Hyper-V: Run the current version of integration services in all guest operating systems

Applies To: Windows Server 2008 R2, Windows Server 2012

This topic is intended to address a specific issue identified by a Best Practices Analyzer scan. You should apply the information in this topic only to computers that have had the Hyper-V Best Practices Analyzer run against them and are experiencing the issue addressed by this topic. For more information about best practices and scans, see Best Practices Analyzer.

Operating System

Windows Server 2012 or Windows Server 2008 R2

Product/Feature

Hyper-V

Severity

Warning

Category

Configuration

Issue

A virtual machine is running an older version of a driver for one or more integration services.

Impact

Performance might be affected for the following virtual machines: <list of virtual machine names>

Version incompatibilities occur when the integration services running in the virtual machine do not match the version in the management operating system, which runs the Hyper-V role. Various combinations of versions are possible, some of which result in unsupported configurations. Microsoft does not provide technical support for virtual machines with unsupported configurations. For more information about version compatibility and support, see Version Compatibility for Integration Services (https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=181251).

Resolution

Use Virtual Machine Connection to install the current version of the integration services in the guest operating system.

By default, membership in the local Administrators group, or equivalent, is the minimum required to connect to the virtual machine. However, an administrator can use Authorization Manager to modify the authorization policy so that a user or group of users can complete this procedure. For more information, see Using Authorization Manager for Hyper-V Security (https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=142886). Permissions required to perform the rest of the procedure may vary depending on how security of the guest operating system is configured.

To install the current version of the integration services in the guest operating system

  1. Open Hyper-V Manager.

  2. From the Virtual Machines section of the results pane, use one of the following methods to connect to the virtual machine:

    • Right-click the name of the virtual machine and click Connect.

    • Select the name of the virtual machine. In the Action pane, click Connect.

    The Virtual Machine Connection tool opens.

  3. From the Action menu of Virtual Machine Connection, click Insert Integration Services Setup Disk. This action loads the setup disk in the virtual DVD drive.

  4. Depending on the operating system being installed, you may need to start the installation manually. Click anywhere in the guest operating system window and navigate to the CD drive. Use the method that is appropriate for the guest operating system to start the installation package from the CD drive.

  5. After the installation finishes, all integration services and virtual machine drivers should be available for use. In some cases, it may be necessary to restart the guest operating system to complete the installation.