Install Hyper-V on Windows Server 2019 | 2 Easy Ways

Install Hyper-V on Windows Server 2019

Hyper-V feature applies to Windows Server 2022, Windows Server 2016, Microsoft Hyper-V Server 2016, Windows Server 2019 and Microsoft Hyper-V Server 2019.

Installing Hyper-V on Windows Server 2019 allows you to create a virtualized computing environment where you can create and manage virtual machines. Then you can run multiple operating systems on one physical computer and isolate the operating systems from each other. With this technology, you can improve the efficiency of your computing resources and free up your hardware resources.

But before you install Hyper-V role on Windows Server 2019, please check the minimum requirements for Windows Server system and Hyper-V.

Hyper-V Server 2019 minimum requirements

If your Windows Server 2019 has less than the minimum requirements, you will not be able to install Hyper-V role correctly. Actual requirements will vary based on your system configuration and the applications and features you install.

1. The compatibility of your computer hardware.

2. A 64-bit processor with second-level address translation (SLAT).

3. VM Monitor Mode extensions.

4. Enough memory for the host and VMs. At least 4 GB of RAM.

5. Virtualization support enabled in the BIOS or UEFI:

• Hardware-assisted virtualization – Intel VT or AMD-V
• Hardware-enforced Data Execution Prevention (DEP) – XD bit (Intel) or NX bit (AMD)

✤ Note: Enter Systeminfo.exe in PowerShell to check for more Hyper-V requirements.

How to install Hyper-V role on Windows Server 2019

To create and run virtual machines, you can install the Hyper-V role on Windows Server by using Server Manager or the Install-WindowsFeature cmdlet in Windows PowerShell.

Method 1. Install Hyper-V on Windows Server 2019 using Server Manager

It’s commonly used to install Hyper-V role on Windows Server 2019 by using Server Manager. Here are the detailed steps.

1. Open Server Manager on Windows Server 2019 and click Add Roles and Features on the Manage menu.

2. On the Before you begin section, click Next.

3. On the Installation Type section, select Role-based or feature-based installation, then click Next.

4. On the Select server section, select your Windows Server 2019 from the server pool.

5. Select Hyper-V role to install on your Windows Server 2019. In the next wizard, you can add management tools. By default, the Hyper-V role installs the management tools, but double-check if it is enabled since this tool is necessary to manage your Hyper-V Server.

6. On Feature section, check the Hyper-V Management Tools and click Next.

7. To change and configure your Hyper-V role, you can pick a proper physical Ethernet adapter to host a Hyper-V virtual switch, and you can skip this section and configure later as you need.

8. Select Allow this server to send and receive live migrations of virtual machines. This option is optional, but if you have not configured a Hyper-V cluster, you should use it since it’s not a clustered Live Migration, but instead using Distributed File System (DFS).

Tips: About Hyper-V live migration, you can check our article to know how Hyper-V Live migration works and how to enable it.

Then select Use Credential Security Support Provider (CredSSP) as authentication protocol since it doesn’t need to configure constrained delegations, but is required to sign in the source server.

✤Note: Using the Kerberos authentication protocol avoids signing in to the server, but requires constrained delegation set up.

9. Change the default storage location for virtual machines and virtual hard disks.

10. Finally, review the selected options and decide whether to restart the destination server automatically to enable Hyper-V.

Method 2. Install Hyper-V using command line

Using PowerShell is a fast way to install Hyper-V on Windows Server 2019. Run this Install-WindowsFeature command line to install Hyper-V feature.

This command installs the Hyper-V role and Hyper-V Management Tools.

You can add -Restart to reboot your server after Hyper-V is installed automatically.

✤Note: In order to check if your Hyper-V is enabled in your computer, you can run this command first:

Tips: You can also PowerShell to install Hyper-V on Windows 10 quickly, but it does not apply to Windows 10 Home edition.

In Windows Server 2019, installing Hyper-V has completed. After that, you can run different operating systems separately, thus reducing the cost of operations. When running workloads on Hyper-V, you need to regard Hyper-V backup as part of your daily routine since data security is critical for business success. Although Hyper-V includes built-in backup solutions, most users seek a professional third-party software to help them fully protect virtual machines.

Protect your Hyper-V VMs with free and easy solution

For enterprise owing multiple VMs, Hyper-V backup is necessary for business development. Here, I will use a free Hyper-V backup software, AOMEI Cyber Backup, to provides comprehensive protection for Hyper-V VM data. It protects business from security threats and recover critical data and information based on easy steps.

With Hyper-V backup tool, you can securely backup and restore your virtual machines.

All-around data protection: Offers flexible backup strategies to create full backup of entire VM and incremental backup to keep tracking the changed data.
Perpetual free: No time limit for AOMEI Cyber Backup Free Edition.
Easy-to-use: With its simple intuitive, backup and recovery process can be completed in centralized console, do not need any complicated configuration.
Auto VM backup: Schedule Hyper-V backup for each virtual machine and run the task automatically.
Backup multiple VM simultaneously: Set Hyper-V backups for numerous VMs on a single host simultaneously.
Restore from any point: Restore VM from any backup point directly, eliminating the need to restore a full backup plus each subsequent backup point.

Please hit the button below to download and use AOMEI Cyber Backup for free:

*You can choose to install this VM backup software on either Windows or Linux system.

Always protect Hyper-V virtual machines for free:

1. Click Backup Task >> Create New Task to start protecting numerous Hyper-V virtual machines.

2. In the opened wizard, select VMs for backup and configure Target and Schedule.

On Device Name page, select virtual machines on the host.

On Target page, select backup destination as local or network. You are able to backup VM to different places according to 3-2-1 backup rule.

On Schedule page, select full / incremental backup and specify the backup frequency by date / week / month.

3. Click Start Backup.

✍ While the Free Edition covers most of the VM backup needs, you can also upgrade to Premium Edition to enjoy:
✦ Batch VM backup: batch backup large numbers of VMs managed by vCenter Server or on standalone ESXi hosts.
✦ Backup Cleanup: Configure retention policy to auto delete the old backup files and save storage space.
✦ Restore to new location: Easily make a clone of a virtual machine in the same or another datastore/host, without reinstalling or configuring a new VM.

AOMEI Cyber Backup for Microsoft Hyper-V is the secure and easy solution to virtual machine backup solution that organizations need for today’s Hyper-V environments.

Summary

In this article, it offers available methods to install Hyper-V on Windows Server 2019 using Server Manager and PowerShell. Before installing, remember to check if your hardware meets the requirements. Meanwhile, backup is essential for virtual machine protection.

After installing Hyper-V role on Windows Server 2019, it’s convenient to share files to Hyper-V VM.