Run Hyper-V Server from a USB Flash Drive

Applies To: Hyper-V Server 2012, Hyper-V Server 2012 R2

Microsoft Hyper-V Server supports the ability to boot from a USB flash drive. This topic describes the policy requirements, hardware requirements, and steps required to create and deploy a Hyper-V Server image on an embedded USB flash drive. A USB flash drive with Hyper-V Server can provide virtualization capability for servers that ship with no local hard disk drives, and it offers the same functionality and flexibility as an installation of Hyper-V Server on a spinning disk drive.

The USB flash drive must be properly formatted, prepared with a generalized Hyper-V Server image, and it must have the boot files copied onto it to provide a virtualization experience for customers. The USB flash drive can then be used to boot Hyper-V Server onto any computer that has hardware-assisted virtualization capabilities and is capable of booting from USB.

Creating a bootable Hyper-V Server USB flash drive

The directions and limitations in the following topic apply to Hyper-V Server 2012 R2 and Hyper-V Server 2012: Deploying Microsoft Hyper-V Server 2008 R2 on USB Flash Drive.

Recommended USB flash drive hardware

For Hyper-V Server, the recommended hardware is the same as that recommended for Windows To Go. For more information, see Windows To Go: Feature Overview. Specific USB flash drives that are currently recommended include:

• Kingston DataTraveler Ultimate

• Super Talent Express RC8

• Western Digital My Passport Enterprise

In general, a host computer used for running Hyper-V Server from a flash drive must have the following characteristics:

See also

• Microsoft Hyper-V Server 2012 R2 and Hyper-V Server 2012 [MTPS TOC]

• Hyper-V overview

• Microsoft Hyper-V Server 2008 R2