Windows 2012 Essentials Upgrade

When I run "dism /online /set-edition:ServerStandard /accepteula /productkey:<Product Key>" to upgrade from Server 2012 Essentials to Standard, will it accept an OEM R2 product key?
Thanks!

Hi,
à
"dism /online /set-edition:ServerStandard /accepteula /productkey:<Product Key>"
Where
Product Key is the product key for your copy of Windows Server 2012 Standard. For more details, please refer to the following article.
Transition from Windows Server 2012 Essentials
to Windows Server 2012 Standard
à
an OEM R2 product key
Was it Windows Server 2012 R2 Essentials OEM product key? Did you mean that want to use it in a new physical
server where the Windows Server 2012 Essentials installed? For OEM product key, I suggest that you should contact with your vendor. I believe we will get a better assistance.
Hope this helps.
Best regards,
Justin Gu

Similar Messages

Why MS remove Exchange from Windows 2012 Essentials?

Why MS remove Exchange from Windows 2012 Essentials and support just with Office 365 and Exchange on-premise?

I don't think Microsoft has ever said exactly why. Some possible reasons, pick one (or more).
1. Because Exchange has become too resource intensive.
2. Because Microsoft wants to drive small business to O365.
3. Because Small and Medium business were already flocking to O365 and abandoning on premise Exchange.
4, Microsoft built out all those expensive data centers and needed someone to use them for something.
5. Hosting Exchange on the DC has always violated best practices, now that there are alternatives no need to continue.
6. All of the above.
Larry Struckmeyer[MVP] If your question is answered please mark the response as the answer so that others can benefit.

Windows Server 2012 Essentials upgrade to Windows Server 2012 Standard

I've just upgraded a Windows Server 2012 Essentials to Standard via the Powershell command. The server restarted and is now Standard version. However I've noticed in the services that one particular service fails.
silsvc <Failed to Read Description. Error Code: 2 >
C:\Windows\system32\silsvc.exe
It is set to automatic.
I guess this is part of the essentials license and hasn't been removed. I would like to keep the Essentials Features however on a VM I replicated the same problem but when I removed Essentials features this service also got removed.
Is it ok to just disable this service? because I want to keep the Essentials features. Is it going to cause any issues?

Hello,
What is the procedure to migrate to standard essentials without losing programs?
Can you help me?
actually I have windows server 2012 essentials and I want to upgrade to standard

WIndows 2012 Essentials & SQL Server 2012 Standard

Does anyone know if SQL 2012 Standard (preferred) or 2008 can be installed on Windows Server 2012 Essentials? We're a small business with 10+ active users and have a need to upgrade our legacy inventory/CRM database to a new solution that requires SQL
Server. With such a small user base I don't foresee an impact. Are there any implications to installing SQL on Essentials?
Thank you

Hi SmallBizUser,
Just that it is not recommended to install SQL Server on a domain controller. There are specific security restrictions
when running SQL Server in this configuration and given the resource demands of a domain controller, SQL Server performance may be degraded. There are more details in the following KB. Please refer to.
You may encounter problems when installing SQL Server
on a domain controller
Meanwhile, please also refer to the following similar thread.
SQL
on Server 2012 Essentials
Hope this helps.
Best regards,
Justin Gu

I no longer use Windows 2012 Essentials, can I sell my copy?

I no longer use and uninstalled my copy of 2012 Windows Server Essentials from my home server, just overkill for a home server.
I would like to know if it's possible to sell my copy of the software with key.
Thanks,
John

