Virtual Machine Settings

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Applies To: Windows Server 2008

Virtual Machine Settings provide you with a way to adjust the configuration of a virtual machine after you create the virtual machine. For instructions, see Configuring Virtual Machines.

Some of the settings are self-explanatory and are not included in this topic. Usage considerations or additional information about settings that might not be self-explanatory are included in the following tables.

Hardware setting Description

Memory

Specify enough memory to run the guest operating system and all applications that will run at the same time on the virtual machine.

Virtual Processor

If the virtual machine runs Windows Server® 2008 or Windows Server 2003 as a guest operating system, you can assign more than one virtual processor.

Resource controls

These settings provide you with a way to control how resources are allocated among virtual machines that run at the same time on one physical computer. For instructions, see Configure Memory and Processors.

COM number

A virtual COM port attached to a named pipe is most commonly used with a kernel debugger.

Note
You cannot associate the virtual COM port to a physical COM port.

Floppy Drive

A floppy drive makes it possible for a virtual machine to use a virtual floppy disk.

Note

You cannot associate the floppy drive to a physical floppy drive.

Management setting Description

Snapshot File Location

This setting allows you to override the default location by selecting a different location. The default location is the location specified for the server running Hyper-V.

Automatic Start Action

These settings let you specify whether to restart the virtual machine if the physical computer or the Hyper-V Virtual Machine Management Service restarts.

Note
If you plan to make the virtual machine highly available, do not configure the virtual machine to restart automatically. For more information, see Configure a Virtual Machine for High Availability.

Automatic Stop Action

These settings let you specify the state you want to place the virtual machine in when the physical computer shuts down.