Want to manage a Hyper-V server remotely? Perhaps you want to manage your Hyper-V servers from your desktop PC…

To do this, you need to install Microsoft’s Hyper-V remote MMC. You can find all the instructions to download this MMC and get it installed at:

TechNet - Install and Configure Hyper-V Tools for Remote Administrators

How do you create virtual machines inside Hyper-V? What options do you choose? What do you need to know to get a new Windows 2008 Hyper-V virtual machine up and running? This demo video from Train Signal’s Hyper-V video training course answers all of these questions and more…

What are VHDs? Why do you need them? How do you add and remove VHD’s dynamically? This demo video from Train Signal’s Hyper-V video training course answers all of these questions and more…

Microsoft is promoting the heck out of their new cloud computing solution - Azure - right now but there are still a lot of questions about it.
Here is a simple video that attempts to explain how Azure works, in plain English….

Our own, Janique Carbone has a really great article that encompasses the business need for VDI now and for the future. Now - to resolve end-to-end issues for virtualizing desktop situations, and later to directly reduce operating costs and ROI. 

Carbone also mentions the utilization of thin or rich client devices, to deploy virtual desktops on sever farms. In this way, virtual desktop computing is performed on the data center servers, while the user interface is presented on the client devices using a remote desktop client application. Dynamic or Static virtual desktops can then be utilized. 

A Static virtual desktop uses a remote desktop connection and is usually set up for guest accounts and when specific applications are installed. A Dynamic virtual desktop is usually provisioned and assembled from a single master image and uses a Terminal Server and user-specific settings.

Windows Vista Enterprise Centralized Desktop (VECD) allows licensing options available for Windows virtual desktops in a VDI environment. Licenses are allocated on a device basis. Also, Microsoft’s partner, Citrix, provides XenDesktop to manage larger deployments.

Janique sums up  VDI with this comment …

“Whether you need to deploy a static or dynamic virtual desktop infrastructure, the components that integrate together to comprise a Microsoft VDI solution include Windows Server 2008 Hyper-V, VECD, System Center VMM 2008, System Center DPM 2007 SP1, Windows Server 2008 Terminal Services, Microsoft Application Virtualization 4.5, and Citrix XenDesktop.

Read the full article is on VDI with Windows Server 2008 Hyper-V

If you are using, or plan to be using, Hyper-V then you need the Microsoft Press Hyper-V Resource Kit. Period.

Before you move too fast, who was that awesome new resource kit was authored by? Well, it is our own VirtualizationAdmin.com author, Janique Carbone!

It is 750 pages of “ultimate resource for Hyper-V” and under $40. What more could you ask for?

Checkout all that you get in Janique’s new Hyper-V Resource Kit:

• This official RESOURCE KIT delivers the information you need to plan, implement, and manage a virtualized enterprise infrastructure using Hyper-V, R2
• You get authoritative technical guidance from those who know the technology best leading industry experts and the Windows Virtualization Team along with sample scripts, job aids, and other essential resources.

Get expert advice on how to:

• Manage the project visioning phase scope, risks, budget
• Design Hyper-V server infrastructure and components
• Apply the steps and tools that streamline installation
• Configure single or multiple Hyper-V servers
• Plan a server workload consolidation strategy
• Use console-based tools to manage central and remote operations
• Minimize downtime when migrating from Microsoft Virtual Server to Hyper-V
• Apply security best practices
• Implement business continuity and recovery plans
• Monitor health and tune!

Read more about the Hyper-V Resouce Kit at: Amazon.com

I was at my local bookstore this weekend and I ran across the Microsoft Hyper-V Resource Kit. While I have seen lots of Microsoft resource kits, they are usually related to the Windows OS or Office. I was impressed when what it offer. Things like-

• In-depth technical guidance and best practices on how to deploy, install, configure, administer, and support Hyper-V advanced configuration options
• Development and testing tools
• Migration, management, and scripting tools
• Security features
• Linux support
• Disaster recovery
• A CD packed with sample scripts, technical white papers
• Videos from the authors
• A fully searchable eBook version of the entire guide

Because I thought it would be helpful to anyone administering a Hyper-V server, I wanted to bring it up here. You can read more about it and order it at:

Microsoft Hyper-V Resource Kit

My friends over at Train Signal just posted a new article that I think all the Virtualization Admin’s would be interested in! Checkout:

 7 Awesome Things you can do with Hyper-V

Microsoft has 10+ Virtualization videos in their free TechNet “How Do I?” site. These videos cover everything from Introduction to Hyper-V, P2V conversion/migration, virtualization assessment/planning, and various ways to use System Center Virtual Machine Manager (SCVMM).

Checkout these videos at: Microsoft TechNet Virtualization “How Do I?” Videos

Did you notice the two new Virtualization videos here at VirtualizationAdmin.com ? If not, you need to check them out (especially because one of them was created by me).

Video #1-How to install a new Guest VM in VMware ESX Server

Video #2 - Backing up a Hyper-V Host Using DPM 2007