Recommended Posts

I am studying for my MCSE and I am new to Hyper-V as I used VMWare Workstation for years previous for web development and self study.

 

I have a few questions?

 

In VMWare Workstation I could create folders in the Virtual Machines List so I could have Base Images, Domain A, bla.com, etc. What I would do is copy a virtual hard disk from the Base Images folder to another another and create another VM and link it to the VM. Viola I know copied the base Server2008 base image to A-DC1 domain controller etc.

 

Hyper V is confusing as I am trying to do the same. I tried export VM and then import VM and all it did was create 3 virtual machines?? One during the export and re-importing it forked it again as the virtual disk needed to be a different ID if correct? Also it gave it the same name. I want not only a different VM name, but also folder, disk, etc so I do not get confused

 

My question is how do I:

1. Create a folder in the Virtual Machines list as I have a ton of base images and plan to create several domains that can get large as I add more services in my lab

2. Copy or easily import/export a VM for my existing base images and have them appear in my virtual machines list without 3 different variations.

 

I figured I am just doing something wrong

Cant create folders on Hyper-V Manager Tool (I know sucks!) - Just have to name them correctly

 

Use Differencing Disks (http://blogs.technet.com/b/canitpro/archive/2013/05/29/step-by-step-creating-differencing-disks.aspx) - Create Baseline VM, sysprep it, delete VM out off Hyper-V (But don't delete the disk) and then create new New VM within Hyper-V Manager Tool with no new hard drive, when done, open the settings on the VM and add a new harddrive but use the option "Differencing disk".

 

So your base line disk is used as a starting point but a new disk is created and anything new is put into this. Saves alot of time, FYI use a SSD if you can for the Baseline VHD file.

  On 18/06/2015 at 05:20, The_Observer said:

Cant create folders on Hyper-V Manager Tool (I know sucks!) - Just have to name them correctly

Use Differencing Disks (http://blogs.technet.com/b/canitpro/archive/2013/05/29/step-by-step-creating-differencing-disks.aspx) - Create Baseline VM, sysprep it, delete VM out off Hyper-V (But don't delete the disk) and then create new New VM within Hyper-V Manager Tool with no new hard drive, when done, open the settings on the VM and add a new harddrive but use the option "Differencing disk".

So your base line disk is used as a starting point but a new disk is created and anything new is put into this. Saves alot of time, FYI use a SSD if you can for the Baseline VHD file.

Wouldn't it be easier if there was a cloning function?

Even the free virtualbox has this. So far I an disappointed in hyper-v but I am glad I am switching to it to learn as these quirks help me pass the exams.

I will read up and see if I can use your suggestion of a half way done sysprep. It would be great if any new vm would oob experience upon startup :-)

  On 18/06/2015 at 12:33, sinetheo said:

Wouldn't it be easier if there was a cloning function?

Even the free virtualbox has this. So far I an disappointed in hyper-v but I am glad I am switching to it to learn as these quirks help me pass the exams.

I will read up and see if I can use your suggestion of a half way done sysprep. It would be great if any new vm would oob experience upon startup :-)

it would but hyper-v's clone funciton is implimented by the user using ye old Copy and Paste method :(

  On 18/06/2015 at 05:20, The_Observer said:

Cant create folders on Hyper-V Manager Tool (I know sucks!) - Just have to name them correctly

 

Use Differencing Disks (http://blogs.technet.com/b/canitpro/archive/2013/05/29/step-by-step-creating-differencing-disks.aspx) - Create Baseline VM, sysprep it, delete VM out off Hyper-V (But don't delete the disk) and then create new New VM within Hyper-V Manager Tool with no new hard drive, when done, open the settings on the VM and add a new harddrive but use the option "Differencing disk".

 

So your base line disk is used as a starting point but a new disk is created and anything new is put into this. Saves alot of time, FYI use a SSD if you can for the Baseline VHD file.

 

A question?

 

Can I use the same copied virtual hard disks between different VM's or do I have to link to a read-only parent and set a diff for each VM to do this? 

  On 18/06/2015 at 18:34, sinetheo said:

A question?

 

Can I use the same copied virtual hard disks between different VM's or do I have to link to a read-only parent and set a diff for each VM to do this? 

 

Each VM would use the same Parent Read Only VHD file and each VM would create a new VHD with new data. You cant copy the and VM hard drive without Sysprep cause WIndows Server SSID (i think that is correct)

  • 2 weeks later...
  On 18/06/2015 at 23:29, The_Observer said:

Each VM would use the same Parent Read Only VHD file and each VM would create a new VHD with new data. You cant copy the and VM hard drive without Sysprep cause WIndows Server SSID (i think that is correct)

 

I call shenanigans on this.  Provided the computer isn't domain joined you can copy the VHD file and create as many VM's as you want from it.  I'd obviously recommend renaming them afterwards and ensuring you're using DHCP.

 

Source: Senior software tester on the Hyper-V project at Hitachi.  We do this for hundreds of VM's in test labs with no ill effects.  Secondary source: Mark Russinovich debunking the SID myth.

  On 02/07/2015 at 08:11, jamieakers said:

I call shenanigans on this.  Provided the computer isn't domain joined you can copy the VHD file and create as many VM's as you want from it.  I'd obviously recommend renaming them afterwards and ensuring you're using DHCP.

