Download Hyper-V Server 2016
If you are looking for a simple and reliable virtualization solution for your datacenter and hybrid cloud, you might want to consider downloading Hyper-V Server 2016. This is a free product from Microsoft that delivers enterprise-class virtualization with only the essential components. In this article, we will explain what is Hyper-V Server 2016, what are its features and benefits, what are its system requirements, how to download it, how to install it, and how to configure and manage it. By the end of this article, you will have a clear idea of how to get started with Hyper-V Server 2016.
download hyper-v server 2016
What is Hyper-V Server 2016?
Hyper-V Server 2016 is a stand-alone product that contains only the Windows hypervisor , a Windows Server driver model, and virtualization components. It does not include the graphical user interface (GUI), Windows Server roles and features, or premium features. Hyper-V Server 2016 is ideal for customers who want to run virtual machines on a dedicated server without paying for additional licenses or features that they do not need. Hyper-V Server 2016 can be managed remotely by using various tools, such as Hyper-V Manager, Virtual Machine Manager, Windows PowerShell, or Windows Admin Center.
Hyper-V Server 2016 is based on the same hypervisor technology as Windows Server 2016, which means that it supports the same virtualization features and capabilities. Some of these features are:
Support for up to 240 logical processors and 12 TB of memory per host
Support for up to 512 GB of memory and 64 virtual processors per virtual machine
Support for nested virtualization, which allows you to run Hyper-V inside a Hyper-V virtual machine
Support for shielded virtual machines, which protect your virtual machines from unauthorized access or tampering by using encryption and a Host Guardian Service
Support for Linux Integration Services, which provide enhanced performance and functionality for Linux-based virtual machines
Support for Windows containers, which allow you to run isolated applications on the same host operating system
Support for software-defined networking, which enables you to create and manage virtual networks across multiple hosts and sites
Support for storage spaces direct, which allows you to create highly available and scalable storage pools by using local disks on each host
Support for storage quality of service, which allows you to monitor and manage the performance of your storage resources
Support for live migration, which allows you to move running virtual machines from one host to another without downtime
Support for storage migration, which allows you to move the storage of a running virtual machine from one location to another without downtime
Support for shared nothing live migration, which allows you to move a running virtual machine from one host to another without shared storage or network connections
Support for hot add and remove of memory and network adapters, which allows you to change the configuration of a running virtual machine without rebooting
Support for checkpoints, which allow you to capture the state of a virtual machine and revert to it later if needed
Support for PowerShell Direct, which allows you to run PowerShell commands inside a virtual machine from the host operating system without network connectivity or remote management settings
System requirements for Hyper-V Server 2016
To install and run Hyper-V Server 2016, you need a computer that meets the following minimum hardware and software requirements:
ComponentRequirement
CPUA 64-bit processor with second-level address translation (SLAT)
RAMA minimum of 4 GB of RAM (more is recommended)
Disk spaceA minimum of 32 GB of disk space (more is required if you plan to create large virtual machines)
Disk formatA disk partition that uses the GUID Partition Table (GPT) format (required for UEFI boot)
Disk controllerA disk controller that supports Pre-boot Execution Environment (PXE) boot (required for network installation)
Network adapterA network adapter that supports NDIS 6.x and above (required for network connectivity)
FirmwareA firmware that supports Unified Extensible Firmware Interface (UEFI) 2.3.1c-based Secure Boot (recommended for security)
Software updatesThe latest updates from Windows Update (recommended for stability and performance)
Antivirus softwareAn antivirus software that is compatible with Hyper-V Server 2016 (recommended for protection)
You can check if your computer meets these requirements by using the System Information tool or the Coreinfo tool. You can also use the Get-WindowsFeature cmdlet in Windows PowerShell to see if the Hyper-V role is available on your computer.
How to download Hyper-V Server 2016?
To download Hyper-V Server 2016, you need to visit the Microsoft Evaluation Center website and follow these steps:
Register for a free trial
The first step is to register for a free trial of Hyper -V Server 2016. You can do this by clicking on the "Register to continue" button on the Hyper-V Server 2016 page. You will need to provide some basic information, such as your name, email address, country, and organization. You will also need to agree to the terms and conditions and the privacy statement. After you complete the registration, you will receive an email with a link to download Hyper-V Server 2016 and some resources to guide you through your deployment.
