How to Configure Windows 8 Client Hyper-V

Introduction

A new feature of Windows 8 is Client Hyper-v. Client Hyper-V is the virtualization technology built into Windows 8. Client Hyper-V is the same virtualization technology previously available only in Windows Server. A similar functionality in Windows 7 is called Windows XP Mode. Client Hyper-V enables you to run more than one 32-bit or 64-bit x86 operating system at the same time on the same host computer. But instead of working directly with the computer's hardware, the operating systems run inside a virtual machine (VM). Hyper-V enables developers and IT professionals to easily maintain multiple test environments and provides a simple mechanism to quickly switch among these environments.

Hardware Requirement for Hyper-v

Your computer should be installed Windows 8 Pro or Windows 8 Enterprise.
Must be using a 64-bit operating system.
Minimum 4 GB RAM.

How to configure Client Hyper-v in Windows 8?

Step 1

To use Client Hyper-v you first must enable Hyper-v on your computer. To enable Hyper-v to go to the search box and type "Turn windows feature on or off" and click on the application that appears in the results window.

Step 2

Select "Hyper-v" and click on "OK". After enabling your computer it will be restarted.

Step 3

After the system restarts go to the search box and type "Hyper-v" and click on "Hyper-v" from the results window.

Step 4

The Hyper-v window will be opened. In this window click on "Virtual Switch Manager" to create a virtual switch.

Step 5

In this step select which type you want to create a virtual switch for and click on "Create a virtual switch".

Step 6

Choose a name for the Virtual Switch Manager and click on "OK". If you want to enable your "VLAIN ID" then click on "VLAIN ID".

Step 7

After creating the Virtual Switch Manager you will now create the new virtual machine. For that click on "New" and select "Virtual Machine" or go to the "Action" menu and select "Virtual Machine" from the "New" option.

Step 8

In this step click on "Finish" to create a virtual machine that is configured with default values and click on "Next" to create a virtual machine with a custom configuration. We will click on "Next" for custom configuration.

Step 9

In this step choose a name and location for the virtual machine. To choose a location check "Store the virtual machine in a different location" and click on "Browse" and select the location you want to store the virtual machine. After selecting the location click on "Next".

Step 10

In this step specify the amount of memory to allocate to this virtual machine. If you want the virtual machine to allocate dynamic memory to run then click on "Use dynamic memory for this virtual machine" and click on "Next".

Step 11

In this step, we can configure the network adapter to use a virtual switch. Select your Virtual Switch Manager from the drop-down and click on "Next".

Step 12

In this step, we specify a storage location for the virtual operating system to be installed. Click on "Browse" and locate the storage location. After locating the storage location click "Next".

Step 13

In this step click on "Install an operating system from a boot CD/DVD ROM" to select the installation media, such as CD/DVD or ISO file. If you have a CD/DVD then insert it into the computer and click on "Physical CD/DVD drive" and select it. If you have an ISO file then click on "Image File" and click on "Browse" and locate your image file or if you have another installation media then select your installation media.