Inplace Downgrade from 2016 to 2012 Windows Server

Nikumba · 3 Sep 2019 at 11:30

Hi,

Google-fu is failing me, is there a procedure for downgrading a 2016 server to 2012 without having to do a wipe and reinstall?

Licening is not an issue

Thanks

Kimbie

Webzta · 3 Sep 2019 at 11:54

What's the reason/scenario?

katana6434 · 3 Sep 2019 at 13:33

While you can get downgrade rights with certain purchases of Windows Server licenses, there is no automatic way to downgrade the proudct. you need to use the correct media to do the install, which will be a wipe and reinstall.

Nikumba · 4 Sep 2019 at 13:43

They are servers dealing with CCTV system, but we need to downgrade them as the current version of the software we use does not work on 2016 only 2012

As they contain CCTV footage wanted to downgrade without wiping the data hence the inplace downgrade from 2016 to 2012

katana6434 · 4 Sep 2019 at 14:56

Sorry to say that is not possible. I would suggest backing up any data that you want to keep and then wiping and reinstalling with Server 2012.

Webzta · 5 Sep 2019 at 09:07

Install Hyper-V and a 2012 instance on top of the Server 2016 install for the CCTV? Your 2016 license should include 1 VM.

Nikumba · 6 Sep 2019 at 10:45

Webzta said:
Install Hyper-V and a 2012 instance on top of the Server 2016 install for the CCTV? Your 2016 license should include 1 VM.

We can not do that as its an un-sopported software install for us

andicole0 · 6 Sep 2019 at 10:49

Can you not run a compatability mode in Server 2016?

Caged · 10 Sep 2019 at 01:22

Very strange that a piece of software would work fine in 2012 and not in 2016

Rroff · 10 Sep 2019 at 02:11

Caged said:
Very strange that a piece of software would work fine in 2012 and not in 2016

IIRC there are a number of changes to 32bit mode support in Windows 10/Server 2016 that can stop applications working that ran fine under older OSes. While not applicable to servers Quake 2 for instance the stock executable runs fine in 7/8 but just crashes in 10.

whiskycycle · 12 Sep 2019 at 09:41

Caged said:
Very strange that a piece of software would work fine in 2012 and not in 2016

Related to the OP, Paxton Access Net2 with Milestone CCTV integration is like that... earlier versions of Net2 won't even install correctly on W10/2016, never mind run! Easy to get newer versions of Net2 software at zero cost, but I'm not sure about the Milestone components for upgrading to newer versions.

Caged · 12 Sep 2019 at 14:42

I’m running Net2 on Windows 10 and it’s fine

Edit: Oh you’re held on a version for the integration, I see.

whiskycycle · 13 Sep 2019 at 10:13

Caged said:
I’m running Net2 on Windows 10 and it’s fine

Edit: Oh you’re held on a version for the integration, I see.

Currently having a healthy discussion with the customer and their facilities management people about it... already shifted one site to Server 2016 and Net2 6.x (latest) with no interruption/downtime other door firmware updates. Fairly hefty number of other sites are 2008R2 with Net2 4.25, mainly because the customer and FM don't really care about it unless it stops working... the concept of supported OS and software is quite alien to them!

Trig · 13 Sep 2019 at 13:43

Can you not swap drives, so a fresh install of 2012 then reinstall the software and then push the data back in?
What CCTV software is it?