How can use Virtual Machine Settings in HYPER-V

We are continue with HYPER-V Article Series and today i will explain all the Settings that can configure in Virtual Machine after created.

As wrote in previous article create the first Virtual Machine only with basic settings. But this is only the beginning. You can do a lot of changes in Virtual Machine from HYPER-V Manager.

Today i will explain where you can find and how can change all these Settings.

• Open HYPER-V Manager
• Select the Virtual Machine which create
• Click Settings from the right side

Now let's separate all the configuration settings and explain it one by one

Add new Hardware

In the first option can add a new Hardware in your Virtual Machine.

These are Scsi Controller , Network Adapter , Fiber Channel Adapter that we can see how can do it in next sections

Firmware

If you have configure the VM with Generation 2 you can see the option Enable Secure Boot and will be enable.

Secure Boot is a feature  of UEFI Bios  that helps increase the security of PC or VM and allow onjly  software when boot that is trusted by the Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM).  You can find more details in the following article https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-hardware/design/device-experiences/oem-secure-boot

After this options you can configure the boot order when the VM start.

Configure Memory

Click on Memory from the left side. In right side configure how much memroy wants to have the VM. Change the RAM can be done only of the VM is closed.

Enable Dynamic Memory to specify a range of Memory that VM can use. This options works well when you don't have lot of RAM in HYPER-V Host and wants to run multiple VM's.

For example instead to take 4 GB of the HYPER-V Host the VM you can configure to run between 2 - 4 GB. So if the VM it's not has lot of workload can use the minumum ram that we have configure.

Dynamic Memory it's not recommended to use it in production enviroment.

Configure Processor for Virtual Machine

Here you can modify the number of Virtual Processors that can use the VM.

When you create a new Virtual Machine the default is to 1 Processor.

After creation you must open the Settings and reserve Virtual Processors that need the Virtual Machine.

Take a look in  Resource Control with some options and numbers.

I don't want to proceed in details for now .

Only keep in mind the option Percent of total system resources that change base on the Virtual Processors that gives in the VM and the Physical CPU Resources.

When you have a few Virtual Machines it's not so important.

But when the HYPER-V Host it's designfor 50,60 or 100 Virtual Machines then must be aware and use the Resources without create perfomance issues in HYPER-V Host.

Add new Hard Drive or Dvd Drive

This options can do it from the Add Hardware in the beginning.

Click on SCSI Controller and select from Hard Drive or DVD Drive.

In previous article i explain how can create a new Hard Drive or DVD Drive but maybe you want to add a second hard drive in your VM.

• Select Hard drive and click Add

Configure Network Adapter

You can add the Virtual Switch in the Network Adapter that you have to connect in the Network.

Select the Virtual Switch that you have create to enable network connection. 

If you have segmented your Network with VLAN's must check the option Enable Virtual LAN Identification and give the VLAN ID.

In case that your network is flat then you don't need to enable this option.

Change Virtual Machine Name

You can change the Virtual Machine Name. Be carefully that the name of Virtual Machine folder will not change. It keeps the firts name that gave when create the Virtual Machine.

Integration Services

It's very important to keep up to date Integration Services because it's the communication between HYPER-V Host and Virtual Machine. 

Read the articles to understand how can Manage the Integration Services.

Manage HYPER-V Integration Services

Manage HYPER-V Integration Services with Powershell

Configure Checkpoint File Location

You can configure the folder that will use Virtual Machine when create Checkpoints.  Recommended to keep it in the same partition with the Virtual Machine.

Configure Smart Paging File Location

You can configure the path for Smart Paging File. What is Smart Paging ? I will not confuse now and i will keep it as simple as i can.

When continue in more advance articles i will explain in deep what is Smart Paging.

For now keep it in default path.

Configure Automatic Start Action

This option allow us to configure what want to do the Virtual Machine when the HYPER-V Host boot.

You have 3 options 

1. Nothing
2. Automaticalyy start if it was running when the service stopped
3. Always start this virtual machine automatically

This is your decision how virtua machines wants to interact.

Configure Automatic Stop Action

This option allow us to configure what want to do the Virtual Machine when the HYPER-V Host shutdown.

You have 3 options 

1. Save the Virtual Machine State
2. Turn off the Virtual Machine
3. Sutdown the guest Operating System

Again here this is your decision how virtual machines wants to interact. 

One thing that i don't recommend is to select turn off the Virtual Machine because can cause serious problems in Virtual Machines when are in production enviroment.

The default options is the Save the Virtual Machine State and i think is the most common from the other options. 

Here come's in the end

Some of the settings has and more advance features that will be discuss in next articles one by one.

I don't want to confuse for now but i would like to give you the ability to understand exactly what you do when use the settings of the Virtual Machines.

I hope to help you and answer some questions that maybe has.

So now it's your time to test , test , test and come back with questions that can answer in our commented system or send as an email in info@askme4tech.com