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Mr.X

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upgrading server from 2012 to 2016. should I expect anything ?

hi,,
got a server 2012R2 std -  doing terminal server
going to upgrade it to 2016 std

should I consider anything before upgrading to 2016 ? or is it just click next next and finish , and all should be good ??
Avatar of Lee W, MVP
Lee W, MVP
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Is it supported?  Sure.  It should work.  But I don't do upgrades unless there's a REALLY good reason.  No upgrade can be as stable as a clean install.  

You also need to check that all your hardware has appropriate drivers for 2016 (2016 may have them built in, but depending on the age of the hardware, maybe not).  Plus you need to be concerned with software, especially software that might use drivers (like an Antivirus product that needs to scan files as they are written to disk).

It's just simpler, easier, and generally more reliable to do a migration/clean install rather than an upgrade.
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Olgierd Ungehojer

Check is upgrade is supported with all roles what you have installed on Windows Server 2012R2. If you do upgrade on VM you should not have problems with drivers, when you physical hardware, check if your image have all drivers or support all hardware.
You must have image for the same version like your Windows Server 2012R2, so standard ->standard, Datacenter to Datacenter.
Make sure that you have full baremetal windows backup on some network share or USB drive.
got a server 2012R2 std -  doing terminal server

you should review the guidance first when planning
Lee's comments are fine for general upgrades, but to add to that, sometimes there are issues or specific things to keep in mind when certain roles and features are installed (and in this case, to be done in a certain order)

Upgrading your Remote Desktop Services deployments to Windows Server 2016
https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-server/remote/remote-desktop-services/upgrade-to-rds
should I consider anything before upgrading to 2016

Have you verified compatibility (Hardware/Software/Role, etc)?

Do you have copies handy of any software that "might" need to be reinstalled?

Personally I prefer clean installs over upgrades, but that's a decision you need to make.

Here's some information regarding 2012 to 2016 Install/Upgrade - https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-server/get-started/installation-and-upgrade

IMO You should make sure your data is backed up and have a verified current restore image handy, just in case things go sideways.
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