Hyper-V is Microsoft’s virtualization solution that allows you to run multiple virtual machines (VMs) on a single Windows server. Each VM operates independently, enabling multiple operating systems to run on the same physical hardware. It is widely used in enterprise and data center environments.
You can manage Hyper-V using several tools:
- Hyper-V Manager: A built-in interface for managing local or remote VMs.
- PowerShell: Advanced scripting and automation capabilities.
- SCVMM (System Center Virtual Machine Manager): Centralized management for larger deployments.
- RSAT (Remote Server Administration Tools): Manage Hyper-V remotely from Windows clients.
These tools let you configure, start, stop, and monitor virtual machines effectively.
Key advantages of Hyper-V include:
- Efficient hardware usage through virtualization
- Support for both Windows and Linux guest OS
- Live migration of VMs without downtime
- Snapshot and backup capabilities
- Integration with Active Directory and clustering
- Enhanced security with Secure Boot and shielded VMs
It helps reduce costs by running multiple workloads on fewer physical servers.
Yes, Hyper-V supports many Linux distributions, including Ubuntu, CentOS, Debian, and Red Hat Enterprise Linux. Microsoft provides Linux Integration Services (LIS) to improve performance and enable features like dynamic memory, time sync, and graceful shutdown. Linux VMs can be managed just like Windows VMs using Hyper-V tools.