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Why every business should run on Hyper-V
Why every business should run on Hyper-V
Hyper-V is a must have, and it’s great for any production environment. Every business should run its servers and applications on virtual machines, not directly on a physical host. When we restore a failed server from local storage with Hyper-V and Veeam, it has taken less than 2 hours. Here is the plain reasoning, and where it applies in your industry.
What is Hyper-V, and why is it a must have?
Hyper-V is Microsoft’s virtualization technology, built into Windows Server. It lets one physical server, called the host, run one or more virtual machines. Each virtual machine behaves like its own server, but it’s stored as files that can be backed up, checkpointed, copied and moved to other hardware. A business that runs its applications directly on a physical host ties its data and its daily work to one machine.
One physical host, or Hyper-V
One physical host, no Hyper-V
- Applications and roles share one operating system.
- The server is tied to that specific hardware.
- A failed host means rebuilding the operating system and software on new hardware.
- No checkpoints, so upgrades are harder to test and to undo.
- Backing up the whole machine is harder, and restores are slower.
- Older operating systems stay stuck on older hardware.
Hyper-V
- Each role can run in its own virtual machine.
- Virtual machines aren’t tied to one box and can move to new hardware.
- A virtual machine can be backed up as a whole and restored elsewhere.
- A short lived checkpoint can be taken just before an upgrade, as a quick way back alongside a tested backup.
- Upgrades and moves can be planned and smoother.
- An older system can keep running on new hardware while you plan its replacement.
Everything tied to one box
If the hardware fails, everything on it stops with it.
Whole machines you can move
Back up the whole server and restore it on other hardware.
The day a single host fails
Every application on it stops together. Recovery usually means rebuilding Windows and the software on new hardware. With Hyper-V, the virtual server is restored from backup onto other hardware instead.
What Hyper-V doesn’t do
Hyper-V doesn’t remove every risk, and we don’t promise zero downtime. The host is still hardware, and a host that fails still needs repair or a restore onto other hardware. A checkpoint is a short lived way back, not a backup, and it’s not used to restore a domain controller or to undo days of new database entries. You still need tested backups, kept offsite.
How we lay out the servers
A typical build has at least 2 virtual servers. One handles identity, which means who is allowed to sign in (the domain controller). The other is a dedicated app server that runs your software. We never run applications on the domain controller. One domain controller is our usual setup for businesses that can handle a few hours of downtime, backed by tested restores. If you can’t afford any downtime, we offer a second one. Your call. We explain the trade-off up front so you can choose with your eyes open.
Windows Server licensing is part of the plan. We license Windows Server Standard or Datacenter edition to cover the virtual servers. People and devices that connect to the servers also need Windows Server access licenses (CALs), which are separate from the server license, and remote desktop sessions need their own RDS CALs. We confirm exactly what you need for your setup.
See it for your industry
Dental clinics, accounting firms, manufacturers and law firms each have their own reasons. Every page uses the same sound idea, with the examples that fit that industry.
Here is the model. Every industry gets the same foundation: the network, the servers and the protection. The only thing that changes is the software on the dedicated app server, such as practice software for a clinic, accounting software for a firm, or a warehouse system for a manufacturer.
The network
A Cisco Meraki MX firewall, Layer 3 PoE switches and separate lanes for guests, staff and devices.
The servers
Hyper-V with a sign in server and a dedicated app server for your software.
The protection
Tested 3-2-1 backups, multi-factor sign in, weekly patching and endpoint protection.
Where to start
We review your servers, take and test a backup first, and check with your software vendors about virtual machine support. Then we plan the move around your business hours. We don’t promise zero downtime.
Hyper-V questions we hear
Does a small business need Hyper-V?
If you run a server on site, yes. Hyper-V is a must have for any production environment, whatever the size of the business. The risks of a single physical host don’t depend on the size of the business. They depend on how much you rely on that one machine.
Is a checkpoint the same as a backup?
No. A checkpoint is a short lived restore point on the same host, taken just before a change and removed once the change is confirmed. Microsoft advises against using checkpoints as a permanent recovery solution. You still need separate backups kept offsite, with test restores.
We use cloud software. Does this still matter?
Cloud applications run in the provider data centre. Hyper-V matters for any server or application you run yourself, on site. Many businesses have both.