I have an OEM copy of Windows Server 2012 Essentials that was purchased from Newegg. The seal that must be broken to open the package has this statement,
"Warning: If you are a System Builder: by opening this package you agree that yu have read and understood the Microsoft OEM System Builder License affixed to this package and agree to its terms and conditions. If you are purchasing this product
for personal use: by opening this package you agree that you have read and understood the license terms at www.windows.com/personaluselicense and agree to its terms and conditions."
The OEM System Builder License affixed to the back of the package also begins with the statement,
"IF YOU ARE NOT A SYSTEM BUILDER AND ARE INSTALLING THIS PRODUCT FOR PERSONAL USE, REFER TO WWW.WINDOWS.COM/PERSONALUSELICENSE FOR TERMS THAT APPLY TO YOU."
The website
http://www.windows.com/personaluselicense only allows you to choose OEM versions of Windows 8, so I chose Windows 8 Pro (OEM Version) from the list. The personal use license has this in it:
Can I transfer the software to another computer or user? You may transfer the software to another computer that belongs
to you. You may also transfer the software (together with the license) to a computer owned by
someone else if a) you are the first licensed user of the software and b) the new user agrees to the terms of this agreement. To make that transfer, you must transfer the original media, the certificate of authenticity,
the product key and the proof of purchase directly to that other person, without retaining any copies of the software. You may use the backup copy we allow you to make or the media that the software came on to transfer the software.
Anytime you transfer the software to a new computer, you must remove the software from the prior computer. You may not transfer the software to share licenses between computers. You may transfer Get Genuine Windows
software, Pro Pack or Media Center Pack software only together with the licensed computer.
So with that information, it appears that those who have only installed the product for personal use and follow the rules listed above, can sell the software and license together to another individual.

Windows server 2012 essentials errors

I get 2 errors in an email since I turned on my windows 2012 essentials server that I can not resolve. One is related to my router setup and the other is about the media server. Have not found any solutions to either of these problems and the router setup
show to be good on the dash board. Anywhere access is also working fine but it show the error below. Cannot get the media services to say anything except to try restarting the server and run the setup again.
CCS-SERVER: The router is not configured correctly
   The router is not configured correctly for Anywhere Access. You must configure the router to remotely access the network.
   12/7/2014 12:49:39 AM
Existing alerts:
CCS-SERVER: One or more services are not running
   The following important Windows services are not running: Windows Server Media Streaming Service (wssmss) Note: Services can be stopped when software updates are applied.
   11/13/2014 7:18:27 PM
Any help with this would be appreciated.

Hi,
à
The router is not configured correctly
Please open Dashboard, click
Settings. In Settings panel, navigate to Anywhere Access tab, did you find anything as “Issues detected. Click Repair to attempt resolving the issues.”? If it exists, please click “Repair…” button and check if can help you.
For Router Setup, please refer to following article.
Windows
Server 2012 Essentials: Router Setup
à
Anywhere access is also working fine but it show the error below.
Did you remember that encounter similar router issues when previously Set up Anywhere Access? If Remote Web
Access and other features really run as normal, you may be able to ignore it.
anywhere
access wizard issues
à
One or more services are not running. The following important Windows services are not running: Windows Server Media Streaming Service (wssmss)
Please logon the Windows Server 2012 Essentials, type
services.msc on RUN to open Service panel, navigate to Windows Server Media Streaming Service, open its Properties and start it. Did it start successfully or get error message?
If issue still exist, please open Event Viewer and check if find more clues. Meanwhile, please also check other
relevant log files.
Windows
Server Essentials 2012/2012 R2 Log Files
If any update, please feel free to let me know.
Hope this helps.
Best regards,
Justin Gu
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Unable to create database (Oracle 12c R1 12.1.0.1.0, Windows 2012 )

I have been trying out the new 12c on Windows 2012 Essentials with the same type of errors. The OraDim step fails and cannot create the services. It fails a bit differently if I choose "Create New Windows User", choose a "Use Existing Windows User", or choose the Windows Built-in user. It's insanely frustrating. We are looking at 12c for a new development project, but apparently it's not quite ready for Windows. I am really thankful for vmware snapshots.
Has anyone found a work around for installing a 12c database on Windows 2012?

