is a Microsoft product used for hardware virtualization, it allows you to create and run many virtual machines on one physical machine. Each virtual machine works like a complete computer, it is in its own space isolated from other virtual machines, running its own operating system and programs.

Resource flexibility

Deliver more flexible, on-demand IT services by moving to shared resources or expanding their use and adjusting utilization as demand changes.

More efficient use of equipment

Consolidating servers and workloads onto more efficient physical computers saves energy and space.

Establishing or expanding a virtual desktop infrastructure

Adopting a centralized desktop strategy with a virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI) can increase business agility and data security, and simplify regulatory compliance and management of desktop operating systems and applications. Implement Hyper-V and Remote Desktop Virtualization Host (RD Virtualization Host) on the same server to provide users with personal virtual desktops or virtual desktops of desktops.

Development and Testing Efficiency

Replicate different computing environments without having to purchase or maintain the hardware that would be needed when using only physical systems.

Hyper-V Features

Computing environment

A Hyper-V virtual machine includes the same core components as a physical computer, such as memory, CPU, storage, and networking.

Disaster recovery and backup

Hyper-V Replica creates copies of virtual machines stored elsewhere, allowing you to restore a virtual machine from a copy. For backup, Hyper-V offers two types – one uses saved states, and the other uses the Volume Copy Service (VSS) to create application-consistent backups for programs that support VSS.

Optimization

Each supported guest operating system has a customized set of services and drivers, called integration services, that facilitate the use of the operating system in a Hyper-V virtual machine.

Transfer

Features like live migration, storage migration, and import/export make it easy to move or distribute a virtual machine.

Remote communication

Hyper-V includes Virtual Machine Connection, a tool for remotely connecting to Windows and Linux systems. Unlike Remote Desktop, this tool provides console access, so you can see what's happening in the guest system even before it boots up.

Security

Secure Boot and shielded virtual machines help protect against malware and other unauthorized access to a virtual machine and its data.

Hyper-V is available in Windows Server and Windows as a server role available for x64 versions of Windows Server. For Windows, it is available as a feature in some 64-bit versions of Windows. It is also available as a separate downloadable server product, Microsoft Hyper-V Server.

Windows server standard

It allows you to run two virtual machines with Windows installed, and one master host, or one master host and many non-Windows-based virtual machines. Master host – can only be used to manage virtual machines and for administrative tasks.

If you need to create another virtual machine, you must purchase additional standard licenses.

Windows server data center

Licensing in the Windows Server Datacenter system works on a different principle, in this case licenses are purchased depending on the number of processors in the physical server and there is no limit on virtual machines. If you have a two-processor server, you must buy two licenses per processor, VM creation is unlimited here.

VM Licenses

Each virtual machine that runs on Hyper-V also requires a guest operating system license (the operating system running inside the virtual machine). Guest operating system licensing can vary depending on the type of operating system (e.g. Windows Server, Windows 10, Linux, etc.).

Supported operating systems

Many operating systems will run in virtual machines. Generally speaking, an operating system that uses the x86 architecture will run in a Hyper-V virtual machine. However, not all operating systems that can be run are tested or supported by Microsoft.

How Hyper-V works

Hyper-V is a hypervisor-based virtualization technology. Hyper-V uses the Windows hypervisor, which requires a physical processor with specific characteristics. In most cases, the hypervisor manages the interactions between the hardware and the virtual machines. Hypervisor-controlled access to the hardware provides the virtual machines with an isolated environment in which to run. In some configurations, the virtual machine or the operating system running on the virtual machine has direct access to graphics, networking, or storage hardware.