Hyper-V

Codenamed Viridian{{cite web |title=Microsoft to ship Windows Server 2008, over time, in eight flavors |url=http://www.zdnet.com/blog/microsoft/microsoft-to-ship-windows-server-2008-over-time-in-eight-flavors/935 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100924135715/http://www.zdnet.com/blog/microsoft/microsoft-to-ship-windows-server-2008-over-time-in-eight-flavors/935 |archive-date=2010-09-24 |access-date=2007-11-13 |website=ZDNet}} and briefly known before its release as Windows Server Virtualization, a beta version was shipped with certain x86-64 editions of Windows Server 2008. The finalized version was released on June 26, 2008 and was delivered through Windows Update.{{cite web|url=http://blogs.technet.com/jhoward/archive/2008/06/26/hyper-v-rtm-announcement-available-today-from-the-microsoft-download-centre.aspx|title=Announcement available from the Microsoft download centre|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080629055418/http://blogs.technet.com/jhoward/archive/2008/06/26/hyper-v-rtm-announcement-available-today-from-the-microsoft-download-centre.aspx|access-date=2008-06-26|archive-date=2008-06-29}} Hyper-V has since been released with every version of Windows Server starting with version 2012,{{cite web | url=http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/server-cloud/hyper-v-server/default.aspx | title=Microsoft Hyper-V Server | publisher=Microsoft | access-date=January 12, 2012 | page=1 | archive-date=October 5, 2013 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131005191113/http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/server-cloud/hyper-v-server/default.aspx | url-status=live }}{{cite web |url=http://www.microsoft.com/download/en/details.aspx?id=20196 |title=Download: Microsoft® Hyper-V™ Server 2008 R2 SP1 - Microsoft Download Center - Download Details |website=Microsoft.com |date=2011-12-04 |access-date=2012-10-07 |archive-date=2012-04-19 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120419062551/http://www.microsoft.com/download/en/details.aspx?id=20196 |url-status=live }} superseding Microsoft Virtual Server, and starting with Windows 8, Hyper-V has been the hardware virtualization component for personal computers, superseding Windows Virtual PC.

{{Multiple image

| image1 = Hyper-V Logo.png

| image2 = Microsoft Hyper-V Server wordmark (2012-2016).png

| caption1 = Former Hyper-V logo

| alt2 =

| caption2 = Former Hyper-V Server wordmark

}}

Microsoft provides Hyper-V through two channels:

1. Part of Windows: Hyper-V is an optional component of Windows Server 2008 and later. It is also available in x64 SKUs of Pro and Enterprise editions of Windows 8, Windows 8.1, Windows 10 and Windows 11.
2. Hyper-V Server: It is a freeware edition of Windows Server with limited functionality and Hyper-V component.{{Cite web|url = http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/evalcenter/evaluate-hyper-v-server-2012-r2|title = Try Hyper-V Server 2012 R2|access-date = 16 February 2015|website = Evaluation Center|publisher = Microsoft|archive-date = 11 July 2020|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20200711164310/http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/evalcenter/evaluate-hyper-v-server-2012-r2|url-status = live}}

Hyper-V Server 2008 was released on October 1, 2008. It consists of Windows Server 2008 Server Core and Hyper-V role; other Windows Server 2008 roles are disabled, and there are limited Windows services.{{cite press release

|url=http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/press/2008/oct08/10-01HyperVRTM08PR.mspx

|title=Microsoft Helps Customers Overcome Barriers to Virtualization and Get Virtual Now

|date=October 1, 2008

|access-date=2008-10-02

|work=PressPass

|publisher=Microsoft

|archive-date=2010-01-18

|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100118145048/http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/press/2008/oct08/10-01HyperVRTM08PR.mspx

|url-status=live

}} Hyper-V Server 2008 is limited to a command-line interface used to configure the host OS, physical hardware, and software. A menu driven CLI interface and some freely downloadable script files simplify configuration. In addition, Hyper-V Server supports remote access via Remote Desktop Connection. However, administration and configuration of the host OS and the guest virtual machines is generally done over the network, using either Microsoft Management Consoles on another Windows computer or System Center Virtual Machine Manager. This allows much easier "point and click" configuration, and monitoring of the Hyper-V Server.

Hyper-V Server 2008 R2 (an edition of Windows Server 2008 R2) was made available in September 2009 and includes Windows PowerShell v2 for greater CLI control. Remote access to Hyper-V Server requires CLI configuration of network interfaces and Windows Firewall. Also using a Windows Vista PC to administer Hyper-V Server 2008 R2 is not fully supported.

