Reply 1 needed There are a couple of options available when upgrading from Server 2008 (R2) to Server 2012. The first and easiest option is a clean install. In this option, data must first be backed up as this will delete the previous OS and install the new version. The second option is a standard upgrade. This option preserves all the server roles currently in place as well as the hardware being used. (Microsoft, n.d). Some limitations to consider when upgrading are as follows: -Windows Server 2012 only supports 64-bit hardware -Upgrade from one language to another is not supported -Upgrading to certain editions are dependent on the previous OS you are running. -Some roles that are previously installed may not work properly and may need additional upgrades. I would recommend a clean install to avoid any issues that may develop during or after an in-place upgrade. I think that it would be more difficult to troubleshoot a standard upgrade failure than a clean install. Clean install may also alleviate the issues of previous application not working properly and may solve any current issues the server maybe experiencing. Reference: Microsoft. (n.d). Windows Server Installation and Upgrade. Retrieved from: https://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/windowsserver/dn527667.aspx Reply 2 needed Server Core is good for a very large enterprise environment. In this kind of environment, where hundreds of servers are employed, it is not ideal for the administrator to go to the individual server and manage them locally. Most of these configurations would be run through scripts and remote administrator tools, therefore, server core should be utilized. Some roles that I would install are active directory which handles network management of users data and security. Another would be Hyper-V which consolidates multiple servers into one single system. Other roles that could be used with server core includes DNS, DHCP, File Services, Print Services, Streaming Media Services, Web Server. (Microsoft, n.d). There are several advantages of using Server Core. One advantage would be security. Since server core has less services running on it, there are fewer possible of malicious attacks. It has greater stability since it requires less processes and services fewer things can go wrong. It also has a smaller footprint and requires fewer resources such as RAM as compared to using a full GUI. The disadvantages of Server Core is it has a steep learning curve and is limited to nine server roles Reference: Microsoft. (n.d). Why is Server Core Useful? Retrieved from: https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/dd184076.aspx Reply 1 needed When migrating from Windows Server 2008 to Windows Server 2012, the system requirements remain unchanged. Some features such as virtual domain controller cloning require that the PDC emulator run Windows Server 2012 and a computer running Windows Server 2012 with the Hyper-V role installed. Here are some big issues to keep in mind ...