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We all know Hyper-V has improved a lot and being considered as number one hypervisor in today’s technology world. Windows 2012 R2 has enhanced more features.

I have been spending some time to know more improvements and new features. I am sharing the same here with few learning links in the end.

 

Improvements and New features:

1. Online Disk size change: Now we can change the disk size even if VM is in use and production. This can be done by simple 3 steps. Edit disk in Hyper-V Manager, edit the size of the vhdx file and extend the volume. Earlier we had required to shut down the VMs. This is an awesome change. Another factor to easy the system administrator headache.
   

    

2. Resource Metering: It enables hosting providers to quickly and cost-efficiently create a more advanced, reliable, usage-based billing solution that adjusts to the provider’s business model and strategy. It can help in getting the metrics for the following resources used by a VM during a specific period of time:
   
   1. Average CPU usage, measured in megahertz over a period of time.
      
   2. Average physical memory usage, measured in megabytes.
      
   3. Minimum memory usage (lowest amount of physical memory).
      
   4. Maximum memory usage (highest amount of physical memory).
      
   5. Maximum amount of disk space allocated to a virtual machine.
      
   6. Total incoming network traffic, measured in megabytes, for a virtual network adapter.
      
   7. Total outgoing network traffic, measured in megabytes, for a virtual network adapter.
      

    

3. Smart Paging: In the dynamic memory allocation the following 3 configuration will allow you servers to start even if the memory is not enough to run them.
   

            Minimum RAM – The minimum amount of RAM that a VM requires in order to work.

Startup RAM – The amount of RAM required during boot. This may well be higher than the minimum and increasing this will ensure a VM boots faster.

Maximum RAM – The maximum amount of RAM a VM requires in order to work.

 

here

 

 

 

 

 

      -You can configure extended replication. In extended replication, your Replica server forwards information about changes that occur on the primary virtual machines to a third server (the extended Replica server). After a planned or unplanned failover from the primary server to the Replica server, the extended Replica server provides further business continuity protection. As with ordinary replication, you configure extended replication by using Hyper-V Manager, Windows PowerShell, or WMI.

      -The frequency of replication, which previously was a fixed value, is now configurable. You can also access recovery points for 24 hours. Previous versions had access to recovery points for only 15 hours.

           -Boot from a SCSI virtual hard disk

           -Boot from a SCSI virtual DVD

          -PXE boot by using a standard network adapter

         -UEFI firmware support

 

 

 

 

 

14. Automatic Virtual Machine Activation: Automatic Virtual Machine Activation (AVMA) lets you install virtual machines on a computer where Windows Server 2012 R2 is properly activated without having to manage product keys for each individual virtual machine, even in disconnected environments. AVMA binds the virtual machine activation to the licensed virtualization server and activates the virtual machine when it starts. AVMA also provides real-time reporting on usage, and historical data on the license state of the virtual machine. Reporting and tracking data is available on the virtualization server.

 

 

 

 

Links to know more:

3 kind of virtual Networks – http://blogs.technet.com/b/jhoward/archive/2008/06/17/hyper-v-what-are-the-uses-for-different-types-of-virtual-networks.aspx

Set-VMNetworkAdapter command – http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/hh848457.aspx

Dynamic Disk and Dynamic Expanding – http://www.altaro.com/hyper-v/proper-use-of-hyper-v-dynamic-disks

Resource Metering Video – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t3G551D79QQ

More on Resource Metering

http://blogs.technet.com/b/matthewms/archive/2013/03/29/20-days-of-server-virtualization-keeping-an-eye-monitoring-your-hyper-v-servers-part-20-of-20ish.aspx

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/hh831661.aspx

Smart Paging – http://windowsserver2012.itpro.co.uk/hidden-features/77/hyper-v-smart-paging

New Features with windows 2012 – http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/hh831410.aspx

New Features with windows 2012 R2 – http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/dn282278.aspx

Create a template for VM – http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/hh427282.aspx

Create a VM from a template – http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/hh882403.aspx

Cluster Aware Patching – http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/hh831694.aspx

Some Nic commands for teaming – http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/jj130847.aspx

VMM Admin Roles – http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/gg696971.aspx

Dynamic Optimization Demo – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dd4UDeKuAvk

 

Virtual Academy Training link:

http://www.microsoftvirtualacademy.com/training-courses/server-virtualization-with-windows-server-hyper-v-and-system-center#?fbid=4fvvXl7uy-I

 

 

 

Prabhat Nigam

Microsoft MVP | Exchange Server

Team@MSExchangeGuru

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Posted February 3rd, 2014 under Windows 2012 R2. RSS 2.0 feed. Leave a response, or trackback.