Also, when I try to install just the software, and use the database assistant to setup the system, the oradim command fails "A new member could not be added to a local group because the member has the wrong account type."
I also found this, which shows that 2012 is not supported, yet
https://blogs.oracle.com/UPGRADE/entry/oracle_database_12c_is_available
Even though page 44 of e17735 (Oracle® Installation Database Guide 12c Release 1 (12.1) for Microsoft Windows E17735-07) states that 2012 is supported:
2.2 Oracle Database Software Requirements
Table 2–3 lists the software requirements for Oracle Database on Windows x64.
Table 2–3 Windows x64 Software Requirements
Requirement
Value
Operating System
Oracle Database for Windows x64 is supported on the following operating systems:
■Windows Server 2008 x64 and Windows Server 2008 R2 x64 - Standard, Enterprise, Datacenter, Web, and Foundation editions.
■Windows Server 2012 x64 - Standard, Datacenter, Essentials, and Foundation editions
■Windows 7 x64 - Professional, Enterprise, and Ultimate editions
■Windows 8 x64 - Pro and Enterprise editions
Note:
■Check My Oracle Support for more information about Hyper-V support.
■Windows Multilingual User Interface Pack is supported.
■The Server Core option is not supported.
See Also: "Hardware and Software Certification" for information about how to access the latest system requirements

Unusual DNS/DHCP requirement for 2012 Essentials at home.

I have a Windows 2012 Essentials server acting as DNS and DHCP server with a domain providing backups etc. for my home network. This is all working fine, no errors, no problems. Works well in fact, telling me when the kids haven't installed updates
or rebooted.
I have two groups of users. My step sons, 10 and 12, who I want to use OpenDNS as an external DNS provider with a very, very restricted policy, and my wife and I who want to use either root hints or Google DNS or any other DNS provider. Other, non-user
specific devices (xBox, WII, Satellite box, TV, CCTV etc.) can use either.
Prior to having the 2012 server, I had a 2k3 server running in a VM for DHCP, only and put my wife and my devices onto static reservations with the external DNS provider and just used OpenDNS as the default scope DNS. Unfortunately various bits
of the 2012 domain services don't appear to work unless the 2012 server is the first DNS server listed on the client devices (Backups fail. Can't find other local computers). This means currently we are all using OpenDNS.
What I would like is some way to tell 2012 to send DNS requests from the grown-ups group to a different DNS provider and leave the rest to default to OpenDNS whilst still having them register themselves in the home DNS domain. Any suggestions?

Hi,
According to your description, my understanding is that you want to specify DNS server to different user groups and devices. And all of the home devices registry their DNS record on your internal DNS server.
I am not sure about the IP address configuration of your home network. Windows Server 2012 is the only device directly connect to Internet, and all of the devices on home network are on a private network?
If it is the case, WS 2012 also works as the gateway of your home network, all of the network traffic(external) should go throw the WS 2012. Windows DNS Server can’t specify different external DNS server based on users/groups. In order to implement the function
you required, it is necessary to add another DNS server(which connects to the Internet). One of the DNS servers is configured to use root hints or forwarders(Google or any other DNS provider). Other DNS server is configured to use forwarder(OpenDNS). Then
using DHCP server to specify DNS servers to different devices.
Best Regards,
Eve Wang
Please remember to mark the replies as answers if they help and unmark them if they provide no help. If you have feedback for TechNet Support, contact [email protected]

License for Windows Server Essentials

I am reviewing options for hosting several light websites and collaboration apps inside one Azure VM. I will have no more than 5 users. I need clarification on licensing of its Windows OS.
1. My VM in Azure has trial version of Small Business Server 2011 Essentials (from resized and uploaded VHD). Which license do I need in order to activate it?
2. If I want to use Windows 2012 Essentials in Azure for VM (not the datacenter edition with essentials experience) can I upload trial version and then activate it or I need to upload some other specific (license-bound non-trial) edition? Which license will
I need in this case?
3. For licensing from above questions do I need to have active directory or anything else at on-premise servers?
4. Later if for example I decide to leave Azure will I be able to download that VM and use same license at on-premise server machine or I will need another license?
5. Is there any better Windows edition that you wish to recommend and that will satisfy my needs?

