Introduction to Hyper-V
Probably the most talked-about feature in Windows 8 and later versions of Windows, after the new UI, is the inclusion of Microsoft’s Hyper-V virtualization software. First released in 2008 as part of the Windows Server 2008 operating system, this is a virtualization tool that allows other operating systems—including earlier versions of Windows and GNU/ Linux—to be run inside the main installed host operating system.
Each virtualized OS runs effectively in a self-contained ISO disk image file. You can run multiple operating systems side by side on a single Windows desktop.
Hyper-V is a Type-1 hypervisor, which means it can communicate directly with your computer’s hardware and take full advantage of it. One advantage of hypervisors such as this is that they can be programmed to take full control of a specific processor core in a multicore chip. This maximizes processing efficiency and ensures there is no latency while each running operating system waits for processing resources to become available. By contrast, older Type-2 hypervisors used the host operating system to simulate the hardware of a computer, not allowing access to the actual PC’s hardware. This type included the now-aging Microsoft Virtual PC.
If you need a PC for testing purposes, you can build one, virtually, with just a few clicks.
The benefits of virtualization are profound. Consider these scenarios:
You can do all those things with Hyper-V, running on your own PC. To accomplish those tasks, you’ll use two built-in tools, Hyper-V Manager and Virtual Machine Connection.
Hyper-V is not turned on by default.
Each virtualized OS runs effectively in a self-contained ISO disk image file. You can run multiple operating systems side by side on a single Windows desktop.
Hyper-V is a Type-1 hypervisor, which means it can communicate directly with your computer’s hardware and take full advantage of it. One advantage of hypervisors such as this is that they can be programmed to take full control of a specific processor core in a multicore chip. This maximizes processing efficiency and ensures there is no latency while each running operating system waits for processing resources to become available. By contrast, older Type-2 hypervisors used the host operating system to simulate the hardware of a computer, not allowing access to the actual PC’s hardware. This type included the now-aging Microsoft Virtual PC.
If you need a PC for testing purposes, you can build one, virtually, with just a few clicks.
The benefits of virtualization are profound. Consider these scenarios:
- You want to evaluate a new software program without the risk messing up your production system.
- You regularly train users or demonstrate features of a program or service and need a predictable demonstration environment that you can reset before each session.
- A program you rely on requires an earlier Windows version to run properly.
- You want to experiment with an alternative operating system, such as Linux.
- You need to access your corporate network using an environment that’s completely separate from your personal files and email accounts.
- For test purposes, you need access to a Windows server.
You can do all those things with Hyper-V, running on your own PC. To accomplish those tasks, you’ll use two built-in tools, Hyper-V Manager and Virtual Machine Connection.
Hyper-V is not turned on by default.