Since time immemorial, the release cycles of Hyper-V are the Windows versions bound, so that innovations and rarely come in spurts. With Windows Server 2012, the Microsoft explicitly positioned as a comprehensive platform for private cloud, wins the hypervisor important: He is the driving force behind the virtualization of servers and desktops based on Windows.
Hyper-V 2012
• Hyper-V is a BareMetal hypervisor.
• The Hyper-V Switch extends the networking capabilities of the hypervisor.
• The new file format offers VHDX considerably more disk space for each virtual hard disk
• Hyper-V can delegate storing data to compatible storage systems.
• The sconfig command line is used as setup and configuration tool.
• Hyper-V is installed as a server role through Server Manager
To be against the powerful competition, most notably VMware, say, Microsoft has invested in the expansion of the art and the deeper integration of Hyper-V with the operating system, infrastructure and management solutions. In all important segments Hyper-V has been heavily drilled. It offers about improved live migration features, better scaling, and greater flexibility in networking with network virtualization techniques, advanced storage features as well as a package of new features that will greatly simplify the use in cloud environments.
To date, there is Microsoft failed to make VMware leadership dispute in the market for the x86 server virtualization. The age of four relatively young products Hyper-V offered so far mainly medium-sized enterprises a good basis for entry into the server virtualization, however, could not survive in large and very large installations against VMware. So the Magic Quadrant Gartner does Hyper-V at No. 2 in the market behind VMware positioned. Due to the new release and the integration with Windows Server 2012, the chase but currently accelerates.
Hyper-V - full solution for virtualization
Hyper-V Release 3 rises to the challenges of large installations, which often operate under the name of Private Cloud and on which they run all kinds of applications, with comprehensive improvements in scaling in scale-up and scale-out scenarios. The performance data have been raised to a level that can exploit the capabilities of today's server hardware much better. This is reflected, among other things in new maximum values for virtual resources:
- Up to 160 logical processors and 2 TB RAM per host
- Up to 64 virtual CPUs and 1TB RAM per virtual machine
The better scalability is also raising the maximum number of nodes in a Windows cluster to date from 16 to 63. Such a future full-fledged cluster can run up to 4000 VMs simultaneously.
To allow virtual machines as needed (e.g. for maintenance) or automatically (for load balancing) flexibly migrate from one computer to another, is one of the key functions of the so-called live migration. Only this technology makes server virtualization as a probate concept for mission-critical server. So far, the technological hurdles were this high. The new Hyper-V release has the technical requirements now reduced significantly to make the technology, even for small companies affordable and manageable.
Live Migration provides Hyper-V only since Windows Server 2008 R2, which provided for the necessary Cluster File System Cluster Shared Volumes (CSV). Storage-sided had to be present for this purpose a SAN and a Windows cluster. The new Hyper-V release introduces a simpler alternatives. This includes on the one hand, that, thanks to 3 SMB File Server on Windows Server 2012 can be used as shared storage and for no SAN is required. In addition, forced to set up a cluster is omitted because a migration of VMs is also possible between individual hosts.
IT Trend Technologies - The Importance
Desktop virtualization has when it comes to relevance clear, even in smaller companies.
IT Trend technologies - the main advantages
Technologies its advantages will be seen, are also used.
IT Trend technology - currently in use
Cloud Computing is currently playing a subordinate role for smaller companies.
IT Trend technologies - the use and planned
BYOD will probably continue to increase, particularly in larger companies.
IT Trend technologies - this plan the company
Cloud computing will play an increasingly important role in large enterprises.
Another innovation that benefits primarily small installations is the ability to migrate VMs complete without Shared Storage. This shared-nothing live migration works on local hard disks. VMware vSphere 5.1 as has been the option Enhanced VMotion, which implements the same functionality.
When Live Migration Microsoft brings Windows Server in after 2012 some of what VMware has for some time. This includes the option to migrate multiple virtual machines in parallel. In addition, it is possible to migrate VMs certain equip with a higher priority. The new Hyper-V takes the introduction of Storage Live Migration on this point with the same VMware.
With the VM replication (Hyper-V Replica) implemented Microsoft also a feature for disaster recovery: It selected VMs to another host, which is typically located in a different location, transfer. This transfer is based on snapshots and provides minor technical requirements (no SAN is required), so that this technique can be practiced by smaller companies.
Hyper-V 2012 Engineering and Architecture
The core of Hyper-V is the hypervisor - a slim abstraction layer that runs directly on the hardware ("bare metal virtualization"). To control as well as providing the driver the parent OS or root partition is responsible - a slim Windows Server 2012 operating system installation with all necessary tools, which starts from the Hypervisor during the boot process. The VMs or guest systems - Microsoft also called Child Partitions - are controlled and administrated by the privileged root partition. The virtual machines are optimized by means of the Integration Services software package for the virtual operation. The kernel of the VMs is thereby slightly modified so that memory and CPU functions are passed directly through the hypercall API to the real hardware. Disk and network traffic while running via VMBus and the root OS and be passed there through the normal device driver for the hardware.