Microsoft ended mainstream support of the free version of Hyper-V Server 2019 on January 9, 2024 and extended support will end on January 9, 2029.{{cite web |title=Microsoft Lifecycle |url=https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/lifecycle/products/hyperv-server-2019 |website=Hyper-V Server 2019 - Microsoft Lifecycle |publisher=Microsoft}} Hyper-V Server 2019 will be the last version of the free, standalone product. Hyper-V is still available as a role in Windows Server 2022 and will be supported as long as that operating system is, currently scheduled for end of extended support on October 14, 2031.{{Cite web |title=Windows Server 2022 - Microsoft Lifecycle |url=https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/lifecycle/products/windows-server-2022 |access-date=2024-03-21 |website=learn.microsoft.com |publisher=Microsoft |language=en-us}}

File:Hyper-V.png

Hyper-V implements isolation of virtual machines in terms of a partition. A partition is a logical unit of isolation, supported by the hypervisor, in which each guest operating system executes. There must be at least one parent partition in a hypervisor instance, running a supported version of Windows. The parent partition creates child partitions which host the guest OSs. The Virtualization Service Provider and Virtual Machine Management Service runs in the parent partition and provide support for child partition. A parent partition creates child partitions using the hypercall API, which is the application programming interface exposed by Hyper-V.{{cite web |title=Hyper-V Architecture |date=26 April 2022 |url=https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/virtualization/hyper-v-on-windows/reference/hyper-v-architecture |publisher=Microsoft |accessdate=2023-10-25}}

A child partition does not have access to the physical processor, nor does it handle its real interrupts. Instead, it has a virtual view of the processor and runs in Guest Virtual Address, which, depending on the configuration of the hypervisor, might not necessarily be the entire virtual address space. Depending on VM configuration, Hyper-V may expose only a subset of the processors to each partition. The hypervisor handles the interrupts to the processor, and redirects them to the respective partition using a logical Synthetic Interrupt Controller (SynIC). Hyper-V can hardware accelerate the address translation of Guest Virtual Address-spaces by using second level address translation provided by the CPU, referred to as EPT on Intel and RVI (formerly NPT) on AMD.

Child partitions do not have direct access to hardware resources, but instead have a virtual view of the resources, in terms of virtual devices. Any request to the virtual devices is redirected via the VMBus to the devices in the parent partition, which will manage the requests. The VMBus is a logical channel which enables inter-partition communication. The response is also redirected via the VMBus. If the devices in the parent partition are also virtual devices, it will be redirected further until it reaches the parent partition, where it will gain access to the physical devices. Parent partitions run a Virtualization Service Provider (VSP), which connects to the VMBus and handles device access requests from child partitions. Child partition virtual devices internally run a Virtualization Service Client (VSC), which redirect the request to VSPs in the parent partition via the VMBus. This entire process is transparent to the guest OS.

Virtual devices can also take advantage of a Windows Server Virtualization feature, named Enlightened I/O, for storage, networking and graphics subsystems, among others. Enlightened I/O is a specialized virtualization-aware implementation of high level communication protocols, like SCSI, that allows bypassing any device emulation layer and takes advantage of VMBus directly. This makes the communication more efficient, but requires the guest OS to support Enlightened I/O.

Currently{{when|date=September 2020}} only the following operating systems support Enlightened I/O, allowing them therefore to run faster as guest operating systems under Hyper-V than other operating systems that need to use slower emulated hardware:

• Windows Server 2008 and later
• Windows Vista and later
• Linux with a 3.4 or later kernel{{cite web|title= Staging: hv: storvsc: Move the storage driver out of the staging area|url=https://git.kernel.org/cgit/linux/kernel/git/torvalds/linux.git/commit/?id=89ae7d709357df3a60e81c57613859d91d093ace|access-date=28 December 2015}}
• FreeBSD{{cite web|title=FreeBSD and Microsoft Windows Server Hyper-V support|url=https://wiki.freebsd.org/HyperV|access-date=10 February 2015|archive-date=24 January 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150124052611/https://wiki.freebsd.org/HyperV|url-status=live}}

The Hyper-V role is only available in the x86-64 variants of Standard, Enterprise and Datacenter editions of Windows Server 2008 and later, as well as the Pro, Enterprise and Education editions of Windows 8 and later. On Windows Server, it can be installed regardless of whether the installation is a full or core installation. In addition, Hyper-V can be made available as part of the Hyper-V Server operating system, which is a freeware edition of Windows Server.{{cite web|url=http://www.microsoft.com/hyper-v-server/en/us/faq.aspx|title=Microsoft Hyper-V Server 2008 R2: Frequently Asked Questions|website=Microsoft.com|publisher=Microsoft|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110814081020/https://www.microsoft.com/hyper-v-server/en/us/faq.aspx|archive-date=14 August 2011|url-status=dead}} Either way, the host computer needs the following.{{cite web|url=http://www.microsoft.com/hyper-v-server/en/us/system-requirements.aspx|title=Microsoft Hyper-V Server: System Requirements|website=Microsoft.com|publisher=Microsoft|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100314122522/https://www.microsoft.com/hyper-v-server/en/us/system-requirements.aspx|archive-date=14 March 2010|url-status=dead}}

