Windows Server 2008 R2 - Activate VMs?

Hello,
from my university I received a "free" copy of Windows Server 2008 R2 Datacenter. I played around with it, especially with setting up domains and all related Servers (dns, dc, dhcp, etc...) as Virtual Machines. This worked very well, but now each
VM needs activation.
Reusing the Same key as for the host-system results in Activation errors.
As recommended here:
http://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/cbeeada7-8f9d-4e19-bc83-d021017d0c63/windows-server-2008-r2-enterprise-hyperv-and-4-vms-activation-error?forum=winservergen ,I contacted the Customer Support, but they said: "No Support for VMs".
I read that there should be a second key for activating any VM - however i just received one.
Is there a way to reconstruct the (virtual) key out of the original key for datacenter?
Any other way to activate the VMs without that key? (For 2012 R2 I found the keys required along with AVMA to setup an automatic activation on technet:
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/dn303421.aspx)
best,
dognose

http://blogs.technet.com/b/chrad/archive/2009/07/07/create-new-vm-by-kicking-off-vmm-console-from-using-command-batch-file.aspx
¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Similar Messages

Error 0x80070543 when activate Windows Server 2008 Backup Features

Hi, When I try to activate the Window Server 2008 Backup Features, the system prompt me an error. please review below message appear at event viewer. Not sure how it happen / solve it?
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Hi,
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What happens if I don't activate Windows Server 2008?

Hello. I currently have some Windows Server 2008 virtual machines that I use for school labs. They're legitimate copies (they came with the MS 70-642 lab manual), but I forgot to activate them at school and I remember that I only have 12 days left to activate.
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I am sure once the trail period has expired it won't allow you to log on. I think after you put username and password it comes with the activate screen and won't let you pass untill you activate it.
You might able to increase the trail period with the following method. I hope you still have some time left.
Click Start, and then click Command Prompt.
Type slmgr.vbs -dli, and then press ENTER to check the current status of your evaluation period.
To reset the evaluation period, type slmgr.vbs –rearm, and then press ENTER.
Restart the computer.
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Thanks
Umar

We want to activate Windows Server 2008 R2 on the system where trial version is already activated,

We want to activate Windows Server 2008 R2 on the system where trial version is already activated,

Hi,
Based on your description, I’m a little confused with this issue.
If you mean that convert the Windows Server 2008 R2 evaluation version to a full version, we can get following
details from this KB: Windows Server 2008 R2 and Windows 7 evaluation version
Question: Can you convert the evaluation version to a full version?
Answer: Although this conversion is not blocked, we do not support an upgrade from an evaluation version
to a full version or changing the product key to a full version key. Since there is no support for any type of upgrade you must do a install to new directory using non-evaluation media. If you change the product key to Full Version, the visual evaluation references
in Winver and as displayed in Slmgr /DLV output are removed, but the WLMS service remains on the system and the media retains its evaluation status.
Meanwhile, please refer to the following similar thread and check if can help you.
Server
2008 R2 180 day Trial to Full
If just mean that extend Activation Grace Period, please refer to the following article.
Extending
Your Activation Grace Period on Windows Server 2008 and 2008 R2
If anything I misunderstand or any update, please don’t hesitate to let me know.
Hope this helps.
Best regards,
Justin Gu

To install Remote Desktop Services User CAL on Windows Server 2008 R2 Enterprise Edition with SP1

Dear Sir,
Presently we have installed Windows Server 2008 R2 Enterprise Edition with SP 1. And now i would like to install Remote Desktop Services User CAL on this server. I have 25 digit product key of Windows Server
2008 R2 Remote Desktop Services User CAL (20). Downloaded this product key from our MSDN Subscriptions.
Kindly suggest me how to install (CAL server with product key that i have) and configure remote desktop services on my above existing server also how to point other server with my CAL server.
Thanks

Hi,
1. Install Remote Desktop Session Host and Remote Desktop Licensing Role Services using Server Manager.
2. Open RD Licensing Manager (licmgr.exe), Activate your server, then install your license
3. In RD Session Host Configuration (tsconfig.msc), set the Licensing mode to Per User and Specify your RD Licensing server name (itself). If you want you may configure these two settings via group policy setting instead. The path of the
group policy settings is Computer Configuration\ Administrative Templates\ Windows Components\ Remote Desktop Services\ Remote Desktop Session Host\ Licensing
4. You may point other RDSH servers to your RD Licensing server using RD Session Host Configuration or via group policy as mentioned above.
5. Optionally you may consider installing other Remote Desktop Role Services such as RD Gateway, RD Web Access, RD Connection Broker, etc.
-TP

Why does my Cisco router firewall block Windows Server 2012 traffic, but not Windows Server 2008 traffic?

