WSV Customer Technology Preview (CTP) Setup Guide

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Windows Server virtualization is now publicly available with Windows Server 2008 Release Candidate 0. The build number for Windows Server RC0 is: 6001.16659.070916-1443.

Publicly, you can download Windows Server 2008 RC0 here: https://www.microsoft.com/windowsserver2008/audsel.mspx

 

System Requirements:

· Windows Server virtualization requires an x64-based processor, hardware-assisted virtualization (AMD-V or Intel VT), and hardware data execution protection.

· Ensure your BIOS is up-to-date and has:

o Hardware Assisted Virtualization is enabled in the BIOS

o Data Execution Prevention enabled in the BIOS

§ No Execute (NX) bit on AMD systems

§ Execute Disable (XD) bit on Intel systems

NOTE: If any of these features were disabled in the BIOS, be sure to POWER OFF the system (not just reboot) to ensure they are properly enabled.

 

High Level Setup:

1. Install a Full Installation of Windows Server 2008 Enterprise x64 Edition.

a. WSV is also included with Windows Server 2008 Standard and Datacenter Editions; however, the majority of our testing has been on Enterprise Edition at this time so we recommend using the Enterprise Edition.

b. Currently, WSV doesn’t work with Server Core installation but will work with Server Core in a future release.

2. Go to the following folder on the disk: ~:\Windows\wsv

3. You will see two .MSU files: Windows6.0-KB939853-x64 and Windows6.0-KB939854-x64.

a. Double click on Windows6.0-KB939853-x64.msu and proceed through the installation process.

b. Double click on Windows6.0-KB939854-x64.msu and proceed through the installation process.

4. Go to the Start menu and launch Server Manager.

5. Go to the Roles Summary and click Add Roles.

6. Proceed through the wizard and select to install Windows Server virtualization.

7. Complete the wizard and RESTART when prompted.

8. After the restart, installation will continue and complete.

9. When installation is complete, you can now go to: Start Menu-->Administration Tools and launch the Windows Virtualization Management MMC Console. From the MMC, you can now create virtual machines!

NOTE: It is CRITICIAL that you perform steps 2 & 3, otherwise the option to install the Windows Server virtualization role won’t be available in the Role Manager.