Category: Windows 8

Well, Here’s some tips to those who are first timers with Windows 8 Server (or Client) Preview edition.  I have to say, after been using the previous version of Hyper-V, I’m very happy for what i’ve seen so far in Windows 8 Server with Hyper-V 3.0.  As I finally completed updating/rebuilding all my VM’s for upcoming PowerShell and SQL Servers presentations, I have compiled 8 tips that might help the newbies get started using Microsoft Virtualization Technology.

Tip #1 – Memory is important

Yes, I totally agree with this one.  After I upgraded my memory from 4GB to 8GB, all my VM’s are working OK.  I have experience giving 1.5GB to a Virtual SQL machine is ideal for development.

Tip #2 – Enabling Hyper-V

First, There’s some differences between Hyper-V 3.0 server and Client.  But, let me be clear, that every machine might be different.  In my case, I have a 4 year old HP Pavilion dv7-* Entertainment laptop with Virutalization option enabled. I created a dual boot Windows 8 Server and Client version.

On the Windows 8 Server enabling “Hyper-V” role using the new “Server Manager” Dashboard was easy.  But, in my case, I had to manually enable “Hyper-V Core” on my Windows 8 client by turning it “ON” in Windows Features.  Here’s the command:

C:\Dism /online /enable-feature /featurename:Microsoft-Hyper-V

Tip #3 – Create your Hyper-V 3.0 Virtual Network Switch

This is very Important and one this you need to setup your Virtual Network connections in either Server or Client. Open “Hyper-V Manager” and look the “Virtual Switch Manager”.

As you can see in my picture, I have a Loopback adapter Virtual Switch (External), and a Wireless Virtual Swtich(Externa) both setup as Legacy Adapters).   These two combination works great when VM’s talk to each other and, at the same time, have access to the internet for Windows Update.  Keep in mind, you can disable the wireless by going into the VM Settings option, going into the “Legacy Network Adapter”, and changing the “Virtual Switch” to “not Connected”.

Tip #4 – Don’t need a SAN Storage

FYI. Hyper-V 3.0 will allow you to create your VM’s practically anywhere.  In my case, I have an External USB 1.o TB Storage drive.  This is good new because you don’t need a SAN storage unit, and can save Vm’s outside your Physical server drives.

Tip #5 – Set VM’s TimeZone correctly

This might be only in my case, but after creating my VM’s and trying to connect them to join my Virtual Domain Controller, I experience connectivity issues between my VM’s due to their Time Zones not been the same.  So, If you have a Virtual Domain Controller, make sure both Time Zone machines are the same.

Here’s an interesting link on “Time Synchronization in Hyper-V” (by the “Virtual PC Guy’s Blog”) you may find useful: http://blogs.msdn.com/b/virtual_pc_guy/archive/2010/11/19/time-synchronization-in-hyper-v.aspx

Tip #6 – Learn to use the VM Snapshot Feature

Yes! This feature is a life saver.  It can help you troubleshoot VM issues by you taking the snapshot of a VM machine before doing any irreversible updates that could force you start over to rebuild the machine over.  It’s perfect when creating multiple scenarios for in test machines and adding descriptions to it.  Also, you can also revert to a previous snapshot, or apply the changes.

Tip #7 – Bringing Legacy Microsoft VM to Hyper-V3

If you want to move all your existing VM’s from: Virtual PC, Windows Virtual PC, and Hyper-V, just remember to uninstall all “Virtual Components”, or “Integration Services” to prevent any misbehaviour in your VM.  Then, you will be able to install the Hyper-V 3.0 “Integration Services” so that Hyper-V can manager your VM’s services such as: Snapshot, Start, Shutdown, or Save.

*hint*: I have experience some issues with Windows Servers 2008, and Windows 2003 SP1 after mvoing them to Hyper-V 3.0.  The mouse won’t work even after installing “Integration Services”.

Tip #8 – Start using Use PowerShell

Yes! YES! This is your opportunity to start using PowerShell.  You can user the Hyper-V module and start managing your VM’s.  Also, don’t forget that PowerShell comes with over 1695 and about  63 Modules.  Keep in mind,  This numbers will varies depending on the enabled Windows features and/or installed Server Applications containing PowerShell modules.

Here’s some one-liners command you may want to try get the estimate numbers of PowerShell commands and modules:

1. Get total number of available  commands and list their names:

(get-command -Module *).count; (get-command -Module *) | Select name;

2. Get total numbers of available (installed) Modules, and list their names:

(get-Module -ListAvailable).count; (get-Module -ListAvailable) | Select name;

I hope this information is helpful.  That’s it for now!

Here’s how I build my version of a standalone workgroup Windows 8 Server Virtual Machine(VM) with SQL Server 2012 (“Denal;i”) CTP3. When you create this VM, make sure to give enough memory.

How-To create a VM in Hyper-V Manager console:

I’m not going deep on this topic but the Hyper-V Manager GUI it’s easy to use.  I’m assuming you already got an *.ISO image of both: Windows 8 Server Preview and SQL Server 2012 CTP3.  If not you’ll have to find it at Microsoft website and/or your MSDN/Technet subscribtion.