Hello,
   I run a small business network with five physical servers: three Dell servers running Windows Server 2008 R2, one custom build running 2008, and another custom build running 2012 with Domain Controller Role (same hardware for both custom builds).
The Dell servers are all running the Hyper-V role and each has a number of 2008 VMs. I also have a 2012 VM with the Domain Controller Role on one of the Hyper-V servers and another VM with a completely base install of 2012.
   All servers are plugged into a Cisco SG300-52 switch which is uplinked to a Cisco 881 router which is connected to a cable TWC provided Ubee cable modem. I have no VLANs setup. I do have the Firewall on the router configured
to inspect most traffic.
   Here is my problem: I cannot connect to most of the internet on ANY 2012 server (and all exhibit the exact same behavior), but I have NO problems connecting to the internet from 2008 servers. Here is what I already know:
   1.) I can ping the outside world just fine so ICMP is passing to any external host.
   2.) Two of the 2012 servers are DCs running DNS services and they can connect to the internet just fine for DNS requests because they are doing a perfectly good job of providing DNS services to my network.
   3.) Here's where it gets really weird: I can browse in internet explorer to Bing.com and it works. I can also go to a couple other Microsoft websites (though they are very slow). If I click on any link in Bing, however, it doesn't
work and gives me a page not available error. If I connect to a non-MS website like Google or my company website, I get page not available.
    4.) I have tried to telnet to port 80 at Bing and it works. I have tried to telnet to port 80 at google.com and it won't connect. The 2008 servers have no issue telneting to either bing or google on port 80 and none of my client
PCs on the network do either.
    5.) Windows Update will not connect and neither will any other update service such as AVG (I have AVG Antivirus installed WITHOUT firewall on two of the three servers. The base 2012 VM has no software installed and no roles...I built it
just to see if it could connect after a fresh install and it still cannot.)
    6.) The network connection does not indicate limited connectivity (probably because ICMP appears to be passing successfully)
     7.) If I connect the server directly to the modem it has full internet access.
     8.) All internal LAN connectivity is perfectly fine and runs at full speed.
     9.) I have scoured the internet trying to find other examples of this particular kind of connectivity issue on 2012 and I have found two TechNet articles that are similar, but they both had the same resolution: changing the router
worked, but no one knows why. (I would have included the links, but apparently I cannot do that yet)
My question is this: What is different about Windows Server 2012 networking that would render it unable to communicate through a router that Windows Server 2008 has no problems with? I ask because, unlike in these two articles where they were
running personal networking equipment they could easily upgrade, I'm running a Cisco 881 with what should be virtually limitless configuration options and I have no desire to replace it. I have to assume the issue is somehow related to the firewall configuration,
which I could fix easily, but I don't know what to change. If anyone knows what changed in 2012 and why I would be able to browse to bing and other MS sites but no where else, please pass them along. Thanks.