Download the ISO file
The next step is to download the ISO file of Hyper-V Server 2016. You can do this by clicking on the link in the email that you received or by visiting the Hyper-V Server 2016 page again and clicking on the "Download" button. You will need to choose the language and edition that you want to download. The ISO file is about 1.5 GB in size, so it may take some time to download depending on your internet speed. After you download the ISO file, you should verify its integrity by using a tool such as HashCalc or PowerShell to check its SHA256 hash value. The hash value should match the one that is displayed on the download page.
How to install Hyper-V Server 2016?
To install Hyper-V Server 2016, you need to burn the ISO file to a DVD or a USB flash drive and boot your computer from it. You can use a tool such as Windows USB/DVD Download Tool or Rufus to create a bootable media. You can also use a network installation method if you have a PXE-enabled network adapter and a Windows Deployment Services server. Once you boot your computer from the installation media, you can follow these steps:
Install Hyper-V by using Server Manager
The easiest way to install Hyper-V is by using Server Manager, which is a graphical user interface that guides you through the installation process. To install Hyper-V by using Server Manager, you need to do the following:
How to download and install Hyper-V Server 2016
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Hyper-V Server 2016 Linux integration services
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Hyper-V Server 2016 sconfig.cmd tool
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Hyper-V Server 2016 backup and restore options
Hyper-V Server 2016 disaster recovery solutions
Hyper-V Server 2016 troubleshooting tips and tricks
Hyper-V Server 2016 best practices and recommendations
On the Windows Setup screen, choose your language, time and currency format, and keyboard layout, and then click Next.
On the next screen, click Install now.
On the Select the operating system you want to install screen, choose Hyper-V Server 2016 and then click Next.
On the License terms screen, read the license terms and then select I accept the license terms if you agree with them. Click Next.
On the Which type of installation do you want? screen, choose Custom: Install Windows only (advanced).
On the Where do you want to install Windows? screen, choose the disk partition where you want to install Hyper-V Server 2016. If you need to create or format a partition, click Drive options (advanced) and follow the instructions. Click Next.
Wait for the installation to complete. Your computer will restart several times during this process.
After the installation is complete, you will see a screen that says Administrator password required. Enter a strong password for the local administrator account and then confirm it. Click Finish.
You will see a command prompt window that says Microsoft Hyper-V Server 2016 Configuration. This is Sconfig.cmd, a tool that helps you configure some basic settings for your server. You can use this tool later to update or change these settings.
Type 8 and press Enter to configure Network Settings. Choose your network adapter and then configure its IP address, subnet mask, default gateway, and DNS servers. Press Enter when done.
Type 1 and press Enter to configure Computer Name. Enter a new name for your server and then press Enter. You will be asked to restart your server for this change to take effect.
Type 2 and press Enter to configure Domain/Workgroup. Choose whether you want to join your server to a domain or a workgroup and then enter the name of the domain or workgroup. You will be asked to provide credentials if you choose to join a domain.
Type 11 and press Enter to exit Sconfig.cmd and return to the command prompt.
Type start /w ocsetup Microsoft-Hyper-V-Server-Core /norestart and press Enter to install Hyper-V on your server. Wait for the installation to complete.
Type shutdown /r /t 0 and press Enter to restart your server.
After your server restarts, you will see a command prompt window again. You have successfully installed Hyper-V by using Server Manager.
Install Hyper-V by using Windows PowerShell
If you prefer to use Windows PowerShell instead of Server Manager, you can install Hyper-V by using the Install-WindowsFeature cmdlet. To install Hyper-V by using Windows PowerShell, you need to do the following:
On the Windows Setup screen, choose your language, time and currency format, and keyboard layout, and then click Next.
On the next screen, click Install now.
On the Select the operating system you want to install screen, choose Hyper-V Server 2016 and then click Next.
On the License terms screen, read the license terms and then select I accept the license terms if you agree with them. Click Next.
On the Which type of installation do you want? screen, choose Custom: Install Windows only (advanced).
On the Where do you want to install Windows? screen, choose the disk partition where you want to install Hyper-V Server 2016. If you need to create or format a partition, click Drive options (advanced) and follow the instructions. Click Next.
Wait for the installation to complete. Your computer will restart several times during this process.
After the installation is complete, you will see a screen that says Administrator password required. Enter a strong password for the local administrator account and then confirm it. Click Finish.
You will see a command prompt window that says Microsoft Hyper-V Server 2016 Configuration. This is Sconfig.cmd, a tool that helps you configure some basic settings for your server. You can use this tool later to update or change these settings.
