Microsoft Hyper-V Server 2016

Microsoft Hyper-V Server 2016 is a stand-alone product that contains only the Windows hypervisor, a Windows Server driver model, and virtualization components. It provides a simple and reliable virtualization solution to help you improve your server utilization and reduce costs.

The Windows hypervisor technology in Microsoft Hyper-V Server 2016 is the same as what's in the Hyper-V role on Windows Server 2016. So, much of the content available for the Hyper-V role on Windows Server 2016 also applies to Microsoft Hyper-V Server 2016.

Hyper-V Server resources for IT Pros

Tasks Resources
Meets requirements symbol Evaluate Hyper-V

- Hyper-V Technology Overview
- What's new in Hyper-V on Windows Server 2016
- System requirements for Hyper-V on Windows Server 2016
- Supported Windows guest operating systems for Hyper-V
- Supported Linux and FreeBSD Virtual Machines
- Feature compatibility by generation and guest

Plan for Hyper-V

- Decide which virtual machine generation meets your needs.
- If you're moving or importing virtual machines, decide when to upgrade the version.
- Scalability
- Networking
- Security

Get started symbol Get started with Hyper-V Server

Download and install Microsoft Hyper-V Server 2016. This installs the Windows hypervisor, a Windows Server driver model, and virtualization components. It's similar to running the Server Core installation option of Windows Server 2016 and the Hyper-V role.

Manage symbol Configure and manage Hyper-V Server

Hyper-V Server doesn't have a graphical user interface (GUI). You can use the following tools to configure and manage Hyper-V Server.

- Configure a Server Core installation of Windows Server 2016 with Sconfig.cmd to update domain or workgroup settings, change Windows Update settings, enable remote management, and more.
- Use an ordinary command prompt for commands not available in Sconfig.
- Use Hyper-V Manager or Virtual Machine Manager to remotely manage Hyper-V Server. To use Hyper-V Manager, install the Hyper-V role on Windows 10 or Windows Server 2016.
- See Install Server Core for additional management options for basic server functions that aren't specific to Hyper-V. Most of the management methods documented there also work with Hyper-V Server.

Configure and manage Hyper-V virtual machines

- Create a virtual switch for Hyper-V virtual machines
- Create a virtual machine in Hyper-V
- Choose between standard or production checkpoints
- Enable or disable checkpoints
- Manage Windows virtual machines with PowerShell Direct

Deploy

- Set up hosts for live migration without Failover Clustering
- Upgrade Windows Server cluster nodes
- Upgrade virtual machine version