This is the IP Config for the 2012 DC:
Windows IP Configuration
   Host Name . . . . . . . . . . . . : COMPANYDC02
   Primary Dns Suffix . . . . . . . : company.local
   Node Type . . . . . . . . . . . . : Hybrid
   IP Routing Enabled. . . . . . . . : No
   WINS Proxy Enabled. . . . . . . . : No
   DNS Suffix Search List. . . . . . : company.local
Ethernet adapter Ethernet:
   Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
   Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Intel(R) 82574L Gigabit Network Connection
   Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-25-90-DC-EF-D5
   DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : No
   Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes
   Link-local IPv6 Address . . . . . : fe80::81d5:53cf:bd07:14ed%12(Preferred)
   IPv4 Address. . . . . . . . . . . : 10.10.10.202(Preferred)
   Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.255.0
   Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . : 10.10.10.1
   DHCPv6 IAID . . . . . . . . . . . : 301999504
   DHCPv6 Client DUID. . . . . . . . : 00-01-00-01-1A-96-D5-C3-00-25-90-DC-EF-D5
   DNS Servers . . . . . . . . . . . : 10.10.10.202
                                       10.10.10.221
   NetBIOS over Tcpip. . . . . . . . : Enabled
Tunnel adapter isatap.{9929D989-8E88-4096-A1CB-61F1DB173FA3}:
   Media State . . . . . . . . . . . : Media disconnected
   Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
   Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Microsoft ISATAP Adapter
   Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-00-00-00-00-00-00-E0
   DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : No
   Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes
Tunnel adapter Teredo Tunneling Pseudo-Interface:
   Media State . . . . . . . . . . . : Media disconnected
   Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
   Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Microsoft Teredo Tunneling Adapter
   Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-00-00-00-00-00-00-E0
   DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : No
   Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes
This is the IP Config for the fresh install 2012 VM:
Windows IP Configuration
   Host Name . . . . . . . . . . . . : WIN-800299O7ES6
   Primary Dns Suffix . . . . . . . :
   Node Type . . . . . . . . . . . . : Hybrid
   IP Routing Enabled. . . . . . . . : No
   WINS Proxy Enabled. . . . . . . . : No
   DNS Suffix Search List. . . . . . : company.local
Ethernet adapter Ethernet:
   Connection-specific DNS Suffix . : company.local
   Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Microsoft Hyper-V Network Adapter
   Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-15-5D-0A-5C-02
   DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : Yes
   Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes
   IPv4 Address. . . . . . . . . . . : 10.10.10.49(Preferred)
   Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.255.0
   Lease Obtained. . . . . . . . . . : Saturday, August 23, 2014 10:23:01 PM
   Lease Expires . . . . . . . . . . : Wednesday, August 27, 2014 10:23:01 PM
   Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . : 10.10.10.1
   DHCP Server . . . . . . . . . . . : 10.10.10.1
   DNS Servers . . . . . . . . . . . : 10.10.10.220
                                       10.10.10.221
   NetBIOS over Tcpip. . . . . . . . : Enabled
Tunnel adapter isatap.company.local:
   Media State . . . . . . . . . . . : Media disconnected
   Connection-specific DNS Suffix . : company.local
   Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Microsoft ISATAP Adapter
   Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-00-00-00-00-00-00-E0
   DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : No
   Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes
NOTE: 10.10.10.220 and 10.10.10.221 are the other domain controllers on my network. One of them is 2012 and one of them is 2008. They are both functioning correctly for providing DNS services. The 2012 Virtual DC, however, still has
the internet connectivity issue that this whole post was about in the first place.
NOTE2: When I logged on to COMPANYDC02 this morning, it told me that I had new Windows Updates that needed to be downloaded.   Confused, I checked the most recent time WU had checked for updates at it had successfully checked for updates last night
at 10pm. Of course, it failed when trying to download them, but it appears that once in a while, a connection gets through successfully...

How to backup VM in HyperV (Windows Server 2008 R2)

Hello,
Beginner's question: How to backup my VMs on an external
USB disk?
NB: I'm running Windows Server 2008 R2. It's a test machine, don't care with downtime. I want to backup only the VM (VHD files and VM configuration, not the whole server)
Thanks

Hello,
for Hyper-V usage please ask the experts in
http://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/windowsserver/en-US/home?forum=winserverhyperv
Also see
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/dd405549(v=vs.85).aspx
Best regards
Meinolf Weber
MVP, MCP, MCTS
Microsoft MVP - Directory Services
My Blog: http://blogs.msmvps.com/MWeber
Disclaimer: This posting is provided AS IS with no warranties or guarantees and confers no rights.
Twitter:

Windows Server 2008 R2 activation via KMS failure

Hello,
I'm trying to activate about 20 Windows Server 2008 R2 via KMS. Before that I have successfully activated Windows 7 clients and Microsoft Office 2010 products. But when I try to activate Windows Server 2008 R2 clients via kms I'm getting the following error
on the KMS host:
. Exception System.Runtime.InteropServices.COMException (0xC004F074)
KMS host installed on the machine with Windows 7 Professional OS. From the VAMT GUI I can see the following Windows server license information :
Key Type : CSVLK
Edition : ServerStandard;ServerEnterprise;ServerWeb;ServerHPC
Description : Server 2008 R2 Std and Ent Volume.
If I try to activate product from the client I get the following error :
Error: 0xC004F074 The Software Licensing Service reported that the computer could not be activated. The Key Management Service(KMS) is unavailable.
I have searched a lot about this error. But still cannot solve the issue.
Thanks & Regards
Ulzii

Yes KMS host is Windows 7. I read all documents about KMS but haven't read this doc. So I have to change KMS host or add Win Server KMS host, that's right?
Yes that's right. Windows "Client" OS editions, when setup as KMShost, cannot issue activations for Windows "Server" OS editions.
To do so, you will need a KMShost product key for Windows Server - you will only have such a product key if you have purchased Windows Server licenses through Volume Licensing.
(The Windows 7 KMShost product key cannot be installed on Windows Server OS)
http://social.technet.microsoft.com/wiki/contents/articles/22510.volume-activation-kms-mak-adba-avma.aspx
Don
(Please take a moment to "Vote as Helpful" and/or "Mark as Answer", where applicable.
This helps the community, keeps the forums tidy, and recognises useful contributions. Thanks!)

