Installing Hyper-V for Windows EBS Virtualization

  • Article

Applies To: Windows Essential Business Server

After you choose a physical server configuration, the next step in the virtualization of Windows EBS is to install Windows Server 2008 and Hyper-V on your physical server. You complete the following steps:

  • Install Windows Server 2008

  • Install Hyper-V in Windows Server 2008

  • Install Hyper-V Manager

Install Windows Server 2008

During the installation of Windows Server 2008, you are prompted to choose the Server Core installation or the full installation.

Server Core installation

The Server Core installation option of the Windows Server 2008 operating system installs a minimal version of Windows Server 2008 that runs supported server roles, including the Hyper-V role. The Server Core installation option offers a smaller attack surface and reduced management and maintenance.

For information about the Server Core installation, see the Microsoft Web site (https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=113811).

Full installation

The full installation installs the complete Windows Server 2008 operating system. This installation includes the entire user interface, and it supports all of the server roles.

For information about the full installation, see the Microsoft Web site (https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=119578).

Install Hyper-V on Windows Server 2008

After a Server Core or full installation of Windows Server 2008 is completed on the physical server, you install Hyper-V. Hyper-V is the Windows Server 2008 server role that allows you to create and manage virtual machines. The installation method depends on the type of Windows 2008 Server installation that you installed.

Installing Hyper-V on a Server Core installation

Installing Hyper-V on a Server Core installation of Windows Server 2008 involves configuring the server locally from the command line.

For more information about updating and enabling Hyper-V on a Server Core installation, see the Microsoft Web site (https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkID=128225).

Installing Hyper-V on a full installation

Installing Hyper-V on a full installation of Windows Server 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.

For more information about full installation, see the Microsoft Web site (https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=128436).

Install Hyper-V Manager

The final step in preparing your physical server for virtualizing Windows EBS is to install Hyper-V Manager. You use Hyper-V Manager to install and configure the virtual machines. The method for configuring Hyper-V Manager depends on which version of Windows Server 2008 you installed on the physical server.

Installing Hyper-V Manager on a Server Core installation

The command line interface that is provided with the Server Core installation does not allow you to manage Hyper-V, so you must manage Hyper-V through a second client computer. The second computer can have a full installation of Windows Server 2008 or a Windows Vista® with Service Pack 1 (SP1) operating system. You must install the Hyper-V management tools to manage the server remotely. The management tools are available for Windows Server 2008 and Windows Vista with SP1.

For more information, see article 950050 (https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=122188) and article 952627 (https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=123537) in the Microsoft Knowledge Base.

Installing Hyper-V Manager on a full installation

Hyper-V Manager is installed by default with the full installation of Windows Server 2008. It is located in Administrative Tools. No further configuration of Hyper-V Manager is necessary.