hi,
Base on my experience, Windows Server are offered in the Azure image gallery include the Windows Server licensing cost, please see this page (http://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/pricing/details/virtual-machines/).
If you used your upload image, Microsoft provides the Windows Server license keys for any running instances, Please above link FAQ sections. For your the forth question, if you download your Windows Server image running on Azure to on-premises, you will then
be required to supply a license for the image. Also, you could refer to this page (http://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/pricing/licensing-faq/#header-0 ).
By the way, about the VM server license, I suggest you could post this issue on azure VM forum for more details. And you could contact the azure support:
http://www.windowsazure.com/en-us/support/contact/
Regards,
Will
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How can I upgrade Windows Server 2012 Essentials to Windows Server 2012 R2 Essentials?

I have just installed Windows Server 2012 Essentials on my Home Network (from the installation DVD). I have done absolutely no configuration Installing Server 2012 was an oversight; I meant to install Server 2012 R2 Essentials.
I tried to correct by installing R2 from its DVD, hoping it would do an upgrade. That didn't work.
Is there a simple way to make it possible to install the correct OS?   For example, can I just demote the existing server and remove any roles that were installed, so that the R2 disk will install over top of the existing installation?
Alternatively, is it safe to just reformat the partition and install R2?
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/dn408635.aspx seems to imply that this is OK.
David Pike, P.Eng, MCITP

Hi Larry.   Thanks for the reply. It didn't work, but I don't believe you are wrong. Rather I think there is something weird in my system. I'm marking your reply as answer.
Some background: I'm repurposing an older PC (Compaq SR1614X) as a home server, to manage my home network, use as a gateway to my Azure server, and to help my Server 2012 training (on MVA). I've been messing with it for nearly two months,
on and off. From the start, I've had trouble installing the server 2012 software (see previous threads August-27 and August-16
), but when I got to the point that I could install Server 2012 Essentials, I thought I could upgrade to Server 2012 R2 Essentials exactly as you suggest. That was where you helped me a lot, i.e. you confirmed that my expectations were reasonable.
So when it didn't work, I spent most of yesterday trying various different procedures. I got tantalizingly close, but still no cigar.
I can install any Windows Client and Server 2012 Essentials, but the R2 Essentials installation never finishes; it goes into an "error 0x000000C4" boot loop. At first I wondered if it was because I was installing a server over a
server, but you confirmed that's not the issue. I later verified that I cannot install R2 over Windows 7 either, whereas R1 over Win7 is fine. I can only surmise one of two problems:
I have a bad installation disk
There is a hardware issue
I plan to eliminate (1) by creating a new disk from a new download. I have verified that the latest ISO file and the one I have been using have identical byte counts,
For (2), I had suspected that the problem was that the older system has no UEFI, but since R1 installs OK, I am discounting that. Today's effort: to eliminate the DVD drive, I will try booting from a Flash Drive. To eliminate
the hard drive, I will try installing to a different drive.
I am hoping you can help with one more thing. When I run setup.exe with the /noreboot option, I have a better chance of success. The option suppresses the first reboot only, but that one (after "Expanding the setup files") always
fails, so suppressing it gets me almost to the end of the install. Is there a way to modify setup.exe so the it always runs with the /noreboot option?

Best practices for upgrading Windows Server Essentials 2012 to R2?

Hi,
I need to upgrade my Windows Server Essentials 2012 on an HP microserver to Essentials R2 (specifically the R2 role on Standard rather than as a VM). After a reasonable amount of searching, I haven't found anything online that specifically addresses this in-place
upgrade scenario. Since this is already an Essentials server, it's the PDC in its own domain, etc. Has anyone that's done this upgrade have any experiences or warnings to share?
Thanks,
Sean

Hello there,
There is no upgrade path from Server 2012 Essentials to R2. R2 is not an upgrade, it is a new build. Essentials does not upgrade easily, you will want to perform a migration of the server. This will require additional hardware. You
can possibly backup the 2012 Essentials, build a temp server on workstation hardware just to do the migration from, restore the backup to the new server and then perform the migration to R2.