Unable to Install Windows Server 2012 on Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1 Hyper-V

My attempts to install are failing with a message "Windows cannot install required files. The file may be corrupt or missing....Error code: 0x800705070".
I am posting this on the Wondows 2012 Server forum but I have had exactly the same problem as described below with Windows 2008 R2 SP1.
As the title says this is on a Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1 host with all current updates. I have downloaded the ISO file from a Technet subscription file twice, once by direct download and once by the Akamai downloader. The virtual disk is connected with
the default IDE driver. I mounted both installation images as ISOs, located on a file system on the host server. I have tried installs by deleting the VM and recreating both the VM and a new virtual disk, re-using a previously created virtual disk, and
deleting the partitions in a previously created virtual disk, and executing the format command, and then attempting the install.
I have exactly the same problem trying to create a Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1 VM on the same host OS. With those attempts, I downloaded the Technet subscription iso 4 or 5 times, and burned one to a DVD which I attached to the created VM. Same
error message.
The virtual machines and virtual disks I created and used were all located on an RAID5 array, on a builtin Intel RAID controller using Intel Rapid Storage Technology software version 11.2.0.1066. The host Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1 uses this file system
but the OS is installed on a dedicated drive (C).
I had previously created a guest VM with Windows Server 2008 R2 (several months worth of updates ago) without drama.
I have spent hours reading forums and blog articles on this. A common response is to download the iso another time, and/or burn it to a DVD instead of mounting an iso image. Although I didn't do the later yet with 2012 Server, but I have done these
other steps attempting to install Windows 2008 Server SP1. The install process takes a while (not to mention doing multiple downloads). Given this seems to be a common recommended remedy, and indeed based on posts does seem to eliminate the problem is some
cases, why doesn't somebody change the Microsoft installer program so it does a thorough integrity check at the beginning of the install process?

Jeff,
After the exercise of Windows 2012 Server successfully installing (as I described above) I also successfully installed Windows 2008 R2 on Hyper-V. From my standpoint, I have eliminated the problem (which isn't the same as correcting the problem).
The answer to your specific question regarding Hyper-V support is that the motherboard I am using, an Asus P5Q, is not supported by Windows 2008 R2 because it doesn't use ECC memory, and the vendor doesn't say it supports Windows 2008. But I am sure you
know the motherboard vendors often don't test older motherboards with newer software versions. It appears that in specifying ECC memory Microsoft is trying to protect users of Windows Server from hurting themselves, not saying the software won't run.
Having said that, my suspicion in the beginning was, and still is, that it was some variable(s) left in an unknown state in the Hyper-V environment, which was why after trying to install Windows 2008 R2 several times I tried Windows 2012 which resulted in
the same error, and then encountered the same error trying to install Windows 7 on the same Hyper-V installation. The specific Hyper-V Windows 2008 R2 server had run without any operating problems for months before I started having trouble, and although it
had been quite a while since I had created VMs, that process used to work. The hardware didn't change. What changed was applying updates through Microsoft Update, and a few access control rights I changed, and at least I think, I set back to their original
value.
So in short, no, my hardware isn't supported by Windows 2008 Server. Two, your assertion that you are running the same software configuration that I am is very unlikely to be true. There are an extremely large number of things which are different between
your test system and mine, such as which Windows 2008 components are installed, what updates were installed and in what order they were installed, and what other third party software each of us is running, and between AD, and all the features, a large number
of potential differences in ACLs, options, etc. and I don't for a minute think this particular problem was caused by the underlying hardware.
I do appreciate your taking the time to try to help me, and I hope there is one thing you and I could agree on. Microsoft could pretty easily make it much easier to isolate problems. In this day and age reporting hex error codes (as opposed to doing the
table lookup in the error handling proc), and not providing more diagnostic information seems to me to be almost quaint. And in this case Microsoft can dismiss my problems on the grounds it was all on unsupported hardware. Unfortunately, I think they
are missing an opportunity to make their software better, because in my opinion what I encountered there are a set of conditions which will cause installations to fail that aren't going to get corrected.