• CPU with the following technologies:
• NX bit
• x86-64
• Hardware-assisted virtualization (Intel VT-x or AMD-V)
• Second Level Address Translation (in Windows 8 and later){{cite web | url=http://windowsitpro.com/windows-server-2012/q-will-windows-server-2012-hyper-v-require-processor-support-slat | title=Q: Will Windows Server 2012 require the processor to support SLAT? | access-date=November 5, 2011 | author=Thurott, Paul | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170809224210/http://windowsitpro.com/windows-server-2012/q-will-windows-server-2012-hyper-v-require-processor-support-slat | archive-date=August 9, 2017 | url-status=dead }}
• At least 2 GB memory, in addition to what is assigned to each guest machine

The amount of memory assigned to virtual machines depends on the operating system:

• Windows Server 2008 Standard supports up to 31 GB of memory for running VMs, plus 1 GB for the host OS.{{cite web |url=http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/aa366778.aspx#physical_memory_limits_windows_server_2008 |title=Memory Limits for Windows Releases (Windows) |website=Msdn.microsoft.com |access-date=2010-03-02 |archive-date=2009-06-20 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090620072222/http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/aa366778.aspx#physical_memory_limits_windows_server_2008 |url-status=live }}
• Windows Server 2008 R2 Standard supports up to 32 GB, but the Enterprise and Datacenter editions support up to 2 TB.{{cite web |url=http://www.microsoft.com/windowsserver2008/en/us/system-requirements.aspx |title=Microsoft Windows Server 2008 System Requirements |website=Microsoft.com |access-date=2012-10-07 |archive-date=2011-06-12 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110612194218/http://www.microsoft.com/windowsserver2008/en/us/system-requirements.aspx |url-status=live }} Hyper-V Server 2008 R2 supports up to 1 TB.
• Windows Server 2012 supports up to 4 TB.

The number of CPUs assigned to each virtual machine also depends on the OS:

• Windows Server 2008 and 2008 R2 support 1, 2, or 4 CPUs per VM; the same applies to Hyper-V Server 2008 R2
• Windows Server 2012 supports up to 64 CPUs per VM

There is also a maximum for the number of concurrently active virtual machines.

• Windows Server 2008 and 2008 R2 support 384 per server;{{cite web |url=http://www.microsoft.com/servers/hyper-v-server/overview.mspx |title=Microsoft Hyper-V Server: Overview |website=Microsoft.com |access-date=2010-03-02 |archive-date=2012-03-22 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120322234758/http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/server-cloud/hyper-v-server/overview.aspx |url-status=live }} Hyper-V Server 2008 supports the same
• Windows Server 2012 supports 1024 per server; the same applies to Hyper-V Server 2012{{cite web|url=http://download.microsoft.com/download/5/7/8/578E035F-A1A8-4774-B404-317A7ABCF751/Competitive-Advantages-of-Hyper-V-Server-2012-over-VMware-vSphere-Hypervisor.pdf|title=Hyper-V Server whitepaper|access-date=2013-12-21|archive-date=2013-11-07|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131107032411/http://download.microsoft.com/download/5/7/8/578E035F-A1A8-4774-B404-317A7ABCF751/Competitive-Advantages-of-Hyper-V-Server-2012-over-VMware-vSphere-Hypervisor.pdf|url-status=live}}
• Windows Server 2016 supports 8000 per cluster and per node{{cite web|url=https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-server/virtualization/hyper-v/plan/plan-for-hyper-v-scalability-in-windows-server-2016 |title=Plan for Hyper-V scalability in Windows Server 2016 |website=Microsoft.com |access-date=2017-06-22}}

The following table lists supported guest operating systems on Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1.{{cite web |url=https://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc794868(WS.10).aspx |title=About Virtual Machines and Guest Operating Systems |publisher=Microsoft |work=TechNet |date=16 July 2014 |access-date=2016-05-09 |archive-date=2016-05-06 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160506021102/https://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc794868(WS.10).aspx |url-status=live }}

{{Notelist|notes=

{{efn|name=W2K12|Windows Server 2012 is supported and runs only on a host system Windows Server 2008 R2 RTM or SP1, with a hotfix applied.}}

{{efn|name=web-ed|Web edition does not have an x64 version.}}

}}

Fedora 8 or 9 are unsupported; however, they have been reported to run.{{cite web |url=http://blogs.msdn.com/virtual_pc_guy/archive/2007/12/31/installing-fedora-core-8-on-hyper-v.aspx |title=Installing Fedora Core 8 on Hyper-V - Ben Armstrong - Site Home - MSDN Blogs |website=Blogs.msdn.com |date=2008-01-03 |access-date=2012-10-07 |archive-date=2010-02-10 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100210192504/http://blogs.msdn.com/virtual_pc_guy/archive/2007/12/31/installing-fedora-core-8-on-hyper-v.aspx |url-status=live }}{{cite web |last=Sheinberg |first=Brian |url=http://www.crn.com/software/206106715 |title=First Look: Fedora 9 Alpha, Running in Hyper-V Beta |website=Crn.com |date=2008-02-08 |access-date=2012-10-07 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100723103516/http://www.crn.com/software/206106715 |archive-date=2010-07-23 }}{{cite web |url=http://www.haiders.net/post/Install-Ubuntu-710-on-Hyper-V.aspx |title=Install Ubuntu 7.10 on Hyper-V |website=Haiders.net |date=2008-04-04 |access-date=2012-10-07 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090224102523/http://www.haiders.net/post/Install-Ubuntu-710-on-Hyper-V.aspx |archive-date=2009-02-24 |url-status=dead }}

