Here is the kicker: It has to be a SCSI hard drive. Why not IDE Disks? Your guess is as good as mine. However, dynamic storage having to be a SCSI drive won’t slow you down; when you create a VM with Hyper-V R2 you get a SCSI controller by default (this wasn’t true in Hyper-V non-R2).

This process really couldn’t be easier:

In the server manager under the Hyper-V node, bring up the settings for the VM you want to beef up.

Then just click on the SCSI Controller so that its properties show up in the right-hand pane. After that it is as easy as clicking Hard Drive and then the Add button.

Next a ridiculously easy wizard comes up and allows you to choose a disk type then give it a name, location, and size.

Now, the question is, can you do it from Starbucks on your iPhone?

Related posts:

• How to Create a New Virtual Machine with Hyper-V
• Hyper-V and VMware — Part 2: Features
• Hyper-V and VMware — Part 3: Cost

Microsoft has been developing and testing a new virtual lab test experience for a while now. At first it was piloted as the 70-113 exam and then started rolling out officially as the 83-640 exam.  All of this might have flown under your radar until recently. We have been getting questions about this here at Train Signal so I thought I would clarify the situation.

Now (as of May 31st actually) the English version of 70-640 has been completely replaced by the 83-640 in the US and Canada.

So why the change in number? I think it is just an organization thing. Like all the beta exams start with 71, the academic versions 72, and now virtual lab exams start with 83.

What to Expect on the New 83-640 Exam

In this case change really is good. The test is more fun (yes I just said fun and test in the same sentence). I encountered some simulation questions when I took 70-620: TS: Microsoft Windows Vista, Configuring. This, however, is an entirely different beast.

For the new 83-640 test you remotely access a virtual machine. You are given a problem or a list of tasks and need to actually solve it on Server 2008. It is a real VM! You could probably add Mickey Mouse as a user if you wanted to. Would this result in a fail? I don’t recommend trying it.

The Born to Learn Blog posted a neat little demo video so that you can get an idea of what this all looks like. I should also mention that there are still some multiple choice questions on the 83-640 exam as well.

Oh and make sure you show up on time for your exam because you have a virtual machine reserved for you at that certain time. Also, there have been some anecdotal reports of latency (not unexpected) and exams completely crashing. Be patient with the slowness but don’t be afraid to speak up if your exam goes kaput.  

What is it Worth?

Microsoft keeps saying that the 70-640 and the 83-640 have the same objectives and count the same. This is all true but have you thought about an additional intangible quality the new exam will bring you?

I think the certification holds more validity and prestige because it can’t be braindumped. You actually get to show that you know how to do configure AD not just the theory behind it. You can give yourself an extra spirited pat on the back after passing this exam.

I can’t wait to see what virtual lab test they decide to develop next. 642? Exchange 2010?

Good News!

Train Signal’s Server 2008 Active Directory Training course is completely able to prepare you for this new exam. Our training already shows you how and not just why. And … Drum roll please … we even include Transcender’s new one-of-a-kind virtual lab-based product. That way you can practice in the same environment that the test has.

Happy studying!

Related posts:

• MCTS Demystified: What you need to know about the Server 2008 Active Directory (Exam 70-640) Certification
• MCTS Demystified: What you need to know about the Server 2008 Applications Infrastructure (exam 70-643) Certification
• Get SQL Certified: What you need to know about the SQL Server 2008 Developer (70-433) Exam

To celebrate the release I’m going to show you how to create a new virtual machine using Hyper-V and Server 2008.

Last week I did an installation walk-through to show you just how easy installing Hyper-V on your Server 2008 really is. Today we’ll go a step further and create our very first virtual machine.

Don’t worry, this part is easy too — follow my step-by-step instructions and you will have your virtual machine in no time.

Create a Virtual Machine with Hyper-V & Server 2008

1. To start, login to your Server where Hyper-V is installed and open up Server Manager.

2. Next, click on New in the right column.

3. A small pop-up window should show up with three options:

• Virtual Machine…
• Hard Disk…
• Floppy Disk…

Go ahead and select Virtual Machine.

4. The New Virtual Machine Wizard window should pop up.  At this point you have the option to click Finish if you want to create a virtual machine that is configured with default values per Microsoft. 

I’m going to show you how to select your own options, so instead we are going to click Next.

5. In the next window we need to specify a name for our virtual machine. In this example, I’m going to use the name “BaseInstallation2K8″. 

We also need to specify the location where we are going to store our virtual machine. Now keep in mind that if you are going to use the snapshot feature, you will need enough space to store your virtual machine together with your snapshots. 

I would also not recommend storing it on your C:\.  The choice is yours, however, and in this example we are going to select our G:\ drive where there is plenty of space for the VM as well as multiple snapshots. 

After you’ve made your selection, click Next.

6. On this screen we need to assign memory for our new Virtual Machine. Please note that this memory will be deducted from your physical machine’s memory so make sure to leave some memory for your server to operate on. 

I’m going to leave the default of 512MB and click Next.

7. Now we need to select the type of connection we want for this machine.  As you can see the default option is “Not Connected”. 

There is another option that we have — this option was created when we installed our Hyper-V — “NVIDIA nForce Networking Controller – Virtual Network”. 

Let’s select the virtual network and click Next.

8. Next we’re going to create our virtual hard disk. 

Make sure the name, location and size is correct and let’s leave the defaults for now. When ready click Next.

9. And finally we have a few options for installing an Operating System:

• we can install an OS later
• boot from a cd/DVD-ROM or .ISO file
• boot from floppy disk
• or install it from a network

In our example we have created an .ISO image file and we are going to select it for our OS.  Once you have made your selection, click Next.

10. Double check your summary window before clicking Finish. We will also select the check mark next to “Start the virtual machine after it is created” and then hit Finish.

Congrats! Your first virtual Machine in Hyper-V has been created.  Now, wasn’t that easy?

 
P.S. If you speak German, take a look at a recent review of our Hyper-V Training.

Related posts:

• Installing Hyper-V Server Role in 7 Easy Steps
• Adding Storage to a Hyper-V Machine !!Without Shutting it Down!!
• Hyper-V and VMware — Part 2: Features