Install the Hyper-V Role on a Full Installation of Windows Server 2008

Applies To: Windows Server 2008

Installing the Hyper-V role on a full installation of Windows ServerĀ 2008 installs all the components of the Hyper-V technology, including the remote management tools. The tools consist of Hyper-V Manager, which is a Microsoft Management Console (MMC) snap-in, and Virtual Machine Connection, which provides you with direct access to a virtual machine through a network connection.

The release version of this role is distributed in an update package. We recommend that you obtain and apply the update package before you install and begin using the Hyper-V role. For more information about the update packages for Hyper-V, see Installing Hyper-V [Node].

Important

If you have installed an earlier version of Hyper-V, we strongly recommend that you review the information about migrating to the release version of Hyper-V before you apply the update package. Some components cannot be migrated, as explained in the support article that describes the role update package. For more information, see article 950050 in the Microsoft Knowledge Base (https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=122188).

Important

Membership in the local Administrators group, or equivalent, is the minimum required to complete this procedure.

To install the Hyper-V role

  1. If you recently installed Windows ServerĀ 2008, Initial Configuration Tasks may be displayed. You can install Hyper-V from Initial Configuration Tasks or from Server Manager:

    • In Initial Configuration Tasks, under Customize This Server, click Add roles.

    • In Server Manager, under Roles Summary, click Add Roles. (If Server Manager is not running, click Start, point to Administrative Tools, click Server Manager, and then, if prompted for permission to continue, click Continue.

  2. On the Select Server Roles page, click Hyper-V.

  3. On the Create Virtual Networks page, click one or more network adapters if you want to make their connection to a physical network available to virtual machines.

  4. On the Confirm Installation Selections page, click Install.

  5. The computer must be restarted to complete the installation. Click Close to finish the wizard, and then click Yes to restart the computer.

  6. After you restart the computer, log on with the same account you used to install the role. After the Resume Configuration Wizard completes the installation, click Close to finish the wizard.

Additional considerations

  • You can create a virtual network when you install the Hyper-V role. This action changes the configuration of the physical network adapter you selected when you installed the role. For more information about how a physical network adapter operates after you associate it to a virtual network, see Configuring Virtual Networks.

  • You can install the management tools on some versions of Windows without installing the Hyper-V role. For more information about installing the tools without installing the Hyper-V role, see Install and Configure Hyper-V Tools for Remote Administration.

  • When the Hyper-V role is installed, the use of Virtual Server or Virtual PC on the computer is not supported.