As an alternative to this paravirtualization mode, guests can also run fully virtualized Hyper-V makes use of the virtualization support the CPU. With their help can the Child partition thus modified, but operate with some performance penalty.
Network virtualization optimized cloud capabilities and high availability
Cloud environments place particular demands on the design of secure and flexible management of the underlying networks. The purpose widespread VLAN technology uses especially in complex setups with several clients or customers usually too short.
Hyper-V based on Windows Server 2012 provides a component for flexible network virtualization available to just eliminate known weaknesses in VLANs: The Hyper-V virtual switch is a functional package, with which private, internal and external can configure networks that connect VMs with other VMs, the host or physical networks. This abstraction layer helps decouple virtual workloads from internal IP addresses; server disconnects from network administration and allows the flexible assignment of workloads across servers.
A central feature of Hyper-V Networking is the so-called Address Mobility, which ensures that the internal IP address of a VM can be maintained even when it is migrated to a host with an external cloud provider. The new multi-client capability of Hyper-V guarantees that there are no conflicts with other VMs customer occur, using the same IP address.
So far, the range of functions of the virtual switch was invariably fixed, in Hyper-V 3.0, however it can be extended by plugins. This allows partners, this network component to add additional services, for example, add-ons for monitoring or for security, as firewalls or tools to protect against DoS attacks .
The new Hyper-V also takes care of the very important network performance: The data throughput was improved so much that can reach up to 95 percent of the performance of the physical infrastructure, according to Microsoft Hyper-V VMs. By means of the new NIC teaming can be multiple network connections summarize what enables load balancing across multiple network interface cards, and can increase reliability, in particular since the teams either set on VM or host level.
Microsoft has incorporated brand-new technologies in the new hypervisor. This includes Single Root I / O Virtualization. This technique, which must be supported both by the BIOS and by the hypervisor, allows a PCI device as multiple instances appear himself. For example, a Gigabit network card so as 256 virtual NICs appear, each of which is a separate network connection available. In addition to more flexibility so the higher throughput rates are achieved.
The bundle of Hyper-V and Windows 2012 provides the appropriate configuration for complete redundancy of all layers: from the redundant hardware design within clusters in conjunction with live migration via IO redundancy using load balancing and multipathing on networking and storage level on Application - / service failover through to the out-of-the-box disaster recovery solution using Hyper-V Replica.
Hyper-V: Extensive improvements in high availability
• Windows NIC Teaming
• Continuously Available File Server (SMB) storage
• CSV 2.0 integration with storage arrays for Replication & HW snapshots
• Guest cluster via Fiber Channel
• Parallel Live Migration, Live Storage Migration
• Failover Cluster improvements
• Cluster-Aware Updates
• VM failover priorities configurable
• Anti-Affinity VM rule configuration
• Modern storage technologies ex works
• In hardly any other area is to develop techniques for Virtualization currently faster than in terms of further storage. Microsoft also has the topics storage, IO performance and flexibility dedicated to the management:
• VHDX triggers from VHD format as Virtual Disk. It supports files up to 16TB instead of 2 TB, to be robust, and provide significantly better read and write rates.
The new snapshot feature now allows the merging of the data stored in snapshots changes with a parent VM (Online Merge), without the virtual machine must be shut down for this purpose, as was the case in the previous version.
Additional enhancements include the so-called Offloaded Data Transfer (ODX), in which the hypervisor can pass certain tasks such as copying or moving VMs to compatible storage systems. These then communicate directly with each other (see diagram ODX), the Hyper-V host is largely relieved in this way also can be achieved in different write operations of enormous speed increases, for example, when creating a virtual disk. VMware provides this technology through the vStorage API provide. In both cases, the storage vendor must support these functions explicitly.
Newly added feature is the support for Fibre Channel in Hyper-V VMs with up to four virtual HBAs per host. Previously you could discs are directly attributable to only about iSCSI. VMs can also boot both SANs using iSCSI and Fibre Channel via. With DSM and SMB Microsoft also supports multipath IO.
Hyper V 2012: editions with a free option
In 2013 the following applies: Hyper-V is available in two flavors - a free standalone Microsoft Hyper-V Server 2012 as well as an installable server role based on Windows Server 2012 or Server of 2008.
The hypervisor technology is the same in both cases and the free edition has all the features to the full product. Since this is in the Hyper-V Server is a variant of Server Core is that is limited to the Hyper-V role, the installation runs with two alternatives from similar, the first device via a text-based graphical user interface (sconfig ).
Essentially, the management options are circumcised during free hypervisor. For remote management of VMs to Hyper-V Server 2012 Hyper-V Manager under Windows 8 or a full-fledged Windows Server 2012 are available.