Can i install windows server 2008 r2 under Windows Small Business Server - Premium

I have purchased Windows Small Business Server 2008 - Premium and i want to know if i can install Windows Server 2008 R2 and activate the same under the same license.
Also if there is a link to download the ISO file of the server.

hello,
with the SBS 2008 premium Edition you have the Windows Server 2008 Standard but NOT the 2008 R2 Version.
for installing the second Windows Server 2008 includes on the Premium Edition you do not Need to download a Iso file.
on this link:
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc794696(v=ws.10).aspx is mentioned the following:
To install Windows SBS 2008 Premium, do the following:
Install Windows SBS 2008 Standard.
For installation instructions about how to install Windows SBS 2008 Standard, see the
Windows Small Business Server Installation Guide at http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkID=125717.
Install the second server by using Windows Server 2008, included with Windows SBS 2008 Premium, and then join it to the Windows SBS 2008 domain.
For second server installation information, see
Implementing a Second Server on Your Windows Small Business Server 2008 Network at http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=125734.
thanks
diramoh

Connecting to an external SSAS cube in SSDT 2012 on Windows Server 2008 R2 Core

Good Evening,
We are experiencing issues when executing an SSIS package from a SQL Server job. However, when we execute the package locally, it is
successful. The package connects to an external SSAS cube using MDX. I have attached the error message below. The connection manager is OLE DB Provider for Analysis Services 11.0. We can successfully ping the external site where the cube is located from the
server with the job.
We are using Windows Server 2008 R2 Core. We are trying to access an external cube through HTTPS by sending a username/password in the connection string. This is sent through an OLE DB connection in SSIS. I found an article which says that "Because
there is no Web browser, you cannot activate a Server Core installation or access the Internet through a firewall that requires users to log on." Does anyone have any additional details on this...is this a futile effort?
Thanks - Brett

Hi Brett,
According to your description, you are experiencing the error when you connect to SQL Server Analysis Services database on a SSIS package, right?
In your scenario, you said that the package can be executed successfully on your local environment, the issue only occurs on the SSAS server. So please ensure that the provider was installed on the server. Besides, here is a blog which describe how
to configure the Analysis Services Processing Task in SQL Server 2012 Integration Services， please refer to the link below to see the details.
http://www.mssqltips.com/sqlservertip/2994/configuring-the-analysis-services-processing-task-in-sql-server-2012-integration-services/
Regards,
Charlie Liao
TechNet Community Support

Installing terminal server role on windows server 2012 to use for Windows server 2008 R2 machines.

Dear
Our current setup is as follows :-
Active Driectory is in Windows Server 2003.
Citrix Xenapp version 5.6 with all Xenapp servers in Windows Server 2003
Now we are upgrading our Citrix farm to 6.5 and all Xen app servers into Windows Server 2008R2.
We did the configuration and testing; everything works fine except the terminal server is not configured which gives the pop always for the expiry date.
We do have license for 2012 terminal server which is not possible to downgrade for some reason and managent need to install new Windows Server 2012 for terminal server and activte the licenses.
My question is :-
1 Whether Windows Server 2008 R2 will get RDS cal license from Windows Server 2012 terminal server (RDS CAL license is of windows server 2012).
2. What is the role and features I need to activate in Server 2012 in order to use for Citrix 6.5 (only applicable fetaure for getting the RDS cal license.)
3. Whether I can add this 2012 server into domain. Is it possible to add 2012 server into Windows Server 2003 AD.
Your early reply is highly appreciated.

Thanks Jeremy..
I got exactly the right answers I am lookoing for ..
I successfully activated the terminal service on the newly created Windows 2012 Server and installed the retail license pack we had of 50+50+25 keys . It later shows the 125 keys successfully applied.
when I tried to link the Xenapp (Windows Server2008R2) to the license server, it first gives me error that session host service role is not installed on the ternial server. So I installed that role also in the terminal server.
But now its anothee error as below.
RDS Cals are not available for this Remote Desktop Session host server, and licensing Diagnostic has identified licensing problems for the RD session host server.
1. Is it wrong I did by installing session host server role into the terminal server (but really it gave me error like 'session host server role is not running on the license server' when I tried to link the license server).
2. Is it the problem that Windows Server 2008 R2 will not get license from 2012 RDS CAL license.
3. whether Clearing house will take time to update the license.
Your reply is highly appreciated. I need to know whether any other way I can link the Windows Server 2008 R2 Servers (Xenapp) to the license server.