 

Source: Senior software tester on the Hyper-V project at Hitachi.  We do this for hundreds of VM's in test labs with no ill effects.  Secondary source: Mark Russinovich debunking the SID myth.

 

interesting, BUT For the DC you want to create from a clone, create a unique installation or run Sysprep. - Mark Russinovich. OP is studying for MSCE so he will want or need to create labs with DCs so sysprep would be needed. 

This topic is now closed to further replies.
  • Posts

    • I don't think RTSS can show the real framerate. In fact, this is the first time I have ever heard about anything showing it.
    • Yeah, Deck's overlay has CPU temps. Maybe they don't want to rely on external dlls to provide CPU temperature graphs on all machines? From my experience with Rivatuner it can be annoying to select the correct CPU temperature sensor.
    • Why would I be praising Microsoft? You do realize I'm well aware the Gamebar is a stinking pile of crap and has been for years, right? Or are you one of those "if you don't critique something at every turn you area clearly a fanboy" people? Yes, MangoHUD is built into SteamOS's Big Picture mode, and up until a few weeks ago, SteamOS was exclusive to... the Steam Deck... for 3 years. Yet you were talking about it as if you didn't need to set it up yourself, like it was built into other distributions, which it wasn't. So if we ignore the real/fake framerate feature, it's really not much different than me setting up my Rivatuner/HWInfo overlay, is it? Valve had the option of building MangoHUD into Steam, like they are doing it now, for 3 years. So let's not pretend Windows hasn't had a basic way to display your framerate built in, keeping well aware how crap it actually is. And I'm not even counting your GPU driver company, because Nvidia, AMD and Intel have their own (somehow even worse than GameBar) overlays. And of course they won't tell you fake/real framerate, why would Nvidia nor AMD want to tell you? That is absolutely a +1 on Valve.
    • As much as I like the push towards Wayland (is Gnome still bickering about window decorations and "you are doing it wrong"ing rest of the industry?) but as an admin, the fact that the FreeRDP (because VNC is dead) implementation is not functional yet is really annoying, as that is what RHEL10, and Debian13, will be stuck with for the next 3-8 years.
    • qBittorrent 5.1.1 by Razvan Serea The qBittorrent project aims to provide a Free Software alternative to µtorrent. qBittorrent is an advanced and multi-platform BitTorrent client with a nice user interface as well as a Web UI for remote control and an integrated search engine. qBittorrent aims to meet the needs of most users while using as little CPU and memory as possible. qBittorrent is a truly Open Source project, and as such, anyone can and should contribute to it. qBittorrent features: Polished µTorrent-like User Interface Well-integrated and extensible Search Engine Simultaneous search in most famous BitTorrent search sites Per-category-specific search requests (e.g. Books, Music, Movies) All Bittorrent extensions DHT, Peer Exchange, Full encryption, Magnet/BitComet URIs, ... Remote control through a Web user interface Nearly identical to the regular UI, all in Ajax Advanced control over trackers, peers and torrents Torrents queueing and prioritizing Torrent content selection and prioritizing UPnP / NAT-PMP port forwarding support Available in ~25 languages (Unicode support) Torrent creation tool Advanced RSS support with download filters (inc. regex) Bandwidth scheduler IP Filtering (eMule and PeerGuardian compatible) IPv6 compliant Available on most platforms: Linux, Mac OS X, Windows, OS/2, FreeBSD qBittorrent 5.1.1 changelog: BUGFIX: Don't interpret wildcard pattern as filepath globbing (glassez) BUGFIX: Fix appearance of search history length spinbox (glassez) BUGFIX: Remove dubious seeding time max value (glassez) BUGFIX: Fix ratio handling (glassez) BUGFIX: Fix compilation with Qt 6.6.0 (glassez) WEBUI: Make General tab text selectable by default (dezza) WEBUI: Add versioning to local preferences (Chocobo1) WEBUI: Make multi-rename search & replace fields use a monospace font (Atk) WEBUI: Fix wrong replacement sequence in IPv6 string (Chocobo1) WEBUI: Fix memory leak (bolshoytoster) WEBUI: Fix path autofill in set location and new category (tehcneko) RSS: Mark matched article as "read" if it refers to a duplicate torrent (glassez) WINDOWS: Update command line help message (KanishkaHalder1771) WINDOWS: NSIS: Don't require agreement on the license page (Chocobo1) LINUX: Fix preview not opening on Wayland (Isak05) LINUX: Add fallback for random number generator (Chocobo1) Download: qBittorrent 5.1.1 | Portable | ~40.0 MB (Open Source) Download: qBittorrent 64-bit installer (qt6) | 41.7 MB Links: qBittorrent Home page | Screenshot Get alerted to all of our Software updates on Twitter at @NeowinSoftware
  • Recent Achievements

    • Week One Done
      urbanmopdubai1 earned a badge
      Week One Done
    • One Month Later
      Jim Dugan earned a badge
      One Month Later
    • First Post
      Johnny Mrkvička earned a badge
      First Post
    • Week One Done
      viraltui earned a badge
      Week One Done
    • One Month Later
      serfegyed earned a badge
      One Month Later
  • Popular Contributors

    1. 1
      +primortal
      653
    2. 2
      Michael Scrip
      227
    3. 3
      ATLien_0
      218
    4. 4
      Steven P.
      150
    5. 5
      Xenon
      145
  • Tell a friend

    Love Neowin? Tell a friend!