Creating a virtual server using Windows Hyper-V

You have your Windows Server 2019 installation completed now you want to create your first virtual server. The following steps should get you to the point of installing your first Hyper-V virtual server.

Step 1. #

Click on the start menu and select ‘Server Manager’

Step 2. #

Click ‘Add roles and features’ Then click next and ensure ‘Role-Based or Feature-based installation is selected and again click next. Then make sure the local server is selected and click next again.

Step 3.  #

You will now see a list of additional features you can add to the server, put a checkmark in the ‘Hyper-V’ role then click ‘Add Features’ on the pop-up box. Then click Next a few times until you get to the ‘Create Virtual Switches’ stage, put a tick in your network interface that is internet-connected, and click next. Ignore the next step regarding migration by clicking next, then take note of the default stores, this is where the virtual machine disk and config files will be, click next then finally click ‘Install’ – This could take a number of hours to complete depending on your server.

Step 4. #

From the Server Manager dashboard select ‘tools’ on the top right-hand side then select ‘Hyper-V Manager’, Now you are in the Hyper-V Manager select the server on the left-hand side you are currently working on, then on the right-hand side Actions menu click on ‘New’ then select ‘Virtual Machine’, the wizard will take you through various steps e.g. naming your server, picking a generation, allocating resources etc which is all very specific to the virtual machine you want to create but each step is well explained in the wizard if you want networking immediately though be sure to select the network connection/virtual switch we set up in Step 3.

Step 5. #

In the final stages of the wizard, you will be able to pick various boot options such as an ISO file, a physical DVD/CD-Rom drive, a bootable floppy disk image or even a network/pxe boot. in this example, I have simply downloaded the netboot.xyz ISO file as that will then allow the installation of just about any other operating system directly from it. the Netboot.xyz ISO is available here: https://netboot.xyz once you have finished tweaking your options click the finish button.

Step 6. #

If the previous steps went to plan then you will now see a virtual machines window inside the ‘Hyper-V manager’ and the virtual machine you just created should be visible. Right-click on that virtual machine and click connect, this will bring up the virtual console for that new virtual machine, then when the console opens click the start button in the center of the console to power it on. you can now proceed with the installation of your operating system in your new virtual machine.

Step 7. #

If you want to ensure that the virtual machine starts with the host operating system e.g. after a reboot, again in the Virtual Machines window inside Hyper-V Manager select the virtual machine, right-click on it, click on settings, on the left-hand side of the settings window that will have just opened scroll down and select ‘Automatic Start Action’ then select ‘Always start this virtual machine automatically’ and the server will start as soon as it can after the physical server host boots.