Third-party support for FreeBSD 8.2 and later guests is provided by a partnership between NetApp and Citrix.{{cite web |url=http://blogs.technet.com/b/openness/archive/2012/08/09/available-today-freebsd-support-for-windows-server-hyper-v.aspx#.U4Ie6flT7fI |title=Available Today: FreeBSD Support for Windows Server Hyper-V |publisher=Openness@Microsoft |date=2012-08-09 |access-date=2014-05-25 |archive-date=2014-05-25 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140525213537/http://blogs.technet.com/b/openness/archive/2012/08/09/available-today-freebsd-support-for-windows-server-hyper-v.aspx#.U4Ie6flT7fI |url-status=live }} This includes both emulated and paravirtualized modes of operation, as well as several HyperV integration services.{{cite web |url=https://wiki.freebsd.org/HyperV |title=HyperV - FreeBSD Wiki |website=Freebsd.org |access-date=2014-05-25 |archive-date=2014-07-18 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140718232019/https://wiki.freebsd.org/HyperV |url-status=live }}

Desktop virtualization (VDI) products from third-party companies (such as Quest Software vWorkspace, Citrix XenDesktop, Systancia AppliDis Fusion{{cite web

|url=http://www.datamonitor.com/store/Product/News.aspx?productid=8851481F-71C3-4B2C-8CE8-4F8882343B42

|title=Systancia offers application and desktop virtualization in a single product

|publisher=DataMonitor

}} and Ericom PowerTerm WebConnect) provide the ability to host and centrally manage desktop virtual machines in the data center while giving end users a full PC desktop experience.

Guest operating systems with Enlightened I/O and a hypervisor-aware kernel such as Windows Server 2008 and later server versions, Windows Vista SP1 and later clients and offerings from Citrix XenServer and Novell will be able to use the host resources better since VSC drivers in these guests communicate with the VSPs directly over VMBus.{{cite web |url=http://www.brianmadden.com/content/article/Microsoft-Windows-Server-2008--Hyper-V-solution-overview |title=Microsoft Windows Server 2008 – Hyper-V solution overview - Gabe Knuth |website=BrianMadden.com |access-date=2012-10-07 |archive-date=2008-07-04 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080704104947/http://www.brianmadden.com/content/article/Microsoft-Windows-Server-2008--Hyper-V-solution-overview |url-status=live }} Non-"enlightened" operating systems will run with emulated I/O;{{cite web |last=Stevens |first=Alan |url=http://reviews.zdnet.co.uk/software/os/0,1000001098,39352929,00.htm |title=Microsoft's Hyper-V: why all the fuss? |work=ZDNet |publisher=CBS Interactive |date=2008-02-27 |access-date=2012-10-07 |archive-date=2009-05-15 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090515195552/http://reviews.zdnet.co.uk/software/os/0,1000001098,39352929,00.htm |url-status=dead }} however, integration components (which include the VSC drivers) are available for Windows Server 2003 SP2, Windows Vista SP1 and Linux to achieve better performance.

On July 20, 2009, Microsoft submitted Hyper-V drivers for inclusion in the Linux kernel under the terms of the GPL.{{cite web|url=http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/news/features/2009/jul09/07-20linuxqa.aspx|title=Microsoft Contributes Linux Drivers to Linux Community|last1=Ramji|first1=Sam|last2=Hanrahan|first2=Tom|date=2009-07-20|work=News Center|publisher=Microsoft|access-date=2010-03-02|archive-date=2012-04-18|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120418154719/http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/news/features/2009/jul09/07-20linuxqa.aspx|url-status=live}} Microsoft was required to submit the code when it was discovered that they had incorporated a Hyper-V network driver with GPL-licensed components statically linked to closed-source binaries.{{cite web|url=http://www.zdnet.com/blog/microsoft/pigs-are-flying-low-why-microsoft-open-sourced-its-linux-drivers/3433|title=Pigs are flying low: Why Microsoft open-sourced its Linux drivers|last=Foley|first=Mary Jo|date=2009-07-22|work=ZDNet|publisher=CBS Interactive|access-date=2012-08-07|archive-date=2012-10-12|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121012003043/http://www.zdnet.com/blog/microsoft/pigs-are-flying-low-why-microsoft-open-sourced-its-linux-drivers/3433|url-status=dead}} Kernels beginning with 2.6.32 may include inbuilt Hyper-V paravirtualization support which improves the performance of virtual Linux guest systems in a Windows host environment. Hyper-V provides basic virtualization support for Linux guests out of the box. Paravirtualization support requires installing the Linux Integration Components or Satori InputVSC drivers. Xen-enabled Linux guest distributions may also be paravirtualized in Hyper-V. {{As of|2013}} Microsoft officially supported only SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 10 SP1/SP2 (x86 and x64) in this manner,{{cite web|url=https://www.informationweek.com/software/microsoft-hyper-v-to-flaunt-advanced-virtualization-features/d/d-id/1067181|title=Microsoft Hyper-V To Flaunt Advanced Virtualization Features|last=Babcock|first=Charles|date=2008-04-24|website=Informationweek.com|access-date=2012-10-07|archive-date=2014-09-03|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140903023629/http://www.informationweek.com/software/microsoft-hyper-v-to-flaunt-advanced-virtualization-features/d/d-id/1067181|url-status=live}} though any Xen-enabled Linux should be able to run. In February 2008, Red Hat and Microsoft signed a virtualization pact for hypervisor interoperability with their respective server operating systems, to enable Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5 to be officially supported on Hyper-V.{{cite web|url=https://www.zdnet.com/article/microsoft-and-red-hat-sign-virtualization-pact/|title=Microsoft and Red Hat sign virtualization pact|last=Foley|first=Mary Jo|date=2009-02-16|work=ZDNet|publisher=CBS Interactive|access-date=2012-10-07|archive-date=2016-02-08|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160208174819/http://www.zdnet.com/article/microsoft-and-red-hat-sign-virtualization-pact/|url-status=live}}

