I like to use HyperV Server because of its cost and licensing terms. It make for a decent virtualized host environment and uses Microsoft management tools. Its also a major PITA.
If you don’t have Active Directory, walk away now. Trying to use HyperV Server without AD is too much work and too much of a learning curve – seriously. Installing HyperV server is easy enough with the common easy to use wizard that all Windows OS use. Step 2 must be “Join a domain” which is also easy with the TUI that HyperV provides.
Once the HyperV server is joined to a domain, then log out and practically forget about it. All other management is done via the management tools with the standard Windows Server, Windows 10 Pro management tools including:
- Event Viewer
- HyperV Manager
- Computer Manager
- Remote Desktop Client
- and practically any other standard Microsoft management tool.
There is one more step. By default, HyperV server is locked down and doesn’t have the appropriate firewall rules enabled and the appropriate features turned on. Here is a list of the Powershell commands you need to run to enable services:
Enable-PSRemoting
Enable-NetFirewallRule -DisplayName “Windows Management Instrumentation (DCOM-In)”
Enable-NetFirewallRule -DisplayGroup “Remote Event Log Management”
Enable-NetFirewallRule -DisplayGroup “Remote Service Management”
Enable-NetFirewallRule -DisplayGroup “Remote Volume Management”
Enable-NetFirewallRule -DisplayGroup “Windows Firewall Remote Management”
Enable-NetFirewallRule -DisplayGroup “Remote Event Log Management”
Enable-NetFirewallRule -DisplayGroup “Remote Scheduled Tasks Management”
Enable-NetFirewallRule -DisplayGroup “Windows Defender Firewall Remote Management”
One other thing to consider is that it isn’t just the firewall rules on the HyperV server. The firewall rules on the client that you use to manage HyperV also needs to be configured. Use the following to enable access to the server for Disk management. (Virtual Disk services must be enabled on the HyperV server)
netsh advfirewall firewall set rule group=”Remote Volume Management” new enable=yes
