Introduction

Microsoft has done a great job with Hyper-V. Since its first version in 2008, the enterprises noticed that it was a very good virtualization solution for a first release. The second version with Windows Server 2008 R2 brought a couple of new features that enable mobility such as Live Migration and Dynamic Memory. The third version in Windows Server 2012 goes beyond all expectations and brings all the components to allow IT administrators to have everything they need to build the base of their cloud. Almost everything in Hyper-V has been improved and it comes with lots of extraordinary features that will transform the way we manage and deploy our datacenters. All workloads can now be virtualized and new features deliver environments beyond virtualization as we know it. Hyper-V Replica, Shared Nothing Live Migration, Full PowerShell support, SMB 3.0, and new limits are some examples that makes Windows Server 2012 Hyper-V a key component with results like high availability, low cost, elasticity, reliability, and everything we need for our servers.

The Hyper-V journey starts with its installation. Even though the installation steps can be simple, it is crucial to take care of the server prerequisites and the post configuration tasks. It is also very important to verify all the hardware prerequisites, the installation, and the administration method that will be used to manage your server.

Having said that, Hyper-V installation should begin with one of the most important phases of virtual servers before even buying the server itself; it should begin with the planning phase. During this phase, you will identify the proper hardware configuration and all of the prerequisites based on your needs. By default, Hyper-V also needs some processor requirements and that's why these components must be present on every server that runs Hyper-V.

This chapter will provide all the information you need to know before, during, and after the Hyper-V installation to make sure that you can save time and solve any problems that you may face.