Windows SBS 2003 to Server 2012 Essentials R2

I am tasked with upgrading from an existing SBS 2003 server to 2012 R2 Essentials. Currently the 2012 box is on the network, fresh install but I'm encountering issues from there. I joined it to the domain and now when it boots up it goes through the process
of configuring it to the domain. However, it simply stops with the error "Configuration Encountered Some Issues". Could someone provide some guidance? Thanks!
The only error I can find related to it is:
Log Name: Microsoft-Windows-ServerEssentials-Deployment/Deploy
Source: Microsoft-Windows-ServerEssentials-Deployment
Date: 2/8/2015 10:34:21 PM
Event ID: 130
Task Category: None
Level: Error
Keywords:
User: SNL\halo
Computer: Server2012.snl.local
Description:
Unexpected error occured: System.Management.Automation.CmdletInvocationException: Value cannot be null.
Parameter name: container ---> System.ArgumentNullException: Value cannot be null.
Parameter name: container
at Microsoft.WindowsServer.Essentials.ActiveDirectory.DirectoryEntryExtensions.GetNewChildName(DirectoryEntry container, String preferredName)
at Microsoft.WindowsServer.Essentials.ActiveDirectory.WellKnownStandaloneMsa.Initialize(Domain domain, DirectoryEntry master, Guid wkguid, String preferredName, DirectoryEntry& entry, String& connectedServer)
at Microsoft.WindowsServer.Essentials.ServerSetup.ServerSetupMsaHelper.InitializeServiceAccount()
at Microsoft.WindowsServer.Essentials.ServerSetup.ServerSetupMsaHelper.UseServiceAccount(NetworkCredential credential)
at Microsoft.WindowsServerSolutions.Setup.Commands.InitialConfigurationHelper.StartInitialConfiguration(PSCredential credential, Dictionary`2 data)
at Microsoft.WindowsServerSolutions.Setup.Commands.InvokeEssentialsConfigureServiceCommand.ProcessRecord()
at System.Management.Automation.CommandProcessor.ProcessRecord()
--- End of inner exception stack trace ---
at System.Management.Automation.PowerShell.EndInvoke(IAsyncResult asyncResult)
at Microsoft.Windows.ServerManager.ServerEssentials.Plugin.RemotePSHelper.InvokeRoleConfigurationCommand(String command, IDictionary`2 parameters, Func`1 isCancellationRequested, Action`1 onProgress)
Event Xml:
<Event xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/win/2004/08/events/event">
<System>
<Provider Name="Microsoft-Windows-ServerEssentials-Deployment" Guid="{AD9FC988-EB6F-43AF-9429-7BCDB78A7663}" />
<EventID>130</EventID>
<Version>0</Version>
<Level>2</Level>
<Task>0</Task>
<Opcode>0</Opcode>
<Keywords>0x8000000000000000</Keywords>
<TimeCreated SystemTime="2015-02-09T03:34:21.429892000Z" />
<EventRecordID>180</EventRecordID>
<Correlation ActivityID="{E85BC2B0-4415-0000-D0C2-5BE81544D001}" />
<Execution ProcessID="3140" ThreadID="2628" />
<Channel>Microsoft-Windows-ServerEssentials-Deployment/Deploy</Channel>
<Computer>Server2012.snl.local</Computer>
<Security UserID="S-1-5-21-3716708206-3900771979-3496404321-1138" />
</System>
<EventData>
<Data Name="Message">System.Management.Automation.CmdletInvocationException: Value cannot be null.
Parameter name: container ---> System.ArgumentNullException: Value cannot be null.
Parameter name: container
at Microsoft.WindowsServer.Essentials.ActiveDirectory.DirectoryEntryExtensions.GetNewChildName(DirectoryEntry container, String preferredName)
at Microsoft.WindowsServer.Essentials.ActiveDirectory.WellKnownStandaloneMsa.Initialize(Domain domain, DirectoryEntry master, Guid wkguid, String preferredName, DirectoryEntry& entry, String& connectedServer)
at Microsoft.WindowsServer.Essentials.ServerSetup.ServerSetupMsaHelper.InitializeServiceAccount()
at Microsoft.WindowsServer.Essentials.ServerSetup.ServerSetupMsaHelper.UseServiceAccount(NetworkCredential credential)
at Microsoft.WindowsServerSolutions.Setup.Commands.InitialConfigurationHelper.StartInitialConfiguration(PSCredential credential, Dictionary`2 data)
at Microsoft.WindowsServerSolutions.Setup.Commands.InvokeEssentialsConfigureServiceCommand.ProcessRecord()
at System.Management.Automation.CommandProcessor.ProcessRecord()
--- End of inner exception stack trace ---
at System.Management.Automation.PowerShell.EndInvoke(IAsyncResult asyncResult)
at Microsoft.Windows.ServerManager.ServerEssentials.Plugin.RemotePSHelper.InvokeRoleConfigurationCommand(String command, IDictionary`2 parameters, Func`1 isCancellationRequested, Action`1 onProgress)</Data>
</EventData>
</Event>

