CHAPTER 11
Setting Up Windows 10 Hyper-V
Windows 10 includes native features for virtualizing the user's desktop using the Windows 10 Hyper-V features. Hyper-V lets you run other versions of Windows as well as other systems in a virtual environment on one physical computer. This lets you minimize the expense of purchasing multiple computers for running more than one operating system or network operating system.
To run Hyper-V on Windows, you must turn it on. By default it is disabled. Once you've turned it on, you can install a guest operating system, manage that operating system, and manage the guest from within the host environment. This chapter shows how to enable Hyper-V on Windows 10.
Understanding Windows 10 Hyper-V
Microsoft introduced virtualization to its desktop operating system with Windows 7. With virtualization, a user can set up a virtual copy of an operating system or network operating system within the virtual environment to run multiple instances of operating systems on one physical device. This physical device is called the host; the virtual system is called the guest. On the guest operating system, you can run applications, services, and other system tasks just as you do on a “normal” physical computer.
The software you set up on the host to run a virtual environment is called the hypervisor, or Hyper-V in Windows 10. Hyper-V is a Windows feature that you can enable using the Windows Feature tool of the Programs and Feature applet. Hyper-V runs on the host operating system, on which you can install an additional operating system. The host environment manages the guest Hyper-V environment, and in turn the guest environment manages the virtual system. These guest systems are called virtual machines, or VMs for short.
Understanding Hyper-V System Requirements
Before you can enable Hyper-V on your computer, your computer must meet minimum requirements. The following sections show the requirements and how to test your computer to check to see if its compatible with Hyper-V.
For each operating systems and network operating systems you run under a guest VM, you must have a separate license for each system. In addition, for each application you install, you must have the proper license or software agreement for each VM as well.
The following versions of Windows can be installed on a Windows 10 Hyper-V set up:
- Windows 10
- Windows 8.1
- Windows 8
- Windows 7, including Ultimate, Enterprise, and Professional editions (32-bit and 64-bit)
- Windows 7 with Service Pack 1 (SP 1), including Ultimate, Enterprise, and Professional editions (32-bit and 64-bit)
- Windows Vista with Service Pack 2 (SP2), including Business, Enterprise, and Ultimate, including N and KN editions
- Windows Server 2012 R2
- Windows Server 2012
- Windows Server 2008 R2 with Service Pack 1 (SP 1), including Datacenter, Enterprise, Standard and Web editions
- Windows Server 2008 with Service Pack 2 (SP 2), including Datacenter, Enterprise, Standard and Web editions (32-bit and 64-bit)
- Windows Home Server 2011
- Windows Small Business Server 2011
Windows 10 Operating System Requirements
The Windows10 operating system requirements that your computer must meet to run Hyper-V are as follows:
- Windows 10 Professional
- Windows 10 Enterprise
- Windows 10 Education
The following Windows 10 versions are not compatible with Hyper-V:
- Windows 10 Home
- Windows 10 Mobile
- Windows 10 Mobile Enterprise
If you have Windows 10 Home and need to run Hyper-V, you have the option of upgrading to the Windows 10 Professional version through the Update and Security feature in Windows Settings.
Computer Hardware Requirements
The following are the basic hardware requirements for running Hyper-V on your Windows 10 computer:
- CPU support for VM Monitor Mode Extension (VT-c on Intel CPUs)
- Processor with Second Level Address Translation (SLAT)
- Minimum of 4 GB memory
Preparing Windows 10 Computers for Hyper-V
The following items must be enabled in the system BIOS:
- Virtualization Technology — may have a different label depending on motherboard manufacturer
- Hardware Enforced Data Execution Prevention
Before you plan to use a computer for hosting Hyper-V, you might want to run the Windows compatibility tool to ensure your system meets the basic requirements. To run this tool, perform the following steps:
- Open a command prompt (cmd.exe).
- Type syseminfo.exe and press enter.
Review the Hyper-V Requirements section (usually at the bottom of the list), as shown in Figure 11.1. Each should read Yes to ensure Hyper-V can run on your system.
FIGURE 11.1 Running systeminfo.exe to find out if your computer can be a Hyper-V host.
If any of the Hyper-V Requirements listed shows a No next to it, you must correct those issues before enabling Hyper-V. In some cases, you must use a different computer entirely.
Keep in mind that each VM requires its own hard drive space. You should have ample hard drive space to enable installing the guest operating system and all the programs and services you plan to run under the guest operating system.
As for memory, Windows10 with 4GB of RAM can run a few (such as three or four) basic virtual machines, but do not expect great performance. As you add VMs, you should add more RAM. Windows 10 can support VMs up to 32 processes and 512GB of RAM. Your host hardware, of course, must support this configuration.
Enabling Hyper-V on Windows 10
Before you start using Hyper-V, you must enable it on your host computer. Once you've enabled it, you can set up a hosted VM on your computer.
Follow these steps to enable Hyper-V on your Windows 10 computer:
- Right-click the Start and click Programs and Features. The Programs and Features window displays (see Figure 11.2).
- Click Turn Windows Features On or Off. The Windows Features dialog box appears (see Figure 11.3).
- Select the Hyper-V option.
- Click OK. You are prompted to restart your computer to finish enabling Windows 10 for Hyper-V (see Figure 11.4).
- Click Restart Now to restart Windows 10.
FIGURE 11.2 Click Turn Windows Features On or Off to enable the Hyper-V feature.
FIGURE 11.3 Select the Hyper-V option.
Upon restart, log in to Windows as normal. You are now ready to configure Hyper-V and to set up a virtual machine (VM) on the host. See Chapter 12, “Configuring Windows 10 Hyper-V,” for instructions on configuring and setting up the Hyper-V environment.
FIGURE 11.4 After enabling Hyper-V, Windows 10 must be restarted.
Wrapping Up
Windows 10's Hyper-V feature enables you to use one computer, called the host, to install other operating and network systems, called guests, in a virtualized environment. This chapter introduced the following points:
- Understanding Windows 10 Hyper-V
- Understanding Hyper-V system requirements
- Preparing Windows 10 computers for Hyper-V
- Enabling Hyper-V on Windows 10