windows 8

Enable Windows Server 8 Hyper-V in VMware Workstation

VMware Workstation Technology Preview 2012 is available as download.  The Technology Preview makes it possible for example to install and operate Windows 8 and Windows Server 8 in a VM and the possibility to nest VMs.

I tested the installation of  Windows Server 8 in VMware Workstation TP, enabled the Hyper-V role and run a Windows 7 64-bit VM in Hyper-V. Here are some screenshots (Hyper-V manager and the Windows 7 64  bit running in Hyper-V): 

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To make the above configuration work, add to following options to the end of the VMX file before starting the Windows Server 8 installation:

hypervisor.cpuid.v0 = FALSE
mce.enable = "TRUE"

The VMware Workstation TP VMs are started in debug mode which impacts the performance!  

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More information can be found here:

– VMware Workstation Technology Preview 2012 Overview

– Download

 

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Windows Server 2012 PowerShell Cmdlets for Hyper-V help

In Windows 2008 & Windows2008 R2 there were no official PowerShell Cmdlets available for Hyper-V. This is changed in Windows 2012 and Windows 8. Windows Server 2012 and 8 has 162 or more PowerShell Cmdlets available for Hyper-V. Windows 8 uses PowerShell version 3.

Cmdlets are very powerful, that lets you automate all aspects of Hyper-V.  Here some guidance how-to find the Cmdlets you need.

To view all the Hyper-V PowerShell Cmdlets:

Get-Command -Module Hyper-V

To search for Cmdlets, for example with the name “host” in it:  

Get-Command -Module Hyper-V -Noun *host*

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To get the Cmdlet syntax:

Get-VMHost -?

 

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Get the Cmdlet syntax and available parameters, details and examples:

get-Help Get-VMHost -Full

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More information over the Hyper-V Cmdlets can be found here. PowerShell 3.0 is available as Community Technology Preview (CTP) found here.

 

 

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Install Windows 8 Consumer Preview as VM in VMware vSphere 5

Today the Windows 8 Consumer Preview is launched. To install the Windows 8 Consumer Preview as VM in VMware vSphere 5, use the following steps:

1. Install VMware ESXi 5.0 patch release ESXi500-201112001. If you didn’t install the patch the following screen appears when booting the Windows 8 ISO:

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Your computer ran into a problem and needs to restart

2. When the patch is installed, create a new VM and choose the following settings:

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1. Choose custom 2. Enter VM Name
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3. Select datastore 4. Virtual Machine Version 8
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5. Choose Microsoft Windows 7 64-bit 6. Select the amount of processor and cores needed
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7. Enter memory 8. Select E1000 network adapter
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9. Select default SCSI controller 10. Create New disk
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11. Enter the desired disk size (default) 12 Select controller
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13. Finish

3. Edit the VM configuration and change the following settings:

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Enable 3D graphics Choose the Windows 8 ISO to boot from
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Select as guest OS “Microsoft Windows 8 Server (64-bit)”

4. Boot the VM and install Windows 8

Now you’re able to install Windows 8 as VM in VMware vSphere 5.

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More information can be found here.

 

Updated: March 8 2012, Removed typos in blog.

 

 

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