Home Forums Window Hyper-V 2012 R2 Basics

Hi all,

Currently, I've been toying with VMWare Virtual Machines on a Windows 7 Pro host machine. Works great so far, and I've learned a lot for sure.

I'd like to try a foray into Windows Hyper-V Server R2. I've installed it on a test server machine (easy). I'm going to install maybe 2-3 VM's on this server machine, as RAM and HD space, etc. allow: Windows SBS 2011 Essentials, maybe Windows Server 2012 R2, and maybe a Win 7 machine.

But have a question:

- The server machine doesn't have a GUI interface. From the basic research I've done, it seems that you have to install/control the VM's remotely from a Windows 8 machine. Is this correct? Can it also be done from a Windows 7 machine?

Thanks in advance.

I would install it on Windows Server 2012 R2. I am pretty sure that comes with two VMs.

I am rather certain that when you install, it gives option between GUI and Core. Core has advantages, but I would go with GUI. You need to be a little proficient with Powershell, which is much more powerful than using a CMD prompt.

The following is a pretty good blog.

I am not certain the limit, but shouldn't you be able to put on 64 GBs of RAM? if you are going to use 3 VMs, I would put on the maximum unless it is limitless.

If you really want ALL the information you need and more then, I highly suggest this site. This used to be TrainSignal which sold DVDs, but changed to a subscription service. It is now called pluralsight and has a LOT more topics. You can browse the site and see what it offers. I know they use PowerSlides and I think videos. Can't go wrong there.

Thanks Bert.

From what I've read, Server 2012 R2 only allows for two instances of VM's. I'd like the option to add a couple more if my hardware allows for it.

I'll check out the sites you suggested.

It looks like you can download Hyper-V Server management tools for Windows 7:

http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/confirmation.aspx?id=7887

Here is a really good article about manager a Hyper-V 2012 R2 server from a Windows 7 machine:

Article

Gianni,

I think you are right. I guess it depends if you want to go with a server OS or not. What are you going to use four VMs for.

Bert,

I'd like to get up to speed on Windows Server 2012 R2 (not Essentials) w/o the hassle of devoting a physical computer to it. From what I've gathered, Windows Server 2012 R2 will work in a VM environment (as a guest). I might also create a Multipoint Server if possible.

That will definitely be fun. Of course, Sandeep or TrainSignal.

I realize that I am voice crying in the wilderness, but you can have a CENTOS server up and running virtualization in 20-30 minutes, and put all the VMs on it that you want. OS Cost: $0. Satisfaction: Priceless.

Gianni,

You can run a limitless amount of VMs on Windows Server 2012 Standard. The license for the Server 2012 includes two "free" VMs one of which must run on Windows Server 2008 R2. After that you can run as many as you wish as long as you are willing to pay for the licenses.

Bert has a done an excellent job of describing the differences.

Let's clarify a few things

Hyper V Server 2012 - Is a barebones hypervisor with no GUI console. It's recommended for experienced users. It's also free. It's Microsoft's equivalent to VMWare ESXi. Usually people use it when they don't have Server 2008R2/2012/2012R2 since you can use Server Core with those instead.


Windows Server 2012R2 Standard comes in two flavors when you install. Complete and Server Core. You add the Hyper V Role after the installation.

The first is the Complete Installation including the Graphical User Interface (GUI). That just means it has the traditional desktop and all the visual elements you are familiar with. This is what I would recommend for you. There's numerous benefits to using this method such as familiar interface, simpler backup, simpler partitioning, etc. If you're not used to doing things like partitioning/formatting disks from the command line or server backup from the command line, you definitely need to use this. The performance impact is minimal.

The second is the Server Core Installation which resembles the free Hyper V Server 2012 from above. However, it comes with additional features that Hyper V Server 2012 doesn't have. Like the ability to re-add the GUI or other roles.

You can run as many VMs as you want (basically) on them. All of the Virtual Machines you install have to be licensed. The two instances refers to your ability to run install two virtual machines with Server 2012 Standard. This is great since you essentially get two copies of Server 2012 for the price of one. You can add as many Virtual Machines as you want after that. But you'll have to ensure they are licensed properly.

Thanks all. That's the route I'm going then. I wanted to try the VM's on Hyper-V Server 2012 because I didn't want the VM's tied to any one version of Windows Server, but it's proving to be challenging (for me, at least). The lack of GUI and name resolution issues requires a good amount of experience to overcome. But maybe I can move these VM images from host to host pretty easily? I know I can do that with VMWare.

There are people who say ESXi is a much more straightforward affair, but I think Sandeep mentioned that the backups are more of a challenge in this setting.

ESXi and Hyper-V Server are quite similar. Both can't be managed from the host. ESXi requires vSphere and Hyper V needs Hyper-V Manager.


