Upgrading to Configuration Manager 2012 R2
As mentioned in my prior post, I wanted to mention a few upgrade notes for the ConfigMgr 2012 R2 upgrade.
First of all, here are a few resources that you should review prior to upgrading:
What’s New in System Center 2012 R2 Configuration Manager
https://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/dn236351.aspx
System Center 2012 R2 Configuration Manager Upgrade Checklist
https://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/jj822981.aspx#BKMK_PlanningR2Upgrade
Considerations for Upgrading to System Center 2012 R2 Configuration Manager
https://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/jj822981.aspx#BKMK_UpgradeR2Considerations
For most standard sites, there isn’t a lot required in preparation other than standard best practices like ensuring that you have a good backup, etc. All sites will require that you remove Windows Assessment and Deployment Kit (Windows ADK) for Windows 8 and install Windows Assessment and Deployment Kit (Windows ADK) for Windows 8.1.
It is important that anyone using database replicas for management points or any NLBs, make sure you disable them. You should also remember to disable your maintenance tasks as well. See the above links for more information.
Once your site servers are upgraded, remember to update your clients and ConfigMgr Consoles as well.
-Ryan