When Windows Server 2012 was rolled out, it brought Windows Hyper-V it brought most of the features of the native hypervisor on par with virtualization leaders Citrix and VMware.
With Windows Server 2012 R2 and Hyper-V 2012 R2, the product is one of the best solutions available, according to software engineer Matthew Mombrea, who is founder of Buffalo-based marketing and development firm CypressNorth.
Despite the many new features and functionalities available with a 2012 R2 setup, IT operations need to be aware of some issues, he warned in a recent article on ITWorld.com.
When his company moved to Hyper-V 2012 R2, the improved Live Migration speed, enhanced Linux support and the ability to re-size virtual hard drives with the VMs still operating, were a big draw.
This was all very good until they found out that once a VM is brought to R2, it cannot be brought back to an older version.
Another problem was that admins cannot manage a 2012 R2 installation from a 2012 server
“This was less of a problem when the new machine is a full install of Windows Server 2012 R2 since it can manage itself, but if you install Windows or Hyper-V Core 2012 R2, you can find yourself without any management,” he said.
Mombrea suggests running a new VM on a 2012 host but have that VM run 2012 R2 which can be downloaded free from TechNet for a 180 day evaluation. “Then you can use that VM to configure your new host if necessary.”