Type 8 and press Enter to configure Network Settings. Choose your network adapter and then configure its IP address, subnet mask, default gateway, and DNS servers. Press Enter when done.
Type 1 and press Enter to configure Computer Name. Enter a new name for your server and then press Enter. You will be asked to restart your server for this change to take effect.
Type 2 and press Enter to configure Domain/Workgroup. Choose whether you want to join your server to a domain or a workgroup and then enter the name of the domain or workgroup. You will be asked to provide credentials if you choose to join a domain.
Type 11 and press Enter to exit Sconfig.cmd and return to the command prompt.
Type powershell and press Enter to launch Windows PowerShell.
Type Install-WindowsFeature -Name Hyper-V -IncludeManagementTools -Restart and press Enter to install Hyper-V on your server. Wait for the installation to complete. Your computer will restart automatically.
After your computer restarts, you will see a command prompt window again. You have successfully installed Hyper-V by using Windows PowerShell.
How to configure and manage Hyper-V Server 2016?
After you install Hyper-V Server 2016, you need to configure and manage it according to your needs and preferences. There are various tools and methods that you can use to do this, such as Sconfig.cmd, command prompt, Windows PowerShell, Hyper-V Manager, Virtual Machine Manager, or Windows Admin Center. Here are some of the common tasks and resources that can help you configure and manage Hyper-V Server 2016:
Configure a Server Core installation with Sconfig.cmd
Sconfig.cmd is a tool that helps you configure some basic settings for your server, such as network settings, computer name, domain or workgroup membership, Windows Update settings, remote management settings, firewall settings, date and time settings, and more. You can access Sconfig.cmd by typing sconfig at the command prompt. You can also use Sconfig.cmd remotely by using Remote Desktop Connection or Windows PowerShell Remoting. For more information about Sconfig.cmd, see Configure a Server Core installation with Sconfig.cmd.
Use an ordinary command prompt for commands not available in Sconfig
If you need to use commands that are not available in Sconfig.cmd, such as diskpart or netsh, you can use an ordinary command prompt instead. To access an ordinary command prompt from Sconfig.cmd , you can type 14 and press Enter. To return to Sconfig.cmd from an ordinary command prompt, you can type exit and press Enter. You can also use an ordinary command prompt remotely by using Remote Desktop Connection or Windows PowerShell Remoting. For more information about command prompt, see Command Prompt: frequently asked questions.
Use Hyper-V Manager or Virtual Machine Manager to remotely manage Hyper-V Server
If you want to use a graphical user interface to manage Hyper-V Server, you can use Hyper-V Manager or Virtual Machine Manager. These are tools that allow you to create and manage virtual machines, virtual switches, virtual hard disks, checkpoints, and other virtualization components. You can use these tools remotely from another computer that has the Hyper-V role installed or the Remote Server Administration Tools (RSAT) for Windows 10. You will need to enable remote management on your Hyper-V Server by using Sconfig.cmd or Windows PowerShell. For more information about Hyper-V Manager, see Manage Hyper-V Server 2016 with Hyper-V Manager. For more information about Virtual Machine Manager, see What is Virtual Machine Manager?
See Install Server Core for additional management options
If you need to configure and manage basic server functions that are not specific to Hyper-V, such as roles and features, local users and groups, firewall rules, event logs, services, and more, you can refer to the Install Server Core article for additional management options. These options include Windows PowerShell, Windows Admin Center, RSAT for Windows 10, Remote Desktop Connection, and more. You can also use these options remotely from another computer that has the appropriate tools installed. For more information about these options, see Install Server Core.
How to create and manage virtual machines in Hyper-V Server 2016?
After you configure and manage Hyper-V Server 2016, you can start creating and managing virtual machines on it. Virtual machines are software-based computers that run on the physical hardware of your Hyper-V Server. You can use virtual machines to run different operating systems and applications without affecting each other or the host operating system. There are various tasks and resources that can help you create and manage virtual machines in Hyper-V Server 2016, such as:
Create a virtual machine in Hyper-V
The first step to create a virtual machine in Hyper-V is to choose a method that suits your needs and preferences. You can create a virtual machine by using Hyper-V Manager, Virtual Machine Manager, Windows PowerShell, or Windows Admin Center. You can also import an existing virtual machine from another host or export a virtual machine to another location. You will need to specify some settings for your virtual machine, such as name, generation, memory, processor, network adapter, hard disk, and operating system. For detailed instructions on how to create a virtual machine in Hyper-V by using various methods, see Create a virtual machine in Hyper-V.
