HyperV

Hyper-V is Microsoft's native hypervisor for virtualization, integrated into Windows Server since 2008 and available as an optional feature in Windows client editions such as Windows 10 and Windows 11. It provides the ability to create and manage virtual machines (VMs) on physical hardware. Hyper-V is a Type 1 hypervisor that runs directly on the host hardware; the Windows-based host OS acts as the parent partition, while guest operating systems run in isolated child partitions. Management tools include Hyper-V Manager, Windows Admin Center, PowerShell, and WMI.

The platform offers virtual networking via Hyper-V Virtual Switch (External, Internal, Private), virtual storage with VHD and VHDX disks, and integration services for improved guest performance. Hyper-V supports two VM generations: Generation 1 VMs use BIOS-style hardware, while Generation 2 VMs use UEFI, support newer drivers, and features such as Secure Boot. Disk formats can be VHD or VHDX, with VHDX supporting larger sizes and resiliency.

Key features include live migration and storage live migration of running VMs, Hyper-V Replica for asynchronous replication, and Failover Clustering for high availability. Shielded VMs provide protection in untrusted environments. Dynamic Memory, NUMA awareness, and resource metering support scalable workloads. Nested virtualization allows running Hyper-V inside a VM on compatible CPUs.

Hyper-V runs as a role in Windows Server and as a feature in Windows client editions, and supports a wide range of guest operating systems in addition to Windows. Common use cases are server consolidation, development and testing, and private cloud deployments. Licensing is tied to the host OS, with guest OS licenses governed separately.