Hyper-V in Windows Server 2012 and Windows Server 2012 R2 changes the support list above as follows:{{cite web | url=https://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/hh831531.aspx | title=Hyper-V Overview | work=TechNet | publisher=Microsoft | access-date=October 5, 2012 | archive-date=September 15, 2012 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120915095909/http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/hh831531.aspx | url-status=live }}

1. Hyper-V in Windows Server 2012 adds support for Windows 8.1 (up to 32 CPUs) and Windows Server 2012 R2 (64 CPUs); Hyper-V in Windows Server 2012 R2 adds support for Windows 10 (32 CPUs) and Windows Server 2016 (64 CPUs).
2. Minimum supported version of CentOS is 6.0.
3. Minimum supported version of Red Hat Enterprise Linux is 5.7.
4. Maximum number of supported CPUs for Windows Server and Linux operating systems is increased from four to 64.

Hyper-V on Windows Server 2012 R2 added the Generation 2 VM.{{Cite web|last=Archiveddocs|title=Generation 2 Virtual Machine Overview|url=https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/previous-versions/windows/it-pro/windows-server-2012-r2-and-2012/dn282285(v=ws.11)|access-date=2021-01-19|website=docs.microsoft.com|date=25 October 2016 |language=en-us|archive-date=2021-01-26|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210126112238/https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/previous-versions/windows/it-pro/windows-server-2012-R2-and-2012/dn282285(v=ws.11)|url-status=live}}

Hyper-V, like Microsoft Virtual Server and Windows Virtual PC, saves each guest OS to a single virtual hard disk file. It supports the older .vhd format, as well as the newer .vhdx. Older .vhd files from Virtual Server 2005, Virtual PC 2004 and Virtual PC 2007 can be copied and used in Hyper-V, but any old virtual machine integration software (equivalents of Hyper-V Integration Services) must be removed from the virtual machine. After the migrated guest OS is configured and started using Hyper-V, the guest OS will detect changes to the (virtual) hardware. Installing "Hyper-V Integration Services" installs five services to improve performance, at the same time adding the new guest video and network card drivers.

Hyper-V does not virtualize audio hardware. Before Windows 8.1 and Windows Server 2012 R2, it was possible to work around this issue by connecting to the virtual machine with Remote Desktop Connection over a network connection and use its audio redirection feature.{{cite web|last1=Otey|first1=Michael|title=Guest VM Audio Support under Hyper-V|url=http://windowsitpro.com/t-sql/guest-vm-audio-support-under-hyper-v|website=Windows IT Pro|publisher=Penton Media|access-date=21 September 2014|date=24 June 2008|archive-date=21 October 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141021072158/http://windowsitpro.com/t-sql/guest-vm-audio-support-under-hyper-v|url-status=live}}{{cite web|title=Enable Audio in Windows 2008 guest machines running on HyperV|url=http://blogs.technet.com/b/akshat/archive/2011/04/07/enable-audio-in-windows-2008-guest-machines-running-on-hyperv.aspx|website=Akshat's Blog|publisher=Microsoft|access-date=21 September 2014|date=7 April 2011|archive-date=21 October 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141021201609/http://blogs.technet.com/b/akshat/archive/2011/04/07/enable-audio-in-windows-2008-guest-machines-running-on-hyperv.aspx|url-status=live}} Windows 8.1 and Windows Server 2012 R2 add the enhanced session mode which provides redirection without a network connection.{{cite web|last1=Gear|first1=Gavin|title=Overview: Client Hyper-V Enhanced Session Mode in Windows 8.1|url=http://blogs.windows.com/bloggingwindows/2013/12/05/overview-client-hyper-v-enhanced-session-mode-in-windows-8-1/|website=Blogging Windows|publisher=Microsoft|access-date=21 September 2014|date=5 December 2013|archive-date=15 October 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141015234829/http://blogs.windows.com/bloggingwindows/2013/12/05/overview-client-hyper-v-enhanced-session-mode-in-windows-8-1/|url-status=dead}}