Choose between standard or production checkpoints
A checkpoint is a snapshot of the state of a virtual machine at a point in time. You can use checkpoints to restore a virtual machine to a previous state if something goes wrong or if you want to test something without affecting the current state. There are two types of checkpoints in Hyper-V: standard and production. A standard checkpoint captures the entire state of the virtual machine, including the memory, CPU, disk, and device configuration. A production checkpoint captures only the data on the disk by using backup technology inside the guest operating system. A production checkpoint is more reliable and consistent than a standard checkpoint, but it may not work for some operating systems or applications that do not support backup operations. You can choose whether to enable or disable checkpoints for a virtual machine and whether to use standard or production checkpoints as the default type. For more information about checkpoints in Hyper-V , see Checkpoints in Hyper-V.
Manage Windows virtual machines with PowerShell Direct
PowerShell Direct is a feature that allows you to run PowerShell commands inside a virtual machine from the host operating system without requiring network connectivity or remote management settings. This can be useful for troubleshooting, configuration, or automation purposes. You can use PowerShell Direct with any Windows 10 or Windows Server 2016 virtual machine that has the latest updates installed. You will need to have administrator credentials for the virtual machine and Hyper-V administrator rights on the host. To use PowerShell Direct, you can use the Enter-PSSession or Invoke-Command cmdlets with the -VMName or -VMId parameters. For more information about PowerShell Direct, see Manage Windows virtual machines with PowerShell Direct.
Conclusion
In this article, we have explained how to download, install, configure, and manage Hyper-V Server 2016, a free product from Microsoft that delivers enterprise-class virtualization with only the essential components. We have also shown you how to create and manage virtual machines in Hyper-V Server 2016 by using various tools and methods. We hope that this article has helped you get started with Hyper-V Server 2016 and that you will enjoy its benefits and features.
If you want to learn more about Hyper-V Server 2016, you can visit the following resources:
Hyper-V Server 2016 product page
Hyper-V Server 2016 documentation
Hyper-V Server 2016 forums
Hyper-V Server 2016 blog
If you have any questions or feedback about Hyper-V Server 2016, you can contact us by using the feedback button on this page or by leaving a comment below. We would love to hear from you and help you with your virtualization needs.
FAQs
Here are some of the frequently asked questions and answers about Hyper-V Server 2016:
Q: What is the difference between Hyper-V Server 2016 and Windows Server 2016 with Hyper-V role?
A: Hyper-V Server 2016 is a stand-alone product that contains only the Windows hypervisor, a Windows Server driver model, and virtualization components. It does not include the graphical user interface (GUI), Windows Server roles and features, or premium features. Windows Server 2016 with Hyper-V role is a full-featured server operating system that includes the Hyper-V role as well as other roles and features. It also includes premium features such as Storage Replica, Storage Spaces Direct, Shielded Virtual Machines, and Host Guardian Service.
Q: How much does Hyper-V Server 2016 cost?
A: Hyper-V Server 2016 is a free product that does not require any license or activation. However, you will still need to license the guest operating systems that run on your virtual machines according to their terms and conditions.
Q: How can I upgrade from Hyper-V Server 2012 R2 to Hyper-V Server 2016?
A: You can upgrade from Hyper-V Server 2012 R2 to Hyper-V Server 2016 by using the same installation media that you use for a clean installation. You will need to choose the Upgrade option on the Windows Setup screen and follow the instructions. You will also need to ensure that your hardware and software are compatible with Hyper-V Server 2016 before you start the upgrade process. For more information about upgrading to Hyper-V Server 2016, see Upgrade options for Hyper-V Server.
Q: How can I migrate my virtual machines from another host to Hyper-V Server 2016?
A: You can migrate your virtual machines from another host to Hyper-V Server 2016 by using various methods, such as live migration, storage migration, shared nothing live migration, import/export, or backup/restore. The method that you choose depends on factors such as the source and destination hosts, the network and storage configuration, the downtime tolerance, and the migration frequency. For more information about migrating virtual machines to Hyper-V Server 2016, see Migrate virtual machines to Hyper-V Server.
Q: How can I get support for Hyper-V Server 2016?
A: You can get support for Hyper-V Server 2016 by using various channels, such as online forums, blogs, documentation, feedback tools, or Microsoft support services. You can also contact your hardware vendor or partner for support if you have purchased a certified server or solution that includes Hyper-V Server 2016. For more information about support options for Hyper-V Server 2016, see Support options for Hyper-V Server. 44f88ac181
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