Microsoft Windows Server Hyper-V
With Hyper-V, it is easier than ever to take advantage of the cost savings of virtualisation through Windows Server 2008 R2 as it allows companies to optimize server hardware by consolidating multiple server roles as separate virtual machines running on a single physical machine. It also allows the efficient running of multiple different operating systems in parallel on a single server.
Microsoft Windows Server 2008 R2 Hyper-V
Builds on the architecture and functionality of Windows Server 2008 Hyper-V by adding multiple new features that enhance product flexibility. The adoption of virtualisation has increased flexibility in deployment and life cycle management of applications. Virtualisation is used to consolidate workloads and reduce server sprawl. Additionally, virtualisation is deployed with clustering technologies to provide a robust IT infrastructure with high availability and quick disaster recovery.
Windows Server 2008 R2 Hyper-V provides greater flexibility by providing live migration. With Hyper-V live migration it is possible to move running virtual machines (VMs) from one Hyper-V physical host to another without any disruption or perceived loss of service.
IT managers increasingly look to live migration to create a dynamic and flexible IT environment that responds to emerging needs of the business. Live migration provides the core technology required for dynamic load balancing, VM placement, high availability for virtualised workloads during physical computer maintenance and reduced data centre power consumption.
Key Features of Hyper-V
Windows Server 2008 R2 Hyper-V adds new features to the first version of Hyper-V. For example, by using live migration in Windows Server 2008 R2 Hyper-V, it is possible to migrate running VMs from one physical computer to another and add or remove storage from a VM while it is running.
Core Scenarios for Hyper-V
Hyper-V provides a dynamic, reliable and scalable virtualisation platform combined with a single set of integrated management tools to manage both physical and virtual resources, enabling the creation of an agile and dynamic data centre.
Hyper-V enables:
Server Consolidation
Businesses are under pressure to ease management and reduce costs while retaining and enhancing competitive advantages, such as flexibility, reliability, scalability, and security. The fundamental use of virtualisation to help consolidate many servers on a single system while maintaining isolation helps address these demands.
One of the main benefits of server consolidation is a lower total cost of ownership (TCO), not just from lowering hardware requirements but also from lower power, cooling, and management costs. Businesses also benefit from server virtualisation through infrastructure optimisation, both from an asset utilization standpoint as well as the ability to balance workloads across different resources. Improved flexibility of the overall environment and the ability to freely integrate 32-bit and 64-bit workloads in the same environment is an additional benefit.
Business Continuity and Disaster Recovery
Business continuity is the ability to minimize both scheduled and unscheduled downtime. That includes time lost to routine functions, such as maintenance and backup, as well as unanticipated problems. Hyper-V includes powerful business continuity features, such as live backup and quick migration, enabling businesses to meet stringent uptime and response metrics.
Disaster recovery is a key component of business continuity. Natural disasters, malicious attacks, and even simple configuration problems like software conflicts can cripple services and applications until administrators resolve the problems and restore any backed up data. Leveraging the clustering capabilities of Windows Server 2008, Hyper-V now provides support for disaster recovery (DR) within IT environments and across data centres, using geographically dispersed clustering capabilities. Rapid and reliable disaster and business recovery helps ensure minimal data loss and powerful remote management capabilities.
Testing and Development
Testing and development are frequently the first business functions to take advantage of virtualisation technology. Using virtual machines, development staff can create and test a wide variety of scenarios in a safe, self-contained environment that accurately approximates the operation of physical servers and clients. Hyper-V maximizes utilization of test hardware which can help reduce costs, improve life cycle management and improve test coverage.
With extensive guest OS support and checkpoint features, Hyper-V provides a great platform for testing and development.
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