thing I tried, it Blue Screens before you get to select anything complaining about the HAL. Tried 2008r2 etc..

So looking around again because this is really getting to me: I found this:https://jgiffard.wordpress.com/2013/06/25/windows-server-2012-on-esxi-4-1/

Which shows a way to get 2012r2 onto esxi4. It's allowed me to install 2012r2, and I'll probably rebuild it once I've gotten the esxi upgraded next month so it's not an unsupported/hacked config file with VMware.

Hi,

So any update about the issue?

Regards.

Hi,

I just want to confirm what is the current situation.

Please feel free to let us know if you need further assistance.

Regards.

I guess I hadn't made it clear earlier. I was able to get the 2012r2 server onto esxi 4.1 using the link I provided previously. Got rid of all the 2003 & 2008 Domain controllers and upgraded the domain and forest to 2012

Hi,

Thanks for your good sharing.

Regards.