Microsoft HYPER-V solution

Microsoft virtualization [HYPER-V] is available as standalone product and also as „role‟ based

on a Server Class Windows Operating system. So, what is the difference?

The standalone Microsoft Hyper-V Server 2008 & R2, 2012 & R2: [Free] This is a Stand-alone Microsoft Virtualization product [comparable to a Server Core installation in terms of foot print] with the hypervisor installed. But, it does not contain the robust set of features and roles as the Windows Server operating system, along with limited scaling than full version of Windows Server 2008 with Hyper-V role enabled. But it‟s a great solution for smaller businesses. Two fantastic articles can give you more insight & get you started:

Introducing Microsoft Hyper-V Server 2008 - Part 1 : http://www.elmajdal.net/win2k8/installing_microsoft_hyper_v_server_2008.aspx

Introducing Microsoft Hyper-V Server 2008 - Part 2 : Configuration http://www.elmajdal.net/win2k8/Configuring_Microsoft_Hyper_V_Server_2008.aspx

HYPER-V as a role [On Windows 2008 & R2, 2012 & R2] [Licensed] When the Hyper-V role is installed, the host OS becomes [or turned into] the "Parent Partition" (a quasi-virtual machine), and the “Hypervisor” partition is placed between the parent partition and the hardware. As a result, it is not recommended to install additional (non-Hyper-V and/or VDI related) roles.

What the hell are 'TYPE1' & 'TYPE2' Hypervisors? Hypervisor – „A layer of software‟ also called VMM (Virtual Machine Monitor) that sits between the hardware and one or more operating systems. Its primary job is to provide isolated execution environments called partitions. The hypervisor controls and arbitrates access to the underlying hardware.

Type 1 and Type 2 are called so, depending upon whether an underlying operating system is present or not.

Type 1 hypervisor run directly on the hardware with VM resources provided by the hypervisor, as shown in the figure below.

Example: VMware ESXi and Citrix XenServer, Microsoft HYPER-V etc.

Courtesy: Wikipedia In Simpler words: This type of hypervisors runs directly on the host's hardware to control the hardware and to manage guest operating systems. A guest operating-system thus runs on another level [level 2] above the hypervisor.

Type 2 hypervisor runs on a host operating system to provide virtualization services.

Example: Sun VirtualBox, VMware workstation and Microsoft Virtual PC etc.

Courtesy: Wikipedia In Simpler words: This type of hypervisors runs within a conventional operating-system environment. With the hypervisor layer as a distinct second software level, guest operating-systems run at the third level. You might ask, – Is HYPER-V really TYPE1? Ans: HYPER-V is indeed TYPE1 hypervisor. This is b'cos "Hypervisor partition is placed between the parent partition and the hardware" and therefore it runs directly on top on bare-metal hardware. Reason - Microsoft Hyper-V hypervisor loads prior to the management operating-system, and any virtual environments created run directly on the hypervisor, not via the management [Windows 2008/2012] operating-system. Management Operating system [Windows Server 2008] also called parent partition is „actually virtualized‟ to manage the Type 1 Hyper-V hypervisor that is running beneath it directly on top of hardware. Hyper-V Architecture http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc768520(v=bts.10).aspx

USEFUL LINKS This Microsoft discussion forum covers most of the queries around this topic: http://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/windowsserver/en-US/84d19d90-4afe-43a3-8271-df30503004a0/whats-the-difference-between-hyperv-versions?forum=winserverhyperv Identifying Hyper-V Version http://www.elmajdal.net/Win2k8/Identifying_Hyper-V_Version.aspx Installing Hyper-V and Deploying Windows Server 2008 as Your First Virtual Machine - Part I http://www.elmajdal.net/win2k8/Installing_HyperV_and_Deploying_Windows_Server_2008_as_Your_First_Virtual_Machine_Part_I.aspx Installing Hyper-V and Deploying Windows Server 2008 as Your First Virtual Machine - Part II http://www.elmajdal.net/win2k8/Installing_HyperV_and_Deploying_Windows_Server_2008_as_Your_First_Virtual_Machine_Part_II.aspx An Introduction to Hyper-V in Windows Server 2008 http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/magazine/2008.10.hyperv.aspx Download & Evaluate Windows Server 2012 R2 here: [Give it a try] http://technet.microsoft.com/en-US/evalcenter/dn205286.aspx Hyper-V‟s Actual Hardware Requirements http://www.altaro.com/hyper-v/hyper-vs-actual-hardware-requirements/ Courtesy: Google Courtesy: Microsoft Courtesy: http://en.wikipedia.org/

Courtesy: http://www.elmajdal.net/

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