Windows Server 2012 Feature: Share Nothing Live Migration in Hyper-V

By Robert Borges in Windows Server 2012
August 14, 2013
August 14, 2013

Live Migration is the process of moving a virtual machine (VM) from one Hyper-V virtualization host to another Hyper-V host without any perceived downtime of the VM being moved.

Source: Technet.Microsoft.com

In Windows 2008 R2 Live Migration required a common storage between the source and destination Hyper-V hosts. This shared storage could be an iSCSI LUN, direct attached storage (DAS), or another type of storage, as long as both Hyper-V servers saw the location as a permanent drive (no network drives, or SMB shares).

In Windows Server 2012 this restriction goes away and allows us to migrate virtual machines from one Hyper-V host to another without the requirement of the storage being shared between the hosts. Hyper-V accomplishes this by starting off with a quick migration (see my prior post Introducing Quick Migration), but instead of coming down for the transfer of the active memory, this is transferred in small batches of differencing data until the amount needed to transfer can be done without any perceived downtime. This is a truly remarkable technology, and one that is very welcome in my datacenter.

As with Windows Server 2008 R2, there are some requirements of Live Migration. First off, the VM’s virtual network must be configured on both the source and destination hosts. The second requirement is that the source and destination hosts are using the same CPU brand. So no Live Migrations from an AMD system to an Intel system.

With these changes, Live Migration becomes even more useful than ever before, doing the jobs of both Quick Migration and Live Migration in Windows Server 2008 R2. The new Shared Nothing Live Migration is one more good reason to make the move to Windows Server 2012.

Related Posts

Hyper-V, Microsoft, Virtualization, Windows Server 2012

Robert Borges

About Robert...

I have been in the IT industry since 1993 focusing mainly on networking. Though I got an early start as an amateur computer enthusiast and wrote my first database app at age 12, I started my professional career working in the MIS department of one of the largest liquor distributors in the northeast. I started out there as a systems operator on the company’s two mainframe systems. From there I moved into PC support, and help design and implement the company’s first client-server network… This was back in the days of Win NT 3.51 when I worked on my first migration to Windows NT 4.0 server.

From there I went on to work with Novell 3.x and 4.x along with Windows domains and Microsft's brand new Active Directory. Working my way up from technician to specialist, to an administrator, and eventually all the way up to Sr. Engineer. I spent many years working for MSPs/consulting firms, 9 of which I owned and operated my own firm.

Over the years, I have worked with (at an expert level) various versions of Windows client and server operating systems (including Windows 11 and Windows Server 2019); various virtualization technologies (Hyper-V, VMware, etc.); MS-SQL server 6.5- 2014 R2; Exchange 4-2019, and much more. Over the years I have built a lot of experience around the Microsoft Azure and Microsoft 365 cloud environments.

I am now CTO at Infused Innovations where our team is focusing on helping clients build a Secure Intelligent Workplace through InfoSec (Zero Trusts Framework), Modern Workplace, and Business Intelligence.

I have been heavily involved in the IT user group community, including serving as president of the board of Boston User Groups, Inc., and president of IT-Pro User Group. In 2017/2018 Microsoft awarded me the Microsoft MVP (Most Valuable Professional) Award, with a focus of Microsoft Azure cloud, for my efforts in the IT community.

I am in a constant state of learning about new products, and new versions of products. Many of which we end up implementing in lab environments and sometimes for our clients. I have a very broad range of expertise and experience. It is my goal to share some of this experience on this blog to help enrich the IT community.

Permanent link to this article: https://www.robertborges.us/2013/08/windows/windows-server-2012/windows-server-2012-feature-share-nothing-live-migration-in-hyper-v/

6 comments

Skip to comment form

- green coffee bean extract on October 30, 2013 at 7:43 am
- #
- Reply
You actually make it seem so easy with your presentation but I
find this topic to be really one thing that I feel I
might never understand. It seems too complex and very extensive for me.
I’m taking a look ahead in your subsequent submit,
I’ll try to get the dangle of it!
- natural garcinia cambogias on October 30, 2013 at 9:48 pm
- #
- Reply
Hi it’s me, I am also visiting this web site daily, this web site is in fact nice and the visitors are actually sharing fastidious thoughts.
- garcinia cambogia before and after on October 31, 2013 at 6:24 pm
- #
- Reply
You could certainly see your enthusiasm within the
work you write. The arena hopes for even more passionate writers like you who are not afraid to
mention how they believe. Always follow your heart.
- http://Www.youtube.com/ on January 30, 2014 at 9:34 am
- #
- Reply
I was more than happy to uncover this website. I need to to thank you for ones time for this particularly fantastic
read!! I definitely really liked every little bit of it and i also have you bookmarked to see new stuff in your blog.
- carpet cleaner rental on May 12, 2014 at 10:55 am
- #
- Reply
Its such as you read my mind! You seem to grasp so much approximately this,
such as you wrote the guide in it or something. I think that you simply
can do with a few p.c. to drive the message house a bit, however other than that, that
is great blog. A great read. I will certainly be back.
- decorative file boxes on May 27, 2014 at 3:10 am
- #
- Reply
I relish, result in I found exactly what I
used to be taking a look for. You have ended my four day long hunt!
God Bless you man. Have a great day. Bye