Tech geeks are always in a new search for smothering their life and this time they have come up with Generation 2 (Gen 2) VMs. What are Gen 2 VMs? We all are familiar with Microsoft Hyper-V virtual servers and Generation 2 VMs are those that use the second generation of virtual hardware. Introduced with Windows Server 2012 R2, Gen VMs are hypervisor aware. This indicates that these VMs don’t rely on synthetic or emulated hardware.
Gen 2 VMs though offer several advantages, don’t plunge into the new format unless some significant limitations are considered. These limitations may not make them the right choice for your business environment. Many experts are now recommending a cautious approach toward Gen 2 VMs. Below is a list of five pointers that will help you cut through the hype and make a decision about using a Generation 2 VM.
Advantages of Gen 2 VMs –
* The problem of traditional VMs attempting to emulate physical hardware gets completely vanished with Gen 2 VMs. Since these VMs are hypervisor aware, they can operate more efficiently.
* One of the biggest changes that turned into an advantage. When a Gen 2 VM created. Hyper-V 2012 R2 uses virtual SCSI by default. Since there’s no limit to IDE, creating and attaching multiple virtual hard disks to a VM becomes simpler.
* Though Gen 2 VMs won’t be able to access physical DVD drives after moving from IDE. It would be possible to create a virtual SCSI DVD drive. Displayed as a DVD drive to the guest OS. The SCSI DVD drive linked to an ISO file rather than to a physical drive.
* The next big change with Hyper-V 2012 R2 is that Gen 2 VMs booted from a virtual SCSI controller.
* It’s now possible to achieve Pre-boot Execution Environment (PXE) boot from a standard network adapter. Previously, you need to create a legacy synthetic virtual network adapter which isn’t required now for Gen 2 VMs.
Going In-Depth with Gen 2 VMs –
Gen 2 has its advantages, but administrators who interested in using Gen 2 VMs need to understand how they work as well as ensure of the VMs meet their requirements. So, let’s go in-depth –
Data Storage Implications for Gen 2 VMs –
* Several changes along with new capabilities of Gen 2 VMs are related to storage.
* Now, the VHDX files dynamically resized on the basis of as-required while the VM running.
* The Hyper-V with Gen 2 VM cloned in its current state or the process of cloning performed around a VM checkpoint.
* The Gen 2 VMs communicate with VHDX files that use native SCSI commands leading to a momentous increase in VM performance.
Right Time to Move from Gen 1 VM to Gen 2 VM –
Hurrying to move over to Gen 2 VMs won’t be the right decision until your needs change or your environment expands. This is the reason why Microsoft still kept its support for Gen 1 VMs even after announcing Gen 2 VMs. Before taking a move, you need to consider several major requirements and limitations. Ultimately, it all depends on your needs and environment.