Managing Hyper-V Server without the MMC

Why might someone need or want to manage Hyper-V without the Machine Management Console snap-in? Maybe you want to use XP, Server 2003, or a Vista/ Windows 7 Home Premium or lower edition which is not supported by the Hyper-V MMC. This post is most relevant to a Hyper-V™ Server 2008 R2 installation, not Server 2008 R2 with the Hyper-V role.

Four options* for managing the Hyper-V environment:

• PowerGui with the Hyper-V powerpack (Vista, Winows 7, Server 2008 clients)
• PowerShell Management Library for Hyper-V
• Microsoft System Center Virtual Machine Manager (SC VMM) which can be used to manage both Hyper-V and VMware environments
• Hyper-V Management Console by utharam (the evaluation version threw a config error for me when I tried to run it)

* I will leave it as a homework assignment for you to determine which option may work best for you – if any.
photo credit: homard.net / CC BY 2.0

Hyper-V Poster

Slightly off topic, but Microsoft released a complex yet easy to read and informative Server 2008 R2 Hyper-V component architecture poster. A small snapshot of the poster is represented in the image below.

Hyper-V on a USB drive

In preparation for setting up a virtualized development environment on some new iron, I ran across this article series on Hyper-V virtualization in a flash – part 1, and part 2. I was planning on installing the Hyper-V on a separate hard drive, but I think I’ll try this first.

Sadly, my virtualization needs have outgrown my previous process of using client based virtualization like Sun VirtualBox and Microsoft Virtual PC.

Server 2008 Ready for Prime Time?

My recent experience with Windows Server 2008 leaves me wondering if I am just unlucky with Windows latest operating systems or if it just isn't ready for production yet. Understand that my experience with Server 2K8 is on Virtual PC 2007 (for obvious reasons), not a production box. I attempted to start the OS and received nothing but a black screen after the Vista-like progress bar. After booting to Safe-Mode with Networking the OS booted once normally after configuring a set of updates. I attempted to install SQL Server 2008, but after installing the .Net Framework 3.5 SP1, my OS restarted and was booting to a black screen again, even in Safe Mode with Networking. I restarted in Safe Mode without Networking and it gave me an endless "Configuring updates: Stage 3 of 3 - 98% complete. Do not turn off your computer". Seriously, it doesn't end.

It looks like I will be back to the drawing board with Server 2008 to get it working again. Reminds me of my Vista SP1 experience.