Optical drives virtualized in the guest VM are read-only.{{cite web |url=http://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/winserverhyperv/thread/216845b2-faf4-4c4c-b3d2-8ed1ba72f906/ |first=John Paul |last=Cook |title=DVD writer on Hyper-V server |work=TechNet Forums |publisher=Microsoft |access-date=2012-10-07 |archive-date=2012-03-23 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120323211211/http://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/winserverhyperv/thread/216845b2-faf4-4c4c-b3d2-8ed1ba72f906/ |url-status=dead }} Officially Hyper-V does not support the host/root operating system's optical drives to pass-through in guest VMs. As a result, burning to discs, audio CDs, video CD/DVD-Video playback are not supported; however, a workaround exists using the iSCSI protocol. Setting up an iSCSI target on the host machine with the optical drive can then be talked to by the standard Microsoft iSCSI initiator. Microsoft produces their own iSCSI Target software or alternative third party products can be used.{{cite web |url=http://www.mark-gilbert.co.uk/using-full-dvdcd-writing-capabilities-in-a-hyper-v-vm/ |title=Using Full DVD/CD Writing Capabilities in a Hyper-V VM | Mark Gilbert's Blog |website=Mark-gilbert.co.uk |date=2012-09-05 |access-date=2015-01-18 |archive-date=2016-05-09 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160509134319/http://www.mark-gilbert.co.uk/using-full-dvdcd-writing-capabilities-in-a-hyper-v-vm/ |url-status=live }}

Hyper-V uses the VT-x on Intel or AMD-V on AMD x86 virtualization. Since Hyper-V is a native hypervisor, as long as it is installed, third-party software cannot use VT-x or AMD-V. For instance, the Intel HAXM Android device emulator (used by Android Studio or Microsoft Visual Studio) cannot run while Hyper-V is installed.{{cite web|last1=Syrewicze|first1=Andy|title=VMware vs. Hyper-V: Architectural Differences|url=http://syrewiczeit.com/vmware-vs-hyper-v-architectural-differences/|website=Syrewiczeit.com|publisher=Self-published|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180225023405/http://syrewiczeit.com/vmware-vs-hyper-v-architectural-differences/|archive-date=February 25, 2018|date=October 2, 2013|access-date=2019-01-18}}

Hyper-V is also available in x64 SKUs of Windows 8, 8.1, 10 Pro, Enterprise, Education. The following features are not available on client versions of Windows:{{Cite web |last= |date=2024-08-12 |title=Introduction to Hyper-V on Windows |url=https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/virtualization/hyper-v-on-windows/about/#differences-between-hyper-v-on-windows-and-hyper-v-on-windows-server |access-date=2024-10-15 |website=learn.microsoft.com |language=en-us}}

• Live migration of virtual machines from one host to another
• Hyper-V Replica
• Virtual Fiber Channel
• SR-IOV networking
• Shared .VHDX

The following features are not available on server versions of Windows:

• Quick Create and the VM Gallery
• Default network (NAT switch)

Windows Server 2012 introduced many new features in Hyper-V.{{cite web | url=http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/server-cloud/windows-server/server-virtualization-features.aspx | title=Server Virtualization Features | publisher=Microsoft | access-date=October 5, 2012 | archive-date=October 14, 2012 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121014111130/http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/server-cloud/windows-server/server-virtualization-features.aspx | url-status=live }}

• Hyper-V Extensible Virtual Switch{{cite web | url=http://channel9.msdn.com/Events/BUILD/BUILD2011/SAC-437T | title=A deep dive into Hyper-V Networking (Video and Slides) | access-date=2011-09-22 | archive-date=2012-03-10 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120310223842/http://channel9.msdn.com/Events/BUILD/BUILD2011/SAC-437T | url-status=live }}{{cite web | url=http://channel9.msdn.com/Events/BUILD/BUILD2011/SAC-559T | title=Extending the Hyper-V switch (Video and Slides) | access-date=2012-05-10 | archive-date=2012-05-23 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120523032125/http://channel9.msdn.com/events/BUILD/BUILD2011/SAC-559T | url-status=live }}
• Network virtualization
• Multi-tenancy
• Storage Resource Pools
• .vhdx disk format supporting virtual hard disks as large as 64 TB{{cite web | url=https://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/hh831446 | title=Hyper-V Virtual Hard Disk Format Overview | work=TechNet | publisher=Microsoft | access-date=August 25, 2012 | archive-date=August 27, 2012 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120827192738/http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/hh831446 | url-status=live }} with power failure resiliency
• Virtual Fibre Channel
• Offloaded data transfer
• Virtual Machine Queue (VMQ)
• Hyper-V replica{{cite web | last=Reseller | first=Mike | title=Hyper-V Replica in depth | url=http://hyperv.veeam.com/hyper-v-replica-depth-5357/ | publisher=Veeam Software | access-date=2014-11-14 | archive-date=2014-11-29 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141129011928/http://hyperv.veeam.com/hyper-v-replica-depth-5357/ | url-status=live }}
• Cross-premises connectivity
• Cloud backup

