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Hyper-V is a mature, robust, proven virtualization platform. Hyper-V is a software layer that abstracts physical host server hardware resources. It presents these resources in an optimized and virtualized manner to guest virtual machines (VMs) and their workloads. Hyper-V optimizes the use of physical resources in a host server such as CPUs, memory, NICs, and power. Hyper-V virtualization allows multiple VMs to share physical host resources concurrently.
The Hyper-V role enables virtualization technology on Windows Server. Hyper-V is an optional role. Install the Hyper-V role if you want to host VMs or create Hyper-V clusters.
The Hyper-V role, the Multipath I/O feature, and the Failover Clustering feature are not installed by default. Install Multipath I/O if your environment supports MPIO. Install Failover Clustering if you plan to create failover clusters or Hyper-V clusters.
To learn more about Hyper-V features, see the Microsoft Virtualization Documentation library.
Use these methods to install and manage the Hyper-V role and other roles and features on a Windows Server:
Windows Admin Center is a free, centralized server-management tool from Microsoft. Windows Admin Center consolidates common in-box tools to simplify the management of server environments and server clusters from one interface.
Windows Admin Center is a locally installed client that is HTML5-based and browser-accessible. Windows Admin Center is also an extensible platform. Third parties can develop integrations for their own products or solutions.
PowerStore supports integration with Windows Admin Center. For more information about Windows Admin Center integration with PowerStore, see the Dell PowerStore Manager for Windows Admin Center User Guide at Dell Support.
Windows Admin Center is the recommended tool for managing Windows Server environments. However, it might not have full feature parity with the traditional management tools it replaces. Continue to use Hyper-V Manager, Failover Cluster Manager, Microsoft System Center Virtual Machine Manager (SCVMM), and Microsoft PowerShell if the functionality you want is not in Windows Admin Center.
This document includes configuration examples that use a combination of traditional tools and Windows Admin Center.
To learn more, see the Microsoft Windows Admin Center website.
For more information about Hyper-V features that are not specific to storage, see the Microsoft Virtualization Documentation library.
PowerStore support for different versions of Windows Server and the Hyper-V role might change over time. To verify Windows Server operating system and Hyper-V version compatibility with PowerStore for your environment, see the latest documentation and release notes for your version of PowerStoreOS, including the PowerStore Simple Support Matrix at Dell Support.
PowerStore supports the long-term servicing channel (LTSC) releases of Windows Server. Limit the use of other releases such as semiannual channel (SAC) (legacy) or annual channel (AC) with PowerStore to nonproduction, test, or development use. See this Microsoft article to learn more about the LTSC and AC servicing channels.
See References for a list of other resources.