Here is how you can create a new virtual machine in Windows Server 2012 computer on which the Hyper-V role has been installed:
- Log on to the computer with the administrator account. (Local administrator in case of standalone server, and Enterprise Admin or Domain Admin account credentials in case of client/server network architecture.).
- If not already started, initialize the Server Manager window from the bottom left corner of the screen.
- On the opened Server Manager window, from the left pane, click to select the Hyper-V category.
- From the right pane, under the SERVERS list, right-click the target Hyper-V server.
(DC-01 for this demonstration.).
- From the displayed context menu, click Hyper-V Manager.
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- On the opened Hyper-V Manager snap-in, from the left pane, ensure that the Hyper-V Manager tree is expanded.
- From the expanded tree, right-click the name of the Hyper-V server. (DC-01 for this demonstration.).
- From the displayed context menu, click Start Service. (The Start Service option will be available in the context menu only if the service is not already started. If the service is already started, you will be displayed with other contextual options.).
- Once the service is started, right-click the Hyper-V server name again, and from the context menu, this time go to New > Virtual Machine.
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- From the opened New Virtual Machine Wizard box, on the Before You Begin window, click Next to continue. (Alternatively you can also click the Finish button on this very window to directly create a new virtual machine with all the default settings. You can change the default settings of the virtual machine created this way later on by modifying the virtual hardware individually from the virtual machine’s settings box.).
- On the Specify Name and Location window, type a new and descriptive name for the new virtual machine in the Name field.
- As per the best practice guidelines, it is recommended that you should also check the Store the virtual machine in a different location checkbox, and specify a different location other than C:\ for the new virtual machine by clicking the Browse button in order to avoid the overconsumption of the system drive of the Windows Server 2012 computer.
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- Click Next when done.
- On the Assign Memory window, in the Startup memory box, specify the amount of RAM that the virtual machine should have. (512 MB is the default value.).
- Check the Use Dynamic Memory for this virtual machine checkbox for improved performance of the virtual machine and the Hyper-V server itself.
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- Click Next to continue.
- On the Configure Networking window, choose the virtual LAN switch from the Connection drop-down list. (It is recommended that you should create a virtual LAN switch in the Hyper-V before you start creating the virtual machines.).
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- Click Next to continue.
- On the Connect Virtual Hard Disk window, make sure that the Create a virtual hard disk radio button is selected.
- Provide a new name for the virtual hard disk in the Name field.
- As per the recommendations, choose a location other than C:\ for the virtual hard drive by clicking the Browse button and selecting a new location.
- In the Size field, specify the size of virtual hard disk in gigabytes that the virtual machine should have.
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- Click Next to proceed.
- On the Installation Options window, make sure that the Install an operating system later radio button is selected. (Although you can also select the other radio buttons if you want, by selecting the suggested radio button, you can gain granular control over the entire process.).
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- Click Next to proceed further.
- On the Completing the New Virtual Machine Wizard window, click Finish to create a new virtual machine with the specified configuration.
Related resources
- Virtual Machines on Server 2012 Forum
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