Hi Kieran S,
As Robert mentioned, did you refer to any migration guide?
Migrate from Previous Versions to Windows Server 2012 R2 Essentials or Windows Server Essentials Experience
Windows Server 2012 R2 Essentials Migration – Keys to Success
-->it simply stops with the error "Configuration Encountered Some Issues".
Please refer to Paul's suggestion and check if help you to solve this configuration issue. In addition, you can also refer to following KB.
The Post-Deployment Configuration task may fail after you install the Windows Server Essentials Experience role on Windows Server 2012 R2
If any update, please feel free to let us know.
Best regards,
Justin Gu
Please remember to mark the replies as answers if they help and unmark them if they provide no help. If you have feedback for TechNet Support, contact [email protected]
Those two links were very helpful! Way better than the one I was referencing. I ended up having to manually do a adprep /forestprep before the wizard would work. All is well now, thanks!

Upgrading from SBS2008 to 2012 Essentials

I'm upgrading from SBS2008 to 2012 Essentials. I understand that Essentials does not include everything that SBS did (Exchange, DC, DHCP, AD, DNS, SharePoint Companyweb, etc), so I'm guessing that I will need multiple servers. I'm trying
to figure out how to apportion and configure my overall system.
I have seen posts that indicate a recommendation to set up 2012 Standard R2 on the 1st physical server with Essentials R2 on a virtual server. And then using other virtual servers for other functions. Why would I do that? I don't understand
all the advantages and disadvantages of how to set up the various functions. Should I put Exchange server on a totally different physical machine, a server #2?
My number 1 server is a HP Proliant DL160 with dual quad core, 24GB ram and hardware RAID. What would you think would be best to install on that server and what would you put on another server?
skb

yeah...Windows Server 2012 Essentials no longer contains a built-in email service. However, it supports multiple email options that include Office 365, an on-premises server running Exchange
Server, and third-party hosted email services. If use on-premises server running Exchange Server, we do support running Exchange Server on a second server.
http://blogs.technet.com/b/sbs/archive/2012/07/26/email-options-supported-by-windows-server-2012-essentials.aspx
-->DC, DHCP, AD, DNS
you can normally transfer those roles, services and configure.
-->sharepoint
general similar steps...http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/gg616007.aspx
in theory, can host Exchange server and sharepoint on one same windows server in physical machine...
Best,
Howtodo

Install sharepoint 2013 demo on windows 2012 r2 essentials

Am configuring my laptop for demo so installing windows 2012 r2 essentials (which requires to be the DC). I know SharePoint 2013 server is not recommended to be installed on the DC. I have seen the Workflow 2013 is not supported on the DC but
still can work with the 2010 workflow. any other SharePoint 2013 features are not available on the DC ? From the SQL Server perspective this will only be a security issue the way I see, but am using this laptop for demo/test only.

