CentOS Linux Guests Now Supported Within Hyper-V

The CentOS Linux distribution is now supported as a guest within Hyper-V. Please see Sandy Gupta’s blog post:

https://blogs.technet.com/b/openness/archive/2011/05/15/expanding-interoperability-to-community-linux.aspx

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FAQ

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Q: What CentOS versions are supported?

A: CentOS 5.2 through 5.6 (32-bit and 64-bit versions) are now supported as Hyper-V guests. Support will cover installation issues as well as configuration issues.

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Q: Will you be adding support for additional Linux distributions?

A: We continue to evaluate adding additional Linux distributions to the supported list.

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Q: What version of the Linux Integration Services support CentOS?

A: The existing Hyper-V Linux Integration Services for Linux Version 2.1 support CentOS. The following features are included in the Hyper-V Linux Integration Services 2.1 release:

· Symmetric Multi-Processing (SMP) Support: Supported Linux distributions can use up to 4 virtual processors (VP) per virtual machine.

· Driver support for synthetic devices: Linux Integration Services supports the synthetic network controller and the synthetic storage controller that were developed specifically for Hyper-V.

· Fastpath Boot Support for Hyper-V: Boot devices take advantage of the block Virtualization Service Client (VSC) to provide enhanced performance.

· Timesync: The clock inside the virtual machine will remain synchronized with the clock on the host.

· Integrated Shutdown: Virtual machines running Linux can be gracefully shut down from either Hyper-V Manager or System Center Virtual Machine Manager.

· Heartbeat: Allows the host to detect whether the guest is running and responsive.

· Pluggable Time Source: A pluggable clock source module is included to provide a more accurate time source to the guest.

The Linux Integration Services are available via the Microsoft Download Center here: https://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?displaylang=en&FamilyID=eee39325-898b-4522-9b4c-f4b5b9b64551

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Q: I’m unfamiliar with the different Linux distributions available. Can you tell me more about CentOS?

A: From Wikipedia:

CentOS is a community-supported, mainly free software operating system based on Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL). It exists to provide a free enterprise class computing platform and strives to maintain 100% binary compatibility with its upstream distribution. CentOS stands for Community ENTerprise Operating System.

Red Hat Enterprise Linux is available only through a paid subscription service that provides access to software updates and varying levels of technical support. The product is largely composed of software packages distributed under either an open source or a free software license and the source code for these packages is made public by Red Hat.

CentOS developers use Red Hat's source code to create a final product very similar to Red Hat Enterprise Linux. Red Hat's branding and logos are changed because Red Hat does not allow them to be redistributed.

CentOS is available free of charge. Technical support is primarily provided by the community via official mailing lists, web forums, and chat rooms. The project is not affiliated with Red Hat and thus receives no financial or logistical support from the company; instead, the CentOS Project relies on donations from users and organizational sponsors.