Microsoft Tech Days UK 2011: Day 2 Highlights from the Hyper-V for IT-Pro’s Track

Yesterday, I had the pleasure of attending day 2 of the Microsoft Tech Days UK 2011 event at Fulham Broadway cinema. As part of the Hyper-V for IT-Pro’s track, I was able to learn about the latest developments and advancements in Hyper-V technology. Here are some of the highlights from the event:

Improved Performance and Security

One of the main focuses of the event was the improved performance and security features of Hyper-V. Microsoft demonstrated how Hyper-V has been optimized for better performance, with faster boot times and lower overhead. Additionally, new security features have been added to protect against malware and other threats.

New Hyper-V Manager

Microsoft introduced a new Hyper-V manager that provides a simplified interface for managing Hyper-V instances. The new manager includes a dashboard view that displays the status of all virtual machines (VMs), as well as a list view that allows administrators to easily add, remove, and configure VMs.

Enhanced Live Migration

Live migration, which allows you to move running VMs between hosts without any downtime or interruption, has been enhanced in Hyper-V 2012. Microsoft demonstrated how live migration can now be performed with minimal downtime, even when moving large VMs.

New Generation Virtual Hard Disks

Hyper-V 2012 includes a new generation of virtual hard disks that provide better performance and flexibility. These new VHDX files support larger disk sizes, faster read/write speeds, and improved compression. Additionally, Microsoft showed how VHDX files can be used to create differential disks, which allow for more efficient updates and patching.

Hyper-V and System Center Integration

Microsoft highlighted the tight integration between Hyper-V and System Center 2012. System Center provides a centralized management platform for IT administrators, and Hyper-V is fully integrated into this platform. This allows administrators to easily manage their VMs and other infrastructure components from a single interface.

Other Announcements

In addition to the highlights above, Microsoft made several other announcements during the event. These included:

* Support for Linux and other operating systems in Hyper-V 2012

* Improved support for high-availability and disaster recovery scenarios

* Enhanced network performance and scalability

* New tools and utilities for managing and troubleshooting Hyper-V instances

Overall, the Microsoft Tech Days UK 2011 event provided a valuable opportunity to learn about the latest developments in Hyper-V technology. With improved performance, security, and manageability, Hyper-V 2012 looks like a solid choice for IT professionals looking to virtualize their infrastructure.