HI,As you said,SharePoint 2013 does not support installation on to a domain controller. A single label domain (SLD) names or single label forests is also not supported. Because the use of SLD names is not a recommended practice, . Therefore, there may be
incompatibility issues when SharePoint 2013 are implemented in a single label domain environment.Apart from this no issues.you can find the detailed installation of sharepoint 2013 in below.
http://expertsharepoint.blogspot.de/2013/11/detailed-sharepoint2013-installation-i.html.
you can find the details on latest patches in the same site.
Anil Avula[MCP,MCSE,MCSA,MCTS,MCITP,MCSM] See Me At: http://expertsharepoint.blogspot.de/

Windows Server 2012 Essentials (not R2) - all client computers offline

The server is Windows Server 2012 Essentials (not R2). I have had this problem ever since I first installed the Windows Server 2012 Essentials server in the summer of 2013 (before R2 was released). The Windows Server 2012 Essentials server shows offline
for all Devices under Dashboard. (Allow me to add that I just installed another site with Windows Server 2012 Essentials R2, and it was a breeze - all of the computers at the second install site are online.) I have one Windows 8.1 Pro client and the rest
are Windows 7 Pro clients. The problem occurs on ALL client computers.
I have removed computers from Devices in Dashboard on the server, rebooted the server, changed the client computer to a workgroup, rebooted the client computer, and reinstalled the connector software on the client computer. Same result. I
have tried this on a Windows 7 Pro client and a Windows 8.1 Pro client with the same results.
After running the connector on a client computer and waiting for the server to update its Devices status, if I look under Devices on the server Dashboard, the Windows 8.1 client computer will say online but within 24 hours it goes offline again. The
Windows 7 client computers never show online. Both computers stay offline - they NEVER show an online status (referring to the status under Devices in Dashboard).
I should make it clear that the clients can access the server shares with no problem. File synchronization works great. The clients can ping the server and the server can ping the clients. But client backups on the server fail.
One of the most troublesome things about this problem is that it prevents the client computers from being accessed remotely using the website setup by Anywhere Access. I can login to get remote access to the shared files on the server, but
the only computer that says "online" is the server. All of the other computers are "offline".
The server and clients are only using Windows firewall. The clients all use Microsoft Security Essentials for their anti-virus.
I used a troubleshooting tool that tells me that there are problems with port 6602 on the server, but the clients are all fine with port 6602. I know port 6602 is important for using Anywhere Access but I am still trying to find out more details on that.
I have checked all of the firewall settings related to port 6602 on the server, and the firewall settings look like the standard Windows settings for this port. I used netstat to find the PID associated with the port, and I looked up the PID to find the service.
That all looked standard, too.
I have been working on this problem since the summer of 2013!! Does anyone have ANY suggestions?!!
HELP!

Hi,
Just addition, please check if all necessary Windows updates are installed on those
“Offline” client computer.
When connect client computers to the Windows Server 2012 Essentials server by using the Connector software, there
will be LAUNCHPAD on the client computer. Was this LAUNCHPAD grayed out? Please check if can access Shared Folders via this LAUNCHPAD. Meanwhile, please ping the Windows Server 2012 Essentials via IP address and server name when client computers show as
Offline. Any find?
Get Connected in Windows Server Essentials
In addition, please follow the path on Server and client computer:
%programdata%\Microsoft\Windows Server\Logs. Did you check any relevant Server-side logs and
Client-side Logs if find more clues?
Windows
Server Essentials 2012/2012 R2 Log Files
If any update, please feel free to let us know.
Hope this helps.
Best regards,
Justin Gu
Please remember to mark the replies as answers if they help and unmark them if they provide no help. If you have feedback for TechNet Support, contact [email protected]

Windows 2012 Essentials Upgrade

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