Microsoft Hyper-V R2 administration and management guide

There are two versions of the hypervisor: Windows Server 2008 R2 Hyper-V, which comes with Windows Server 2008 R2; and Hyper-V Server 2008 R2, a free, standalone offering. This guide compiles the most up-to-date Hyper-V R2 news, as well as Microsoft vs. VMware virtualization comparisons. This guide on Hyper-V offers technical articles on the most important new Hyper-V features, so you can learn the best practices for Hyper-V R2 administration and management.

Table of contents

New Hyper-V R2 management features

The biggest improvement to Hyper-V R2 administration is its new Live Migration feature, which enables admins to move VMs among hosts without creating downtime for users. Live Migration which brings Hyper-V closer to parity with VMware, but other additions make the new version a significant upgrade. They include Cluster Shared Volumes, which enables admins to place multiple virtual machines on a single logical unit number (LUN) and improved management through System Center Virtual Machine Manager R2. Hyper-V R2...

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Cluster Shared Volumes, Live Migration and other Hyper-V R2 features
When Microsoft releases Hyper-V R2 in October, Live Migration and Cluster Shared Volumes will be its most important features.

In this podcast, Greg Shields, a Microsoft Most Valued Professional and partner at Concentrated Technology, answers frequently asked questions about Hyper-V R2 Live Migration and Cluster Shared Volumes. He also discusses improvements to System Center Virtual Machine Manager R2.

Live Migration in Hyper-V R2
This tip gets into the nitty-gritty of Hyper-V R2 and compares Live Migration with Quick Migration. Greg Shields explains the difference in migration speeds, down to the second. Also, learn how to get started with Live Migration and achieve host relocation with zero downtime.

New Hyper-V R2 technology features
Alan "Skip" Gould talks about the new features in Hyper-V R2 in this video from the 2009 Worldwide Partner Conference in New Orleans. Gould says R2 will boost interest in "green" technology and reduce power consumption -- providing a platform that can finally go head to head with VMware.

Hyper-V R2 technology in depth

With these articles from server virtualization experts, get the details on Hyper-V R2 technology, including information on using Live Migration, Cluster Shared Volumes, jumbo frame support, virtual hard disk booting to enhance your virtualization environment.

Hyper-V gains new resiliency features with Windows Server 2008 R2
This tip provides a detailed explanation of the most important new Hyper-V R2 features and their benefits over the previous version of Hyper-V. Here's why Hyper-V R2's Live Migration is an improvement over Quick Migration, how Microsoft rethought Windows Failover Clustering, and why Microsoft is offering two versions of R2.

An overview of Windows Server 2008 R2 and Hyper-V R2
Rick Vanover's experience using the Hyper-V R2 beta makes this overview a good tool for administrators who are considering deploying Microsoft's new hypervisor. Get an in-depth look at the new features and find out how Hyper-V R2 compares with its predecessor.

How to Implement Cluster Shared Volumes in Hyper-V R2
Get the dish on Cluster Shared Volumes in Hyper-V R2, which enable admins to store multiple virtual machines on a single logical unit number -- solving the problem of Hyper-V disk limitations and resource use. This tip also includes step-by-step instructions for configuring Cluster Shared Volumes in Hyper-V R2.

Hyper-V R2 matches VMware with 64-processor support
Microsoft made big news by announcing that Hyper-V R2 will support 64 logical processors. But still, experts doubt this support will be enough for Microsoft to win over existing VMware customers to R2. Read more about Hyper-V's chances of overcoming the competition.

Microsoft Hyper-V R2 features and comparison guide
Here is another in-depth Hyper-V R2 learning guide. This all-in-one resource provides expert tips, articles, videos and podcasts to help IT professionals determine the best way implement Hyper-V's latest features. Additionally, this comprehensive guide includes comparisons between Microsoft Hyper-V and its virtualization competitors.

Microsoft Hyper-V R2 virtualization news

The Microsoft Hyper-V-vs.-VMware feud has made headlines this year and should only intensify once Hyper-V R2 hits the market. These articles feature the latest Hyper-V R2 news and its effects on the server virtualization market.

Microsoft releases Hyper-V R2 to manufacturing
Microsoft released Hyper-V R2 to manufacturing in July, along with Windows Server 2008 R2 and Windows 7. Microsoft made the final code available for partners to test and install on their hardware and planned to start rolling it out to customers in August. This blog post recaps the run-up to the Hyper-V R2 release and explains the differences between Windows Server 2008 R2 Hyper-V and Hyper-V Server 2008 R2.

Hyper-V R2 release: A turning point in the virtualization hypervisor war?
The Hyper-V R2 release could help Microsoft gain ground in the server virtualization market. Microsoft proponents say the hypervisor's new features make a nice package for customers, but others think VMware's lead is insurmountable.

Microsoft Hyper-V R2 vs. VMware at Worldwide Partner Conference 2009
Two Microsoft partners discuss the Hyper-V vs. VMware battle in this edition of This Week in Virtualization, our weekly news podcast. Dave Sobel, the CEO of Evolve Technologies, and Alan "Skip" Gould, CEO of BrightPlanIT, also talk about the addition of Live Migration and how it will affect the enterprise-readiness of Hyper-V R2.

Microsoft Hyper-V R2 pricing, licensing explained
Hyper-V R2 is bundled free with Windows Server 2008 R2, but it does require an investment in Microsoft System Center -- specifically, System Center Virtual Machine Manager. Use this Hyper-V R2 pricing and licensing guide to learn about the true costs of implementing and operating a Microsoft Hyper-V virtual environment.