Mastering Hyper-V 2012 R2 with System Center and Windows Azure (2014)

Introduction

The book you are holding is the result of 20 years of experience in the IT world and over 15 years of virtualization experience that started with VMware and includes Virtual PC and now Hyper-V. My goal for this book is simple: to help you become knowledgeable and effective when it comes to architecting and managing a Hyper-V–based virtual environment. This means understanding how Hyper-V works and its capabilities, but it also means knowing when to leverage other technologies to provide the most complete and optimal solution. That means leveraging System Center and Windows Azure, which I also cover because they relate to Hyper-V. I also dive into some key technologies of Windows Server where they bring benefit to Hyper-V.

Hyper-V is now a mature and widely adopted virtualization solution. It is one of only two x86 server virtualization solutions in Gartner's leader quadrant, and in addition to being used by many of the largest companies in the world, it powers Windows Azure, which is one of the largest cloud services in the world.

Hyper-V is a role of Windows Server, and if you are a Windows administrator, you will find Hyper-V management fairly intuitive, but there are still many key areas that require attention. I have structured this book to cover the key principles of virtualization and the resources you will manage with Hyper-V before I actually cover installing and configuring Hyper-V itself and then move on to advanced topics such as high availability, replication, private cloud, and more.

I am a strong believer in learning by doing, and I therefore highly encourage you to try out all the technologies and principles I cover in this book. You don't need a huge lab environment, and for most of the topics, you could use a single machine with Windows Server installed on it and 8 GB of memory to enable a few virtual machines to run concurrently. Ideally though, having at least two servers will help with the replication and high availability concepts. Sometimes in this book you'll see step-by-step instructions to guide you through a process, sometimes I will link to an external source that already has a good step-by-step guide, and sometimes I will link to videos I have posted to ensure maximum understanding.

I have created an application that is available in the Windows Store, Mastering Hyper-V. It provides easy access to the external links, videos, and code samples I use in this book. As you read each chapter check out the application to find related content. The application can be downloaded from http://www.savilltech.com/mhv. Using the Windows Store allows me to also update it over time as required. Please get this application as I will use it to add additional videos based on reader feedback that are not referenced in the main text and include additional information where required.

Who Should Read This Book

I am making certain assumptions regarding the reader:

· You have basic Windows Server knowledge and can install Windows Server.

· You have basic knowledge of what PowerShell is.

· You have access to a Hyper-V server to enable test implementation of the many covered technologies.

This book is intended for anyone who wants to learn Hyper-V. If you have a basic knowledge of virtualization or a competing technology such as VMware, that will help but is not a requirement. I start off with a foundational understanding of each technology and then build on that to cover more advanced topics and configurations. If you are an architect, a consultant, an administrator, or really anyone who just wants better knowledge of Hyper-V, this book is for you.

There are many times I go into advanced topics that may seem over your head. In those cases, don't worry. Focus on the preceding elements you understand, and implement and test them to solidify your understanding. Then when you feel comfortable, come back to the more advanced topics. They will seem far simpler once your understanding of the foundational principles are solidified.

What's Inside

Here is a glance at what's in each chapter.

1. Chapter 1, “Introduction to Virtualization and Microsoft Solutions,” focuses on the core value proposition of virtualization and how the datacenter has evolved. It covers the key changes and capabilities of Hyper-V in addition to the role System Center plays in a Hyper-V environment. I will cover the types of cloud services available and how Hyper-V forms the foundation of private cloud solutions.

2. Chapter 2, “Virtual Machine Resource Fundamentals,” covers the core resources of a virtual machine, specifically architecture (generation 1 and generation 2 virtual machines), processor, and memory. You will learn about advanced configurations to enable many types of operating system support along with best practices for resource planning.

3. Chapter 3, “Virtual Networking,” covers one of the most complicated aspects of virtualization, especially when using the new network virtualization capabilities in Hyper-V. This chapter covers the key networking concepts, how to architect virtual networks, and how to configure them. I'll also cover networking using System Center Virtual Machine Manager (SCVMM) and how to design and implement network virtualization.

