Hyper-V - Versions and Variants

Versions and Variants

Hyper-V exists in two variants: as a stand-alone product called Microsoft Hyper-V Server 2012 (containing the current release of Hyper-V) and Microsoft Hyper-V Server 2008 (Hyper-V Server 2008 R2 for the second release), and as an installable role in Windows Server 2012, Windows Server 2008 R2, and Windows Server 2008 (the former containing the current release of Hyper-V).

The stand-alone versions of Hyper-V are free. Hyper-V Server 2008 was released on October 1, 2008. It is a variant of the core installation of Windows Server 2008 that includes full Hyper-V functionality; other Windows Server 2008 roles are disabled, and there are limited Windows Services. The free Hyper-V Server 2008 variant is limited to a command line interface (CLI), where configuration of the "Host" or "Parent" (Hyper-V Server 2008) OS, physical hardware and software is done using shell commands. A new menu driven CLI interface does simplify initial configuration considerably, and some freely downloadable script files extend this concept. Administration and configuration of the "Host" (Hyper-V Server 2008 OS) and the "guest" or virtual OSes is generally done by downloading extended Microsoft Management Consoles that are installed onto a Windows 7 PC or Windows 2008 Server (32 or 64 bit) or System Center Virtual Machine.

Alternatively, another Windows Server 2008 or 2012 computer, with the Hyper-V role installed, can be used to manage Hyper-V Server 2008 by redirecting the management console. Other administration and configuration of Hyper-V Server 2008 can be done using a Remote Desktop RDP session (though still CLI) or redirected standard management consoles (MMC) such as "Computer Management" and "Group Policy (Local)" from a Windows Vista PC or a full installation of Windows Server 2008. This allows much easier "point and click" configuration, and monitoring of the Hyper-V Server 2008. Hyper-V Server Release 2 (R2) was made available in September 2009, its main feature being the inclusion of Windows Powershell v2 for greater CLI control, and the updated Windows Server 2008 R2 code base.