This study guide is provided as part of the Windows Server 2012 "Early Experts" Challenge and steps through the resources that I personally used when preparing for the following exam objectives on Exam 70-410, Installing and Configuring Windows Server 2012:   

  • Configure Hyper-V---- Create and Configure Virtual Machine Settings
    • Configure dynamic memory
    • Configure smart paging
    • Configure Resource Metering
    • Configure guest integration services

Note that the first exam objective above is also targeted in the related upgrade exam for IT Pros certified as an MCSA on Windows Server 2008: Exam 70-417, Upgrading Your Skills to MCSA on Windows Server 2012.  As such, this study guide is also relevant for individuals preparing for this objective on the upgrade exam.

What is the Windows Server 2012 "Early Experts" Challenge?

The Windows Server 2012 "Early Experts" Challenge is a FREE online peer study group that is leveraging a set of study resources, such as this study guide, to prepare for the MCSA on Windows Server 2012 certification exams as an IT Pro community.  This study guide and the "Early Experts" Challenge are intended as post-training resources for IT Pros with significant prior experience in previous versions of Windows Server and/or IT Pros that have completed formal training on Windows Server 2012 and are preparing for certification.  Formal instructor-led training on these exam objectives is available from local Microsoft Learning partners that are delivering the following Microsoft Official Course:

Completion of this study guide satisfies one portion of the "Early Experts" Virtualizer Quest study requirements.  Learn more about the "Early Experts" Challenge peer study group and join us online at: http://earlyexperts.net.

 

Watch: Windows Server 2012 Overview Part 1

 

You can view Part 2 here: http://channel9.msdn.com/Events/TechEd/NorthAmerica/2012/VIR309 

Study: Configure Virtual Machine Settings

Review these targeted study materials for each exam objective and task to evaluate your exam preparedness and learn the skills needed in this area of the exam.

Do: View and Configure the Settings

After you understand the concepts and importance of the settings in the above study section, the actual configuration is very straight forward.  For this exercise you can choose any one of your offline virtual machines to configure and review the settings. 

imageConfigure Dynamic Memory and Smart Paging

  1. In Hyper-V manager select the Virtual Machine you wish to configure and click Settings
  2. To configure dynamic memory click Memory.
  3. In the Memory settings click Enable Dynamic Memory to configure the settings and then you will be able to configure:
    1. Startup RAM
    2. Minimum RAM
    3. Maximum RAM
    4. Memory Buffer
    5. Memory Weight
  4. To review and or change the location for Smart Paging file, in the settings navigation pane select Smart Paging File Location and configure the location.

Configure Guest Integration Services

With the guest Integration services Hyper-V includes a software package for supported guest operating systems that improves integration between the physical computer and the virtual machine. This package is referred to as integration services.   It is important to note, this step must be completed through the GUI. It cannot be automated or performed within a Windows PowerShell session.

To install or upgrade integration services

  1. In Hyper-V Manager, connect to the running virtual machine you wish to add these services to. From the Virtual Machines section of the results pane, using one of the following methods:

    1. Right-click the name of the virtual machine and click Connect.

    2. Select the name of the virtual machine. In the Action pane, click Connect.

  2. The Virtual Machine Connection tool opens. From the Action menu of Virtual Machine Connection, click Insert Integration Services Setup Disk. This action loads the setup disk in the virtual DVD drive.
  3. Depending on the operating system being installed, you may need to start the installation manually. Click anywhere in the guest operating system window and navigate to the CD drive. Use the method that is appropriate for the guest operating system to start the installation package from the CD drive.
  4. After the installation finishes, all integration services are available for use.

imageConfigure Guest Integration Services

After the guest Integration services are installed you can easy configure which services are offered to the virtual machine by default.   If you need to install guest services for Linux you will need to download the services here: Linux Integration Services Version 3.4 for Hyper-V  The integration services that are offered are:

  • Operating system shutdown – Allows the guest OS to be shutdown cleanly with the Hyper-V management tools
  • Time Synchronization -- Synchronizes the system tie between the Hyper-V child and parents
  • Data Exchange -- Allows the guest and host to query and provide information to each via pairs of Key’s and Value’s, via the registry information liked OS version, Processor Architecture…etc.
  • Heartbeat – Allows the host system to detect if a virtual machine has crashed and allows the parent to be alerted if the guest OS has problems.
  • Backup (volume snapshot) – Provides the ability of the guest OS to leverage the Volume Shadow Copy service

To add or remove any of these services

  1. In Hyper-V manager select the Virtual Machine you wish to configure and click Settings
  2. Click Integration Services
  3. Select the services you wish to add or remove.

 

What's Next?


After you've completing this study guide, complete the other study guides in the Windows Server 2012 "Early Experts" Virtualizer Questto receive your personalized "Early Experts – Networker" completion certification, suitable for framing and sharing online!    

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