This post walks through how to install the Windows Server virtualization (WSv) role in Windows Server 2008 RC (Release Candidate) 0. As I mentioned in my previous post, WSv is a “preview� – in other words, pre-Beta release.
If you have access of MSDN, Technet or have signed up at Microsoft Connect, you will be able to access the installation media for Windows Server 2008 (note it may take a little while for the builds to propagate). If you want to give WSv a whirl, you must have specific hardware capabilities. Your processor must be 64-bit, have XD/NX (eXecute Disable/No Execute) turned on, and support Intel VT or AMD-V. Further, the BIOS must support these features. It is recommended that even if your hardware does have these capabilities, you upgrade to the latest version of the BIOS.
Although the WSv preview is now generally available, we have a relatively limited hardware support matrix at this time. In other words, even if you have a machine which meets the hardware capabilities above, it is possible we have not tested WSv on that hardware - there always remains the possibility of a BIOS or hardware incompatibility.
If you do have to make a BIOS changes, it is important that you perform a fully power cycle. In other words, turn the machine off, then back on again. A reboot is generally not sufficient, especially when turning on hardware virtualization support.
If you have HT (HyperThread) capability in your processor, you should disable that in the BIOS before installing WSv – HyperThread support is planned to follow in a future release.
Once you have setup your hardware, proceed to install Windows Server 2008 x64 en-us Enterprise as a “Full Installation�. Server Core installation of Windows Server 2008 is not supported in the Preview release of WSv, nor are any other locales.
Microsoft, Windows Server 2008, RC, Release Candidate, CTP, Beta, WSv, Windows Server Virtualization, Virtualization, Tips and Tricks, Knowledgebase, Article
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