[Samba] What is my best upgrade path?

[Peter Smode]

I am running Samba 4.14.7 with two servers setup as my AD servers and configured to replicate. I have a number of other domain joined servers and desktop systems. The servers are all running Rocky Linux 8.10. I have a standalone server running the same OS but not domain joined that I use as my build-Samba-from-source server. I build there then move the resulting tree to the live servers.

I want to get to everything running Rocky Linux 9.5 (current) and current version of Samba. I have a new build server built and two other servers that I can turn into AD servers.

What is my best way forward? I figured I was going to do some variation on adding a third server with newer stuff to get this rolling. However, with the big jump in Samba versions, I am reluctant to upgrade the OS and Samba all the way to the end state in one jump. But I don’t know if I am just outsmarting myself here.

I could upgrade just the OS on the new servers by adding them to AD on the old version and dropping the originals. Then I could upgrade Samba on AD controller at a time to newer versions (how many steps here? All at once or are there versions in the middle is should stop at?)

Or I could do updates on the original Rocky Linux 8 infra, updating to newer Samba before cutting across to the Rocky Linux 9 based kit. 

Or does any of this really make a difference?

Advice appreciated 

-- Peter