Helmers Blog

I announced it a few weeks ago, but last week the hardware arrived so I can finally start with the implementation of the Windows Essential Business Server 2008!

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Today I received a message from Steven Bink. He launched a new website about Hyper-V. HyperVoria is a new website with forums dedicated to Microsoft Hyper-V Technologies. They collect news, tips, guides about Hyper-V and publish parts with links on the main page.

Check out the new website at http://www.hypervoria.com

Following the launch of Windows Server 2008, Microsoft reached another milestone today with the release of Windows Server 2008 Hyper-V, the hypervisor-based virtualization technology that is a feature of select versions of Windows Server 2008.

Download Hyper-V FINAL update (KB950050)

Last Monday I blogged a few posts about the Beta Windows Server Virtualization exam you can attend (for the next few weeks). Today I found a few more interesting links on TechExams.net which allow you to follow the Course 6536 : Implementing Hyper-V in Windows Server® 2008 for free.

What do you need to do to get the course for free? Just follow the instructions at this Microsoft webpage.

So when you registered for free for the 71-652 beta exam, why don’t you also follow the course for the same amount of money .

What do you need to know to pass the beta exam ( I blogged about just a minute ago : MCTS Windows Server Virtualization Is Available In Beta (71-652)) (you can also follow this course for free. Check out this post for more info) :

Skills measured by Exam 70-652

Install Hyper-V (14%)

Select and configure hardware to meet Hyper-V prerequisites. This objective may include but is not limited to:

• · Evaluate existing environment
• · Disk/LUN (logical unit number)
• · Memory requirements
• · Right CPU/BIOS
• · Networking/NIC

Configure Windows Server 2008 for Hyper-V. This objective may include but is not limited to:

• · Identify requirements
• · Deploy Hyper-V w/VMM
• · Microsoft Assessment and Planning tool
• · Install on Full
• · Install on Core

Configure Hyper-V to be highly available. This objective may include but is not limited to:

• · Failover clustering
• · Disk structure (RAID, quorum, shared storage)
• · Network

Configure and Optimize Hyper-V (20%)

Manage and optimize Hyper-V server. This objective may include but is not limited to:

• · VHD (virtual hard disk) location
• · Snapshot location
• · SCVMM vNext
• · Authorization Manager
• · Release Key
• · Performance monitoring of 2k8

Configure virtual networking. This objective may include but is not limited to:

• · Virtual Network Manager tool
• · SCVMM
• · Virtual switches
• · VLAN tagging
• · External/Private/Internal switches

Configure remote administration. This objective may include but is not limited to:

• · Install Hyper-V manager (Windows 2008 & Vista)
• · WMI
• · WinRM
• · Firewall settings
• · RDP

Deploy Virtual Machines (30%)

Migrate a computer to Hyper-V. This objective may include but is not limited to:

• · From VS 2005
• · From third-party (Acronis)
• · From VPC (virtual PC)
• · From Hyper-V (import/export)
• · Intel to AMD virtual machine state
• · By using SCVMM vNext (P2V and V2V)
• · Integration Services/VM additions
• · Microsoft Assessment and Planning tool

Create or clone a virtual machine. This objective may include but is not limited to:

• · Prepare guest OS for duplication (sysprep)
• · Differencing disks
• · Copying VHD
• · SCVMM vNext
• · PXE Boot (legacy network adapter)
• · Manage the Self Service portal
• · WDS

Create a virtual disk. This objective may include but is not limited to:

• · Pass-through disks
• · Fixed vs. dynamic
• · Differencing disks
• · IDE vs SCSI
• · Virtual Hard Disk Wizard

Manage templates, profiles, and the image library by using SCVMM vNext. This objective may include but is not limited to:

• · ISOs
• · VHDs
• · Deployment from library

Manage and Monitor Virtual Machines (36%)

Monitor and optimize virtual machines.This objective may include but is not limited to:

• · Tool: Reliability and performance monitor
• · Tool: SCVMM vNext
• · Processor
• · Optimize memory
• · Network
• · Disks

Manage virtual machine settings. This objective may include but is not limited to:

• · DVD/ISO
• · NIC
• · Integration Services
• · State of virtual machines
• · Hypercall adapter availability requirements
• · Reboot/start options
• · BIOS
• · Memory
• · Proc. (NT 4.0)

Manage snapshots and backups. This objective may include but is not limited to:

• · Live backups of a VM using VSS (DPM)
• · Backup within a virtual machine
• · Snapshots

Configure a virtual machine for high availability.  This objective may include but is not limited to:

• · Quick migration
• · Storage redundancy
• · Perform a manual failover
• · Live migration if available
• · Networking redundancy