With Windows Server 2012 R2 Microsoft introduced another set of new features.{{Cite web|url=https://technet.microsoft.com/en-GB/library/dn282278.aspx|title=What's New in Hyper-V for Windows Server 2012 R2|website=Technet.microsoft.com|access-date=2016-04-26|archive-date=2016-06-03|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160603072913/https://technet.microsoft.com/en-GB/library/dn282278.aspx|url-status=live}}

• Shared virtual hard disk{{Cite web|url=https://technet.microsoft.com/en-GB/library/dn282278.aspx#bkmk_sharedvhd|title=What's New in Hyper-V for Windows Server 2012 R2|website=Technet.microsoft.com|access-date=2016-04-26|archive-date=2016-06-03|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160603072913/https://technet.microsoft.com/en-GB/library/dn282278.aspx#bkmk_sharedvhd|url-status=live}}
• Storage quality of service{{Cite web|url=https://technet.microsoft.com/en-GB/library/dn282278.aspx#bkmk_storage_qos|title=What's New in Hyper-V for Windows Server 2012 R2|website=Technet.microsoft.com|access-date=2016-04-26|archive-date=2016-06-03|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160603072913/https://technet.microsoft.com/en-GB/library/dn282278.aspx#bkmk_storage_qos|url-status=live}}
• Generation 2 Virtual Machine{{Cite web|url=https://technet.microsoft.com/en-GB/library/dn282278.aspx#bkmk_generation|title=What's New in Hyper-V for Windows Server 2012 R2|website=Technet.microsoft.com|access-date=2016-04-26|archive-date=2016-06-03|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160603072913/https://technet.microsoft.com/en-GB/library/dn282278.aspx#bkmk_generation|url-status=live}}
• Enhanced session mode{{Cite web|url=https://technet.microsoft.com/en-GB/library/dn282278.aspx#bkmk_enhanced_session|title=What's New in Hyper-V for Windows Server 2012 R2|website=Technet.microsoft.com|access-date=2016-04-26|archive-date=2016-06-03|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160603072913/https://technet.microsoft.com/en-GB/library/dn282278.aspx#bkmk_enhanced_session|url-status=live}}
• Automatic virtual machine activation{{Cite web|url=https://technet.microsoft.com/en-GB/library/dn282278.aspx#bkmk_AVMA|title=What's New in Hyper-V for Windows Server 2012 R2|website=Technet.microsoft.com|access-date=2016-04-26|archive-date=2016-06-03|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160603072913/https://technet.microsoft.com/en-GB/library/dn282278.aspx#bkmk_AVMA|url-status=live}}

Hyper-V in Windows Server 2016 and Windows 10 1607 adds{{Cite web |url=https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-server/virtualization/hyper-v/what-s-new-in-hyper-v-on-windows |title=What's new in Hyper-V on Windows Server 2016 |website=Docs.microsoft.com |access-date=2017-10-27 |archive-date=2017-10-28 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171028094117/https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-server/virtualization/hyper-v/what-s-new-in-hyper-v-on-windows |url-status=live }}

• Nested virtualization{{Cite web |url=https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/virtualization/hyper-v-on-windows/user-guide/nested-virtualization |title=Run Hyper-V in a Virtual Machine with Nested Virtualization |website=Docs.microsoft.com |access-date=2017-10-27 |archive-date=2017-10-28 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171028093831/https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/virtualization/hyper-v-on-windows/user-guide/nested-virtualization |url-status=live }} (Intel processors only, both the host and guest instances of Hyper-V must be Windows Server 2016 or Windows 10 or later)
• Discrete Device Assignment (DDA), allowing direct pass-through of compatible PCI Express devices to guest Virtual Machines{{Cite web |url=https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-server/virtualization/hyper-v/what-s-new-in-hyper-v-on-windows |title=What's new in Hyper-V on Windows Server 2016 |website=Docs.microsoft.com |access-date=2019-02-21 |archive-date=2019-01-13 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190113201622/https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-server/virtualization/hyper-v/What-s-new-in-Hyper-V-on-Windows |url-status=live }}
• Windows containers (to achieve isolation at the app level rather than the OS level)
• Shielded VMs using [https://software.intel.com/en-us/articles/intel-software-guard-extensions-remote-attestation-end-to-end-example#circle-of-trust remote attestation servers]
• Monitoring of host CPU resource utilization by guests and protection (limiting CPU usage by guests)

Hyper-V in Windows Server 2019 and Windows 10 1809 adds{{Cite web |url=https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-server/get-started-19/whats-new-19 |title=What's new in Windows Server 2019 |website=Docs.microsoft.com |access-date=2019-02-21 |archive-date=2019-03-27 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190327195215/https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-server/get-started-19/whats-new-19 |url-status=live }}