Before Creating your new Virtual machine:

Keep in mind, you’ll need to setup you Hyper-V environment.  Meaning, if you’re using a laptop and/or a desktop computer (not a server),  still you need to make sure it meets the Hyper-V requirements or it won’t work.

So, at least you will need to use the “Virtual Switch Manager…” to assist you setting up your virtual network card to use by any VM you create.

Notice, in my environment, I have created three virtual network adapters:

1. Wired Internet
2. Wireless Internet
3. Loopback

The first two adapters serve my purpose to be able to connect to my physical machine Internet connection so I can do windows update.  The loopback adapter is for my internal network connection to my virtual Domain Controller.

*Hint*: In order to allow your VMs to access your external wireless adapter, you need to enable in “Server Manager” the “Wireless LAN Service” feature before you create the virtual wireless adapter.

Now, you are ready to create a New Virtual machine, and just follow the wizard:

The “New Virtual Machine Wizard” will help you configured everything you need.   Make sure you create this VM with enough memory.  In my case I assigned 1.5GB of memory.

Opening your Virtual Machine Connection:

There’s two ways to open your VM Connection in your “Hyper-V Manager” console:

1. By double-clicking at the actual virtual name.
2. Or, double-click at the actual virtual machine preview pane at the bottom left side of the “Hyper-V” console.

Now that your connection GUI is open, it’s a good time to start doing a VM Snapshot in case you need to go back and troubleshoot in case of problems. Here’s some pictures on How-To create a VM Snapshot:

If a Snapshot box asking to add a Name to your snapshot, go ahead and do it.  This box only comes when there has been changes done to your VM.

Now, Ready for SQL Installation.

Installing SQL Server 2012 (“Denali”) CTP3:

After building the virtual server, if you try to immediately install SQL Server 2012, it won’t work.  And, when you try to run the setup.exe, you won’t have access to the “SQL Server Installation Center” to view the “Hardware and Software Requirements” information.

Check SQL Server Requirements:

So first, you may want to check this link to read about what’s required to install this new version of SQL Server: http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms143506(v=SQL.110).aspx

Need Role(s) and Feature(s):

In order to make my SQL Server installation work, I had to open Windows 8 “Server Manager” and follow the wizard to do the following steps:

1. Install the Application Server Role (you can add more roles as you need during this process).
2. Then, you need to add the following features: (again, you can add additional features as needed)
   a. Enable the .NET Framework 3.5
   b. Enable the PowerShell ISE

After doing this steps, then I was able to get the SQL Server setup to work and allow me to start my installation.  Use the VM Connect GUI to allow you to attached the SQL Server  *.ISO image for your VM to start the SQL Server Installation.

I’m not going to show all the SQL Server installation screens but here’s to show that I’m able to proceed with the installation.

On the previuos picture, notice that I selected most of the features to install except the for the two Distributed Replay services. At the same time, I took a live snapshot of my VM before the actual installation process.

Installation Completed Successfully:

Yes! I got my SQL Server 2012 installed without a glitch!

Testing SQL PowerShell:

Now, I immediately testing the PowerShell SQLPS module. I was so excited that forgot to do something first.  Here’s my result of my first try:

Yes! I forgot to set my “Set-ExecutionPolicy” to “RemoteSigned“, then close and reopen my Windows Console.  I also I was able to SQLPS.exe from SSMS Database option just to test that there’s no errors.  So, everything works at least for now.

Ooops! Except for PowerShell ISE.  Yes! If you try to do an “Import-Module SQLPS -DisableNameChecking” then you get an error:

Don’t Worry!  PowerShell ISE is not the only editor.  You can still use Notepad to create/modify your script(s).  Or, just try downloading one of the free community editors from: SAPIEN, and PowerGUI just to name a few.

To test SQLPS I use the following command line:

Invoke-SQLcmd -database ReportServer -Query “Select top 3 * from dbo.DBUpgradeHistory

Final comments:

I know I may have skip some steps but the bulk on How-To create Window 8 Server VM in shown in this blog.  One important thing to keep in mind, these are still Community Technologies Preview (CTP) and it will change.

So, Don’t be afraid to try it!  This is why we have the ability to create Virtual Machines in our own developement machines.  Again, take advantage of Hyper-V.

The opportunity we have is to learn from them, assist giving feedback, and MOST IMPORTANT, it help us to stay ahead in upcoming technologies.

Enjoy, Learn, and Collaborate!

Bonus!!… Bonus!!

If you want a HACK to fix the PowerShell ISE that here it is: (Hack provided by one of our PowerShell MVP’s – Joel “Jaykul” Bennett
http://HuddledMasses.org
http://PowerShellGroup.org
)

1. Go to you x:\Windows\System32\WindowsPowerShell folder (make sure to access this folder “As an Administrator” or it won’t work)
2. Create a blank text filename: powerShell _ise.exe.config (Yes! this file extension is “.config”)
3. Then, add the following XML lines, and save the file when done:

(Updated: 10/26/2011 – I missed the “runtime” section)

<configuration>
<startup useLegacyV2RuntimeActivationPolicy=”true”>
<supportedRuntime version=”v4.0″ />
</startup>
<runtime>
<loadFromRemoteSources enabled=”true”/>
</runtime>
</configuration>

Reopen PowerShell ISE and try to use the “Invoke-SQLcmd” command.

That’s it!