i have a hyper-v cluster with 7 nodes running windows server 2019 and i need to upgrade to windows server 2022

Hi Mohamed ,
Welcome to Microsoft Q&A forum. It's my pleasure to help you today.

1.In-place upgrade vs. Fresh installation (Hyper-V hosts)
Recommended: Fresh installation (clean install)
Although Windows Server supports an in-place upgrade from 2019 → 2022, it is not recommended for Hyper-V hosts and clusters.
Reasons to avoid in-place upgrades on Hyper-V: 

• Old drivers, HAL components, and OEM agents remain and often break cluster validation. 
• Higher risk of corruption in cluster databases or VMM agents.
• Hyper-V hosts are easier to rebuild cleanly than to troubleshoot after an in-place upgrade. Microsoft support often asks: "Was this host clean-installed?" for cluster reliability issues.
  --->A fresh installation is strongly recommended for all cluster nodes.

2. Can you use the same names and IPs if doing clean install?
Yes - you can reuse the same hostname and same IP

 …but only after you fully evict the node from the cluster and remove it from AD. 

Process (rolling upgrade with clean install): 

• Pause + Drain the node. 
• Evict the node from the cluster. 
• Remove the computer object from AD & DNS. 
• Reinstall Windows Server 2022 (clean install).
• Join it to the domain (same name allowed).
• Add it back to the cluster.

This process is safe and fully supported.

3. Can the Domain Controllers remain on Windows Server 2016?

 Yes - Windows Server 2022 Hyper-V clusters do not require Windows Server 2022 domain controllers. Supported AD requirements for a WS2022 cluster:

 Forest functional level: Windows Server 2008 R2 or higher

 Domain functional level: Windows Server 2008 R2 or higher

 Domain controllers can run Windows Server 2012 R2, 2016, 2019, or 2022

 ➡ Your Windows Server 2016 DCs are fully supported. ➡ You only need to upgrade them later if you want lifecycle, security, or feature improvements.

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Best wishes!
Titus Bui.

You can upgrade your Hyper-V cluster from Windows Server 2019 to Windows Server 2022 using an in-place upgrade, which is supported for this scenario. This method allows you to upgrade the operating system while keeping the existing hardware and configurations intact. However, ensure that you follow the necessary procedures and best practices for in-place upgrades, including backing up your data and verifying compatibility.

If you decide to perform a fresh installation of Windows Server 2022, you can use the same names and IP addresses for the servers, but you will need to ensure that the old servers are properly decommissioned to avoid conflicts on the network.

Regarding your Windows Server 2016 domain controllers, you can leave them as they are. There is no requirement to upgrade them immediately, but you should plan for their eventual upgrade to maintain support and compatibility with newer features and security updates.

References:

• Overview of Windows Server upgrades
• Upgrade and conversion options for Windows Server