• Shielded Virtual Machines improvements including Linux compatibility
• Virtual Machine Encrypted Networks
• vSwitch Receive Segment Coalescing
• Dynamic Virtual Machine Multi-Queue (d. VMMQ)
• Persistent Memory support
• Significant feature and performance improvements to Storage Spaces Direct and Failover Clustering

Hyper-V in Windows Server 2022 added:{{Cite web |url=https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-server/get-started/whats-new-in-windows-server-2022 |title=What's new in Windows Server 2022 |website=learn.microsoft.com |date=10 July 2024 |access-date=2024-08-20}}

• nested virtualization for AMD processors
• updated Receive Segment Coalescing (RSC) for virtual switches

Hyper-V in Windows Server 2025 changes:{{Cite web |url=https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-server/get-started/whats-new-windows-server-2025 |title=What's new in Windows Server 2025 |website=learn.microsoft.com |access-date=2024-08-20}}

• Generation 2 is now the default option in the New Virtual Machine Wizard in Hyper-V Manager
• GPU Partitioning (share a GPU between VMs)
• Hypervisor-enforced paging translation (HPVT)
• Support for 4 petabytes of memory and 2,048 logical processors per Hyper-V host
• Workgroup clusters (support for failover clusters without an Active Directory)

• Comparison of platform virtualization software
• Features new to Windows 8
• Virtual disk image
• Microsoft Open Specification Promise
• Microsoft Remote Web Workplace
• Virtual private server
• Windows Subsystem for Linux

{{Reflist}}

{{refbegin}}

1. {{cite web |url=https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/virtualization/hyper-v-on-windows/reference/tlfs |title=Hypervisor Top Level Functional Specification |publisher=Microsoft |year=2016 |access-date=2017-04-04 |archive-date=2017-04-05 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170405165910/https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/virtualization/hyper-v-on-windows/reference/tlfs |url-status=live }}
2. {{cite web |first=Dimitri |last=Koens |url=http://www.dimensionit.tv/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/Hyper-V-Quick-Reference-v2-00.pdf |title=Hyper-V Quick Reference |publisher=Dimension IT TV |year=2013 |access-date=2017-04-04 |archive-date=2016-03-26 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160326212125/http://www.dimensionit.tv/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/Hyper-V-Quick-Reference-v2-00.pdf |url-status=live }}
3. {{cite web |last=Howard |first=John |title=WinHEC 2006 Presentation slides |url=http://blogs.technet.com/b/virtualization/archive/2006/06/14/winhec-2006-slides.aspx |work=Virtualization Blog |publisher=Microsoft |year=2006 |access-date=2017-04-04 |archive-date=2015-12-20 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151220113053/http://blogs.technet.com/b/virtualization/archive/2006/06/14/winhec-2006-slides.aspx |url-status=dead }}
4. {{cite web |last=Radzikowski |first=Przemek |title=Benchmarking Hyper-V on Windows Server 2008 R2 x64 |url=http://capitalhead.com/articles/benchmarking-hyper-v-on-windows-server-2008-r2-x64.aspx |year=2009 |access-date=2017-04-04 |archive-date=2017-04-23 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170423073042/http://capitalhead.com/articles/benchmarking-hyper-v-on-windows-server-2008-r2-x64.aspx |url-status=dead }}
5. {{Cite book |first1=Brien |last1=Posey |first2=Pete |last2=Zerger |first3=Chris |last3=Henley |url=http://hyperv.veeam.com/guide-posey-henley-zerger-understanding-hyper-v-in-windows-server-2012/ |title=The Hands-on Guide: Understanding Hyper-V in Windows Server 2012 |publisher=Veeam Software |year=2013 |access-date=2017-04-04 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140413193323/http://hyperv.veeam.com/guide-posey-henley-zerger-understanding-hyper-v-in-windows-server-2012/ |archive-date=2014-04-13 |url-status=dead }}

{{refend}}

{{Wikiversity|Hyper-V}}

• {{Official website|www.microsoft.com/hyper-v}}
• [https://technet.microsoft.com/library/dn800994.aspx Virtualization Fabric Design Considerations Guide]
• [https://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/windowsserver/dd448604 Hyper-V] on Microsoft TechNet
• [http://capitalhead.com/articles/benchmarking-hyper-v-on-windows-server-2008-r2-x64.aspx Benchmarking Hyper-V on Windows Server 2008 R2 x64] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170423073042/http://capitalhead.com/articles/benchmarking-hyper-v-on-windows-server-2008-r2-x64.aspx |date=2017-04-23 }}
• [http://www.serhatakinci.com/?p=1559 Hyper-V Architecture]
• [https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-server/windows-admin-center Windows Admin Center]
• [https://www.hv-manager.org/ Hv Manager]

{{Virtualization products}}

{{Windows Components}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:Virtualization software

Category:Windows components

Category:Windows Server