Integration Framework content doesn't show in Windows Server 2008 R2

I have a new install of B1 8.81 PL06 on Windows Server 2008 R2. All seemed to install fine but when I log into B1 I get the error:
Error HTTP 500 - Internal Error
I logged into the Integration Framework to check the SLD and all I see is the menu. I click on a menu item and nothing happens. Does anyone know if there is a Windows Server setting or IE9 setting that is preventing me from seeing the Integration Framework content?
Thanks.

I had to activate scripting in Internet Explorer. Problem solved.

Windows Server 2008 failover cluster in VirtualBox

Hi,
I'm a Windows NT student and I need help with understanding how to do clustering using multiple Windows 2008 R2 Enterprise servers in VirtualBox 4.3.8. I have a Windows 7 host computer. I was wondering if someone could provide clearly detailed step-by-step
directions (ex. Click this, then click that) on what I need to do prior to clustering, as well as starting the clustering process. Please ask if you need additional information.
Thank You.

I'm sorry. I'm such a noob. Should I have 3 virtual machines, where one is the domain controller and the other 2 are nodes? Or is it ok to just have 2 virtual machines?
It's optional. You just need your both cluster nodes (VMs) belong to the same domain. It can be own domain serviced by your private VM or it can be "external" one. See:
Using Guest Clustering for High Availability
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/dn440540.aspx
Active Directory domain requirements
Failover clusters require that nodes of the same cluster are members of the same Active Directory domain. However, there is no requirement that a guest cluster belongs to the same Active Directory
domain as the physical hosts on which the virtual machines are running.
Also you'll need some shared storage. See (same URL as above):
Storage options
The following tables lists the storage types that you can use to provide shared storage for a guest cluster.
Storage Type
Description
Shared virtual hard disk
New in Windows Server 2012 R2, you can configure multiple virtual machines to connect to and use a single virtual hard disk (.vhdx) file. Each virtual machine can access the virtual hard disk
just like servers would connect to the same LUN in a storage area network (SAN). For more information, see Deploy a Guest Cluster Using a Shared Virtual
Hard Disk.
Virtual Fibre Channel
Introduced in Windows Server 2012, virtual Fibre Channel enables you to connect virtual machines to LUNs on a Fibre Channel SAN. For more information, see Hyper-V
Virtual Fibre Channel Overview.
iSCSI
The iSCSI initiator inside a virtual machine enables you to connect over the network to an iSCSI target. For more information, see iSCSI
Target Block Storage Overview and the blog post Introduction of iSCSI Target
in Windows Server 2012.
Shared VHDX is out as you don't have proper software (Windows 7 is not supported as a host and Windows 2008 R2 does not support shared VHDX as a guest), virtual Fibre Channel is out as you again don't have Windows Server 2012 R2 (and don't have any FC gear).
So iSCSI is your only choice. Either spawn dedicated Windows (or other OS if you like UNIX) VM with iSCSI stack or use third-party Windows software running on your host. Windows Server 2008 R2 does not have iSCSI target embedded so you can get it here:
MSFT iSCSI Target 3.3 Download
http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=19867
Good luck and happy clustering :)
StarWind VSAN [Virtual SAN] clusters Hyper-V without SAS, Fibre Channel, SMB 3.0 or iSCSI, uses Ethernet to mirror internally mounted SATA disks between hosts.

Adding nodes to Windows Server 2008 R2 Hyper-V Cluster..

Currently we have a 3 node Windows Server 2008 R2 Hyper-V Cluster in production. There are about 3 terrabytes worth of VMs running across these nodes.
It is over-committed, so i've setup two new nodes to add to the cluster.
I've done this before in a SQL cluster but never a Hyper-V cluster.
If I don't run validation when adding the nodes, will there be downtime?
The quorum is setup for disk majority, everything is identical on all nodes that needs to be. Shared storage is recognized and ready on the new nodes. I've gone through every checklist that Microsoft has. I'm just curious if the virtual machines will go
offline on the current nodes when i add the two new nodes.
Everything is identical down to the wsus updates installed. From networking to storage everything is perfect.
I don't want to run validation as I know that'll take everything offline.

Hi,
It is recommend to run a validation test. You can select custom test. (skip storage).
When add the new node to existing cluster . it will not bring down existing VM.
Lai (My blog:- http://www.ms4u.info)

Windows Server 2008 R2 - Activate VMs?

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