4. Chapter 4, “Storage Configurations,” covers the storage options for Hyper-V environments, including the VHD and VHDX formats plus capabilities in Windows Server 2012 R2 that help manage direct attached storage. You will learn about storage technologies for virtual machines such as iSCSI, Virtual Fibre Channel, and shared VHDX; their relative advantages; and also the storage migration and resize functions.

5. Chapter 5, “Managing Hyper-V,” walks through the installation of and best practices for managing Hyper-V. The basics of configuring virtual machines, installing operating systems, and using the Hyper-V Integration Services are all covered. Strategies for migrating from other hypervisors, physical servers, and other versions of Hyper-V are explored.

6. Chapter 6, “Maintaining a Hyper-V Environment,” focuses on the tasks required to keep Hyper-V healthy after you've installed it, which includes patching, malware protection, backup, and monitoring. Key actions such as taking checkpoints of virtual machines, setting up service templates, and performance tuning are covered.

7. Chapter 7, “Failover Clustering and Migration Technologies,” covers making Hyper-V highly available using failover clustering and will include a deep dive into exactly what makes a cluster tick, specifically when running Hyper-V. Key migration technologies such as Live Migration, Shared Nothing Live Migration, and Storage Migration are explored in addition to configurations related to mobility outside of a cluster and placement optimization for virtual machines.

8. Chapter 8, “Hyper-V Replica and Cloud Orchestration,” shifts from high availability to a requirement of many organizations today, providing disaster recovery protection in the event of losing an entire site. This chapter looks at the options for disaster recovery, including leveraging Hyper-V Replica and orchestrating failovers with Windows Azure in the event of a disaster.

9. Chapter 9, “Implementing the Private Cloud and SCVMM,” shows the many benefits of the Microsoft stack to organizations beyond just virtualization. This chapter explores the key benefits and what a private cloud using Microsoft technologies actually looks like. Key components and functional areas, including the actual end user experience and how you can leverage all of System Center for different levels of private cloud capability, are all covered.

10.Chapter 10, “Remote Desktop Services,” shifts the focus to another type of virtualization, virtualizing the end user experience, which is a critical capability for most organizations. Virtual desktop infrastructure is becoming a bigger component of the user environment. This chapter looks at the different types of desktop virtualization available with Remote Desktop Services with a focus on capabilities that are enabled by Hyper-V, such as advanced graphical capabilities with RemoteFX.

11.Chapter 11, “Windows Azure IaaS and Storage,” explores the capabilities of one of the biggest public cloud services in the world, which is powered by Hyper-V. This chapter will cover the fundamentals of Windows Azure and how to create virtual machines in Windows Azure. The chapter will also cover the networking options available both within Windows Azure and to connect to your on-premises network. I will examine the migration of virtual machines and how to leverage Windows Azure Storage. Ways to provide a seamless management experience will be explored.

12.Chapter 12, “Bringing It All Together with a Best-of-Breed Cloud Solution,” brings together all the different technologies and options to help architect a best-of-breed virtualization and cloud solution.

13.Chapter 13, “The Hyper-V Decoder Ring for the VMware Administrator,” focuses on converting skills for VMware to their Hyper-V equivalent. This chapter also focuses on migration approaches and ways to translate skills.

NOTE

Don't forget to download the companion Windows Store application, Mastering Hyper-V, from http://www.savilltech.com/mhv.

The Mastering Series

The Mastering series from Sybex provides outstanding instruction for readers with intermediate and advanced skills, in the form of top-notch training and development for those already working in their field and clear, serious education for those aspiring to become pros. Every Mastering book includes the following elements:

· Skill-based instruction, with chapters organized around real tasks rather than abstract concepts or subjects

· Self-review test questions, so you can be certain you're equipped to do the job right