Windows Server 2008 Release Candidate 1 Enterprise with Hyper-V Beta is now available!

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The Windows Server group unveiled a surprise for Windows Server 2008 testers this morning, delivering a public beta for Microsoft’s hypervisor-based server virtualisation technology called Hyper-V.  The beta is available for download at: http://www.microsoft.com/windowsserver2008/audsel.mspx.

For Hyper-V beta details, and a discussion around Microsoft’s virtualisation plans in 2008, read the posting from Mike Neil on the Windows Server Division blog.  Jeff Woolsey from the virtualisation team also does a great post with list of new features and some screencasts that demonstrate some of Hyper-V's built-in SMP, networking and storage capabilities.

You can download a copy from http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=8F22F69E-D1AF-49F0-8236-2B742B354919&displaylang=en

UPDATE:  How to Install Windows Server 2008 Hyper-V Release Candidate 

Update for Windows Server 2008 x64 Edition (KB949219)

Update for Windows Server 2008 (KB949219)

 

More information on the presspass site http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/press/2007/dec07/12-13EarlyBetaPR.mspx

For NZers - in this beta build when you do the install, you should select English US only, otherwise you may see error 87 when the Virtual Machine Management Service (VMMS) starts. The only workaround in these instances is to start the installation again.

You will notice some differences in this build, I've been running this build at home and work all week and loving it:

  • Hyper-V role is present in Server Manager automatically (don't need to run the install packages like in the CTP build)
  • Performance, performance, performance
  • Integration Components are now built into 2008 from this build forward (no more having to load the ICs into the child guests, the drivers are already there once you use this build as a guest)

Check out Jeff's post for a full list of new features and screencasts.  Enjoy!