Because Windows Server 2012 includes the rights to run the operating system in virtual machines, this would have to be purchased separately but the free Hyper-V Server 2012, the product is suitable primarily for virtualizing desktops or Linux . On the other hand, may be for some users an interesting, because low-cost scenario revealed by 2008/2008 R2 virtualize their existing, licensed Windows Server at no additional license costs based on Hyper-V Server 2012 and can benefit from all the new features.
Hyper-V Server 2012 can be downloaded from Microsoft's website after registering.
More flexible installation
Hyper-V as a role in Windows Server 2012 offers a variety of flexible installation options. In addition to the installation of a roller through the built in Windows Server 2012 Server Manager, it is now also possible to Hyper-V to install over the network . With remote management tools, this can be also a Windows 8 PC (Pro / Enterprise) from accomplished.
Alternatively, can also be installed via the command line program dism.exe Hyper-V. This is useful mainly on core servers or to automate installation. Similar possibilities also provides the Windows PowerShell cmdlets with special Hyper-V. So the command "Install-WindowsFeature" Hyper-V installed the appropriate server role.
VMM 2012 SP1 opens up new Hyper-V features
With the recently released Service Pack 1 for the Virtual Machine Manager (VMM) in 2012 as part of System Center 2012 Microsoft opens all advanced virtualization capabilities that VMM previously in conjunction with Hyper-V 2008 R2 provided.
These include the generally higher scalability, so that VMs with more vCPUs and vRAM be set up than before. In addition, the use of the new format for virtual disks (VHDX) or the cluster with up to 64 nodes. The SP1 also updated the multi-platform support of VMM by managing vSphere 5.1 and Citrix XenServer 6.0 allowed. With Microsoft System Center plays out an important management strength against VMware and Citrix, as this dominates the administrator to centrally manage not only the virtual but also the physical resources (hosts and network).
To day, the lack of opportunities for automation of Hyper-V were considered major weakness when it comes to management. Again, Microsoft has reworked: The existing PowerShell is part of Hyper-V is now supplemented by more than 160 so-called cmdlets, summarize the typical administrative tasks in a few commands and thus make automated using simple scripts - a technique, as has long been known from VMware and Citrix , Example: The command "New-VM -Name Test" creates a new VM named "test".
BareMetal hypervisor on the Windows desktop
An interesting innovation on the desktop is the option now Hyper-V as BareMetal hypervisor on a Windows 8 PC to install. Hyper-V replaces the outdated VirtualPC virtualizer which no longer can be installed on Windows 8. Windows 8 Hyper-V is based on the same code as its counterpart in Windows Server 2012, but has not all its features. It lacks the support for live migration or Hyper-V Replica. From the server, the client hypervisor technology, however, has inherited the high scalability, so that he at the maximum possible resources and facilities for VMs , for example, VMware Workstation significantly outperforms .
Hyper V 2012: Licensing
Nothing Changes to the licensing process compared with the previous Windows and Hyper-V editions:
"Hyper-V Server 2012" is available free of charge. For the virtualized Windows systems, each relevant licenses must be available.
"Windows Server 2012 Standard" includes licenses for two VMs, provided that the computer is only used for virtualization. Be used on the server roles or other services except the hypervisor, reduces the number of VM licenses to one.
The "Windows Server 2012 Datacenter Edition" allows an unlimited number of Hyper-V VMs. The Datacenter Edition is then the more economical alternative when a Standard Edition would be expanded by more than 10 VM licenses.
Both editions are royalty technically limited to two physical CPUs.
When operating a Hyper-V cluster with use of Live Migration is important to note that a highly available VM must be licensed on each participating server. Example: a total of 10 licenses are needed for two servers, each with two physical processors and a total of five VMs in the Hyper-V Cluster or 5 licenses Windows Server 2012 Standard.
Conclusion
Hyper-V has grown up. With the recent release, it provides a very good alternative for the virtualization of Windows systems - be they servers or desktops. Other operating systems such as Linux , however, not part of the focus, the other can far better.
With the enhancements and improvements, especially in the areas of scaling, storage and network support, and manage your Microsoft brings in virtualization technologies field to powerful. Hyper-V is now recommended for larger and more complex virtualization projects and cloud projects.
The controversy over the supremacy is thus increasingly becoming a head-to-head race. While the feature comparison of vSphere 5 with Hyper-V 2008 R2 still clearly emanated in favor of VMware, Microsoft is catching up with the latest version of its software. Without overlooking the smallest detail can be but hardly tell where VMware still has the nose forward or where Hyper-V already has more. The jungle of different editions, feature descriptions and marketing statements helps the Virtualization matrix by Andreas Grothe to thin.
Pro Hyper-V 2012
Integration with the Windows Server platform, allowing easy installation and routine management options,extensive features,comprehensive management options,free options and Price advantages over other vendors by integrating with the operating system.
Contra Hyper-V 2012
• Little support for non-Windows operating systems
• little interoperability with other virtualization vendors / technologies
• centralized management (System Center 2012 / VMM) must be purchased separately
• long Innovation / release cycles.
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