Upgrade on a new server

A customer system is using a MS-SQL database that runs on it's own server and also has a separate server for document storage. Now we want to move DocuWare to a new server and upgrade to 7.2 from 6.11.

Could I just install 7.0 on the new server and when it connects to the MS-SQL instance it will recognize the need for an upgrade? Then run 7.2 after that on that server? Or would I need to install 6.11 on the new server first? It seems unnecessary.

What you are asking to do should be performed in 2 stages:  Upgrade and Move.

It really does not matter which you do first, I am in favor of upgrade first, but doing them together is likely a disaster. 

There is another post on moving a server for v7.x that has recommended steps.