They're not tied to Windows Server. You are free to move them to other installation of Hyper-V. Do you have any server licenses currently? e.g. Server 2008R2?

If you're considering MultiPoint, I would get the full Server 2012 Standard instead since you get two instances. Then you can also use the full Server 2012 as the host. Have a Server 2012 VM acting as a terminal server. You also get your test Server 2012 VM. Then you can add the remainder of your virtual machines.

Thanks. Good to know that I can move the VM images from host to host. I do have a license of 2008 R2.

So let me make sure I have this straight:

- Install Server 2012 R2 Std on the physical machine as the host OS. This would be the domain controller, file server, DHCP server, etc.

- Create a Server 2012 R2 Std virtual machine on the host above using the same license as the host. This VM would act as a Terminal Server. This means that I don't need Microsoft Multiserver because this VM would do the same thing?

- I could create a third Server 2012 R2 (Std or otherwise) VM to play around with, but I would need an additional license for this instance, as well as any other VM's that i create.

Do I have this right?

Just to add to the confusion, lol, this reference below seems to suggest that I can host as many VM's as I want, but for every two VM's, I'd have to purchase another license of Windows 2012 R2 Std?

"Windows Server 2012 Standard Has all the key features. It supports up to 64 physical processors, one physical environment, and up to two virtual instances. Two incremental virtual instances and two incremental physical processors are added for each Standard license. Thus, a server with four processors, one physical environment, and four virtual instances would need two Standard licenses, but the same server with eight virtual environments would need four Standard licenses. CALs are required for every user or device accessing the server."

Not exactly.


No you do nothing but install Hyper V and Windows Server Backup. It does nothing else besides Hyper-V and Windows Server Backup.

Yes you could make this similar to MultiPoint. MultiPoint just has the Remote Desktop Services role pre-configured.


You could make this into a Server 2012 R2 VM to mess around with, but Microsoft has free trials. I would save this licensed version for something important. Like above you said that you needed DHCP, DNS, AD, etc. If you already have SBS 2011 Essentials, no point in making another domain controller/file server. I would it over from VMWare. If you don't you can downgrade one instance to Server 2012R2 Essentials.

No it's saying for every 2 Windows Server 2012 VM's, you need to buy another license. This is just like normal. If you buy 5 servers, you need 5 copies of the OS. Except, in this instance you get 10 when you buy 5. You can host as many other VMs as you want Ubuntu, Windows 8, etc. You only need licenses if you install more Windows Server 2012's. However, if you already have copies of Win8/etc. you can load them on with their relevant licenses.

Ok, I have a pretty good general concept now.

Now comes the easy part: execution, lol.

One more point of clarification, if you will. In addition to the Server 2012 R2 Std software, one must purchase CAL's for every workstation that accesses the server?

Also, does Exchange Server come bundled with Windows Server 2012 R2 Std?

Thanks.

There's two modes of licensing, Per User and Per Device. The rule of thumb is:
If you have more users than computers, use Device CALs.
If you have more computers than users (more typical in a Medical Office), use User CALs.

So, for instance, in my office, I have 21 computers but only 5 users. It makes more sense for me to use User CALs over device CALs.

No it does not. I don't know if you were here for the mourning thread over the loss of SBS 2011 Std. It came bundled with Exchange and SharePoint. Exchange costs ~$1000 on its own. OEM SBS 2011 Std. versions are still available for ~$700.

I thin it was SBS 2003 where it was a little known fact that you didn't need any CALS.

Ouch. That *is* reason to mourn...

But Exchange and Sharepoint don't care who they're matched with? I could install them on Server 2011/2012 Essentials, correct?

That's why I like SBS 2011 Standard with good old SAS drives in a RAID 1 / RAID 5 configuration.

Exchange is free
SharePoint is free
OS is free

but so is 2012 and Exchange and SharePoint.

RAID 10...Always lol. Appears to be the new standard in reliability and speed. No parity calculations, faster reads and writes, fast rebuild times. Doesn't need a beefy RAID controller either with no parity calculations being done.

RAID 1 seems a bit slow for SBS 2011 Std. given all the things it does.

Thought of that. We'll see. It's just that 1 & 5 has worked for five years. Plus, I have all the drives.

Here's a somewhat tangential VM question. My mechanic has an auto shop management program that requires a hardware key (connected to parallel port) to run. The software company has since gone out of business.

He wants to move the program to a newer machine, but doesn't have the orig install discs, and some of the newer motherboards no longer have parallel ports. If he virtualizes his computer, can he ditch the parallel thingy and move the VM on a newer computer?

For KVM based virtualization, you can pass-through external ports to the VM.

Cisco 'blue cables' require a port that isn't available on many laptops now, so for years we travel with a USB port converter - he may want to try one of those first.

Do you mean something like this:

Link

Ours is a bit different, but that's the idea.