Mastering Windows Server 2016 Hyper-V

Hyper‐V is now a mature and widely adopted virtualization solution. It is one of only two x86 server virtualization solutions in Gartner’s leader quadrant. In addition to being used by many of the largest companies in the world, Hyper‐V powers Microsoft Azure, which is one of the largest cloud services in the world.

Hyper‐V is a role of Windows Server. If you are a Windows administrator, you will find Hyper‐V management fairly intuitive, but there are still many key areas that require attention. I have structured this book to cover the key principles of virtualization and the resources that you will manage with Hyper‐V before I cover installing and configuring Hyper‐V itself and then move on to advanced topics such as high availability, replication, private cloud, and more.

I am a strong believer in learning by doing, and therefore I highly encourage you to try out all of the technologies and principles I cover in this book. You don’t need a huge lab environment. For most topics, you could use a single machine with Windows Server installed and 8GB of memory to enable a few virtual machines to run concurrently. Ideally, though, having at least two servers will help with the replication and high‐availability concepts. In this book, sometimes you’ll see step‐by‐step instructions to guide you through a process, sometimes I link to an external source that already has a good step‐by‐step guide, and sometimes I link to videos that I have posted to ensure maximum understanding. With Windows 10, Hyper‐V is included in the box, so even without any kind of server, it is possible to explore many of the Hyper‐V technologies.

I have created an application that is available for various platforms: Mastering Hyper‐V 2016. It provides easy access to the external links, videos, and code samples that I use in this book. As you read each chapter, check out the application to find related content. The application can be downloaded from www.savilltech.com/mhv. Using the various platform stores also allows me to update it over time as required. Please get this application, as I will use it to add videos based on reader feedback that are not referenced in the main text and include additional information where required.

Who Should Read This Book

I am making certain assumptions regarding the reader:

• You have basic Windows Server knowledge and can install Windows Server.
• You have basic knowledge of PowerShell.
• You have access to a Hyper‐V server to enable a test implementation of the many covered technologies.

This book is intended for anyone who wants to learn Hyper‐V. If you have a basic knowledge of virtualization or a competing technology, such as VMware, that will help, but it is not a requirement. I start off with a foundational understanding of each technology and then build on that to cover more‐advanced topics and configurations. If you are an architect, a consultant, an administrator, or really anyone who just wants better knowledge of Hyper‐V, this book is for you.

At times I go into advanced topics that may seem over your head. In those cases, don’t worry. Focus on the preceding elements that you understand, and implement and test them to solidify your understanding. Then, when you feel comfortable, come back to the more advanced topics. They will seem far simpler once your understanding of the foundational principles is solidified.