How to install Hyper-V (Windows 8)?

Today, the use of so-called virtual machines, capable at the software level of emulating the creation of a full-fledged computer system in a virtual environment, which absolutely does not differ from the real physical "iron" analogue, becomes more and more actual. But few people know about this module in Windows 8 (Hyper-V). Now it will be considered how to turn it on and configure it correctly for further work.

The concept of virtual machines

Let's start, perhaps, a little from afar, so to speak, with the basic concepts. Virtual technologies of this type were initially supported by the manufacturers of Intel and AMD processor chips and consisted in ensuring that the work of any software in the form of a virtual machine was implemented at the intraprocessor level.

Themselves virtual machines, which allow in "operating systems" to create full-fledged computer systems, are very diverse. Microsoft does not own authorship in this direction, although the company's specialists tried to create their own modules that could create virtual machines without using third-party software. One such is the Hyper-V client.

What is Hyper-V (Windows 8 and above)

In fact, Hyper-V is a powerful enough tool that allows you to emulate a computer system of any complexity, with any components and installed operating systems that are different from Windows.

In Windows 8, Hyper-V is somewhat different in configuration from the same client in the same "top ten", as well as from most of the most famous software packages of our time. Nevertheless, to use it for our own needs to create a virtual environment in which it would be possible to test other "operating systems", programs or create whole computer systems in order to clarify the interaction of virtual "iron" components, it is quite simple. True, for example, Hyper-V Windows 8 for one language requires some attention, since there are specific settings here.

System requirements for Windows 8

As it is already clear, this component of the system will be considered on the example of the G8 and its subsequent version 8.1. In principle, setting up Hyper-V (Windows 8 is installed or Windows 8.1 is not important) will be completely identical.

As for minimum system requirements, the configuration here is exclusively based on 64-bit processors from AMD or Intel, which must necessarily support SSE2 and NX instructions, as well as AMD-V, Intel-VT-x and SLAT technologies. Plus, you can only install Hyper-V (Windows 8) on normal performance if you have at least 4 GB of RAM (preferably 8 GB). Otherwise, the module is not guaranteed to work.

In addition, if you plan to install several virtual machines, it is desirable to allocate a whole logical partition for storage or even create a RAID array. Needless to say, there is also a basic condition for the operation of the Hyper-V client - Windows 8 (8.1) with only 64 bits. But do not get upset. Almost all pre-installed systems meet these requirements in full.

How to enable Hyper-V in Windows 8: First steps

So, now you can start installing and enabling the client directly. At the first stage it is better to check your own system for availability of this module.

To do this, you need to run the msinfo32 command in the "Run" menu called by the Win + R combination, or go to the system information section , say, from the standard control panel.

Below is information related to the Hyper-V module (Windows 8). In all fields, the value "Yes" should be displayed. If so, you can proceed with installation and configuration. If, at least in one line, the user sees the value "No", you will have to activate BIOS settings and activate the component in the system itself.

Activating virtual technology support in the BIOS

To activate the support of virtual technologies, when the computer terminal is booted, the laptop needs to enter the BIOS (Del, F12, F2 keys, etc.).

In the advanced parameters section of the processor chipset configuration there should be a string of Virtualization Technology or something else like that. The parameter specified on the right should be set to "Enabled".

Enabling Hyper-V in the system

The next step is to activate the component itself in the Windows environment. This is done in the programs and components section, where, in the list of installed Windows components, a tick opposite the client's name is placed.

After that, the module activation process will begin, and upon its completion the system will reboot, after which the so-called "Manager" (Hyper-V Manager) appears on the start screen. However, if you consider how to disable Hyper-V in Windows 8, you should follow the above steps in reverse order.

Parameters and initial setting

Now let's take a look at the Windows 8 Hyper-V module itself. Installation begins with the entrance to the "Dispatcher". You can do this directly from the main screen or the virtmgmt.msc command in the "Run" menu (quick menu call - as above). By the way, this method is best suited for cases when several virtual machines are installed and used in the system, maybe even different from the "native" module. If only Hyper-V is used, it's better to attach it to the taskbar as soon as possible.

A little more about the Hyper-V module (Windows 8.1). How to run it, probably, is already a little clear. Now let's pay attention to the fact that the initial launch without preliminary configuration does not solve the problem of the full use of the client.

Now you need to make the configuration by clicking on the host name on the left and selecting the options section. First of all, you will need to specify a folder or partition in which all information relating to the hypervisor, in particular a virtual hard disk, will be stored.

The NUMA coverage section, in principle, can not be touched, since its configuration is intended exclusively for multiprocessor systems (note, here we are talking about several processors, not the number of cores of one processor).

You can also skip the storage migration section. It indicates only the number of simultaneous transfers of virtual machine data to different locations without directly turning on the machine itself.

But the advanced session mode is better to use. This will help to use the resources and devices of the parent host in the child system of the virtual machine. By default this option is enabled.

Next, you can specify some keyboard shortcuts, for example, for the process of clearing the mouse, remove the check marks from the message display fields, etc. This is already at your discretion.

Create and activate a virtual switch

And now one of the most important stages begins. To begin with, you need to create a so-called virtual switch, without which the virtual machine created with Hyper-V, will simply not work.

Roughly speaking, this is some kind of intermediate station, designed to control the connection of virtual machines to the system.

There are three types of virtual networks:

• External (used in case when virtual machines require access to an external network on an equal basis with the parent host, with mandatory assignment of each of them a unique IP-address);
• Internal (used when machines are only interconnected, and access exists exclusively within one host without assignment or binding to a specific IP);
• Private (the most limited network without connection to the main host and the external network, used in the case when the virtual machine needs to be completely isolated from external traffic).

Needless to say, you can choose one type, although you can create multiple switches and integrate them.

To start the process, the appropriate line is selected, after which the new switch is named. You can then select a direct binding to a particular network adapter.

There is a small nuance. If you use the selected adapter completely and completely, it will disappear from the list of devices in the main system. So, it's better not to touch the check box, which is opposite to the general access line to the selected control system by the control system. Otherwise, the computer when leaving the virtual machine environment will simply lose its connection with the Internet. In passing, you can also use access to a virtual network, for example, via Wi-Fi, and specify its ID.

Network configuration settings

When creating multiple switches of different types, you may need to log into the global network settings section, where you will have to specify the desired range of dynamically assigned MAC addresses.

But this approach is only used if there are, say, corporate networks, and only so that the addresses themselves on different machines do not repeat (not duplicated).

By the way, when using a private "virtual" you can do much easier, in the properties of connecting to the local network using the advanced Hyper-V switch, and that's all.

Access rights to the hypervisor

Finally, it remains to add a bit about the access rights to management and Hyper-V settings. Windows 8 automatically grants full rights to all users of the administrative group. If you want to give rights to a user solely to manage the module, without interfering with the parent system, you can include it in a special group of Hyper-V administrators. In this case, the user will be able to use the virtual machine and its settings, but will not have access to changing the system configuration of the parent system.

Having finished the settings, you can create a new virtual machine and choose any configuration at the level of "hardware" or preferred guest OSes. But this is a separate conversation.