Configuring Hyper-V Virtual Machine Storage in Windows Server 2012 - “Early Experts” Challenge - Exam 70-410 and 70-417

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This study guide is provided as part of the Windows Server 2012 "Early Experts" Challenge and steps through the resources that I personally used when preparing for the following exam objectives on Exam 70-410, Installing and Configuring Windows Server 2012 and Exam 70-417, Upgrading Your Skills to MCSA Windows Server 2012:

  • Configure Hyper-V (17%)
    • Create VHDs and VHDXs
    • Configure Differencing Disks
    • Modify Virtual Hard Disks
    • Configure Pass-Through Disks
    • Manage Virtual Machine Snapshots
    • Implement a Virtual Fibre Channel Adapter

What is the Windows Server 2012 "Early Experts" Challenge?

The Windows Server 2012 "Early Experts" Challenge is a FREE online peer study group that is leveraging a set of study resources, such as this study guide, to prepare for the MCSA on Windows Server 2012 certification exams as an IT Pro community.  This study guide and the "Early Experts" Challenge are intended as post-training resources for IT Pros with significant prior experience in previous versions of Windows Server and/or IT Pros that have completed formal training on Windows Server 2012 and are preparing for certification.  Formal instructor-led training on these exam objectives is available from local Microsoft Learning partners that are delivering the following Microsoft Official Course:

Completion of this study guide satisfies one portion of the "Early Experts" Virtualizer Quest study requirements.  Learn more about the "Early Experts" Challenge peer study group and join us online at: https://earlyexperts.net.

Watch: Hyper-V Storage in Windows Server 2012

Watch this video for a technical overview of the new storage features in Hyper-V in Windows Server 2012, including the following specific topics:

  • New virtual hard disk format (VHDX)
  • Support for Offloaded Data Transfer (ODX)
  • Support for Large Sector Physical Disks (4KB and 512e)
  • Using Hyper-V with Storage Spaces
  • Using Hyper-V with SMB 3.0 File Storage
  • Hyper-V Performance and Scaling Improvements related to Storage
  • Sample Storage Configurations, including Stand-alone server and Clustered options

Download this presentation for offline viewing.

Study: Configure Hyper-V Storage

Leverage these study materials to review the concepts and tasks involved in configuring Hyper-V storage.  Note that some of these concepts are common to Windows Server 2012 and Windows Server 2008 R2.  As a result, some of the resource links may reference older versions of Windows Server.  However, these materials are still relevant for Windows Server 2012.

Do It: Configure and Migrate Hyper-V Storage

  1. Leveraging the steps in the Configuring Virtual Disks and Storage guide, configure a new virtual machine with a dynamic virtual hard disk using the new VHDX format.  Install Windows Server 2012 in this new virtual machine.
  2. Leveraging the steps in this Live Storage Migration article, perform a storage migration of the virtual hard disks on your VM to a new folder location.

What’s Next? Keep Going!

After you've completing this study guide, complete the other study guides in the Windows Server 2012 "Early Experts" Virtualizer Quest to receive your personalized "Early Experts – Virtualizer" completion certification, suitable for framing and sharing online!

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HTH,

Keith