How to Convert VMware ESX VM to Hyper-V

To convert a VMware ESX / ESXi virtual machine to a Hyper-V virtual machine, you could use a new tool called “Microsoft Virtual Machine Converter” You can download it at http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=34591    Requirements to convert ESX VMs to Hyper-V using Microsoft Virtual Machine Converter: You need to use a local administrator user. Install the MSI […]

Slow Cluster Shared Volume–Tips to Speed Up CSV and Backups

After the introduction of update 2878635(http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2878635) and update 2903939 (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2903939), you now have a CSV Software snapshot life cycle management mechanism to fine tune VolSnap and VSS when using CSVs. It’s not uncommon for snapshots to add up and not be cleared by defective backup applications. Some backup applications are designed to use persistent VSS snapshots. […]

8 Tape Backup Disadvantages and Issues You Need To Know

Tape backups have their place in many organizations, mostly large corporations. Sometimes their use is required directly or indirectly by law. For all other organizations who are free to choose the “best fit” we put together a couple of things to consider when planning to invest in tape backup infrastructure:   Tape drives are expensive. […]

Fix for Hyper-V Backup Error 0x80780049 (ID 517)

The error 0x80780049 (ID 517) reported by Windows Server Backup may be due to running a Windows Server 2012 (incl. R2) VM on a Server 2012 (R2) host.   A much better solution is to use BackupChain instead of Windows Server Backup, for many reasons, such as the additional feature set.   To fix your […]

Windows Server 2012 Failover Cluster Important Updates

Below is a list of Windows Server 2012 updates and their links to knowledge base articles. The hotfixes below are important for Failover Clusters arrangements: Date of hotfix Knowledge Base Details Name Affected Components Why you need to install this update Jan. 15, 2014 KB2913695(http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2913695/ ) OffloadWrite is doing PrepareForCriticalIo for the whole VHD in […]

4 Things You Need To Know About Hyper-V Integration Services

The following is a quick write-up about the function of Hyper-V Integration Services (HIS). The idea is to give IT admins a quick overview:   1. You need to update Hyper-V Integration Services (HIS) inside each VM whenever you run Windows Update on the host Read this post: It’s not automatic!   2. Without up-to-date […]

9 Editions of Windows Server 2012 Compared At a Glance

The table below compares all nine editions of Windows Server 2012 available today:       Windows Server® 2012 Products and Editions Windows Server 2012 Datacenter Windows Server 2012 Standard Windows Server 2012 Essentials Windows Server 2012 Foundation Microsoft Hyper-V® Server 2012 Windows Storage Server 2012 Standard Windows Storage Server 2012 Workgroup Windows MultiPoint Server 2012 Premium Windows […]

What’s New In Windows Server 2012 and R2?

Microsoft Windows Server 2012, also known as Microsoft Windows Server 8, is an operating system of the Windows series of the software developer company Microsoft. Server 2012 is the successor of Windows Server 2008 R2. Windows 8 is the workstation version of Server 2012 and was released on September 4, 2012. Windows Server 2012 R2 […]

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