Use Cases / OS & SQL Modernization
Modernize the workload.
Preserve the application.
Upgrade Windows, Linux and SQL Server. Convert Linux distributions. Reduce extended-support and licensing costs—with automation built for enterprise scale.
Modernize within your existing infrastructure or as part of a move to a new destination.
Avoid extended-support costsReduce technical debtValidate before cutoverOptimize licensing
Windows · Linux · SQL Server
See what your estate can modernize to.
Find your current operating system, Linux distribution or SQL Server version and see the supported destinations. RiverMeadow automates the required upgrade steps on the target clone.
Windows Server
Move beyond legacy Windows.
Automate supported single- and multi-hop upgrades while preserving the application environment. Combine Windows and SQL upgrades in one controlled workflow.
Windows Server upgrade paths| From | To |
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| 2008 R2 SP1 | 2012 R2, 2016, 2019, 2022, 2025 |
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| 2012 / 2012 R2 | 2016, 2019, 2022, 2025 |
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| 2016 | 2019, 2022, 2025 |
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| 2019 | 2022, 2025 |
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| 2022 | 2025 |
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Standard → Standard; Enterprise or Datacenter → Datacenter. Required patches, edition and installation-type requirements apply. Paths may involve intermediate upgrades.
View OS support details ↗
Linux version upgrades
Bring Linux estates forward.
Modernize across major releases and standardize the operating environment, with application validation before cutover.
RHEL and Oracle Linux upgrade paths| From | To |
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| RHEL 6.x | 7.9, 8.10, 9.5 |
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| RHEL 7.x | 8.10, 9.5, 10.0 |
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| RHEL 8.x | 9.5, 10.0 |
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| RHEL 9.x | 10.0 |
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| Oracle Linux 6.x | 7.9, 8.10, 9.5, 10.0 |
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| Oracle Linux 7.x | 8.10, 9.5, 10.0 |
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| Oracle Linux 8.x | 9.5, 10.0 |
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| Oracle Linux 9.x | 10.0 |
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Ubuntu, SUSE and Rocky Linux upgrades
Additional Linux upgrade paths| From | To |
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| Ubuntu 14.04, 16.04, 18.04, 20.04 or 22.04 LTS | Ubuntu 24.04 LTS |
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| SLES 11.x or 12.x | SLES 15 SP6 |
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| Rocky Linux 8 | Rocky Linux 9 |
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Targets remain within the source distribution. Multi-hop steps and prerequisites depend on the source release.
View Linux support details ↗
Linux distribution conversion
Change the distribution. Keep the workload.
Convert supported Linux workloads to the distribution that fits your operating model and destination. Combine conversion and version modernization for supported scenarios.
Linux distribution conversion paths| From | To |
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| Red Hat Enterprise Linux | Amazon Linux, Oracle Linux, Rocky Linux, AlmaLinux |
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| CentOS Linux | Amazon Linux, RHEL, Oracle Linux, Rocky Linux, AlmaLinux |
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| Oracle Linux | Amazon Linux, RHEL, Rocky Linux, AlmaLinux |
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Modernize to Amazon Linux on AWS.
Move RHEL, CentOS and Oracle Linux workloads to Amazon Linux as part of your AWS migration.
Distribution choices are shown above; source and target version eligibility is assessed for each workload.
View conversion support details ↗
SQL Server modernization
Upgrade SQL. Optimize the edition.
Modernize SQL Server alongside the OS or independently of an OS upgrade. Reduce SQL ESU exposure and optimize ongoing licensing costs.
SQL Server upgrade paths| From | To |
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| 2008, 2012 or 2014 | 2016, 2017, 2019, 2022, 2025 |
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| 2016 | 2017, 2019, 2022, 2025 |
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| 2017 | 2019, 2022, 2025 |
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| 2019 | 2022, 2025 |
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| 2022 | 2025 |
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Enterprise → Standard edition optimization
Reduce licensing costs where application requirements and SQL features permit. Clustered SQL modernization scenarios are also supported.
Web, Developer, Standard and Enterprise editions are supported. Edition is preserved by default; edition changes require workload assessment. Upgrade steps depend on the source version, target OS and SQL configuration.
View SQL support details ↗
The tables summarize supported paths; they do not imply a single-step upgrade for every combination. Source prerequisites, target platform and application compatibility determine the final plan. Validate applications on the modernized clone before approving cutover.
