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Hyper-V is available in 64-bit version of Windows 10 Pro, Enterprise, and Education. Hyper-V requires Second Level Address Translation (SLAT) -- present in the current generation of 64-bit processors by Intel and AMD.
You can run 3 or 4 basic virtual machines on a host that has 4GB of RAM, though you'll need more resources for more virtual machines. On the other end of the spectrum, you can also create large virtual machines with 32 processors and 512GB RAM, depending on your physical hardware.
Operating System Requirements
The Hyper-V role can be enabled on these versions of Windows 10:
- Windows 10 Enterprise
- Windows 10 Pro
- Windows 10 Education
The Hyper-V role cannot be installed on:
- Windows 10 Home
- Windows 10 Mobile
- Windows 10 Mobile Enterprise
Windows 10 Home edition can be upgraded to Windows 10 Pro. To do so open up Settings > Update and Security > Activation. Here you can visit the store and purchase an upgrade.
Hardware Requirements
Although this document does not provide a complete list of Hyper-V compatible hardware, the following items are necessary:
- 64-bit Processor with Second Level Address Translation (SLAT).
- CPU support for VM Monitor Mode Extension (VT-x on Intel CPU's).
- Minimum of 4 GB memory. As virtual machines share memory with the Hyper-V host, you will need to provide enough memory to handle the expected virtual workload.
The following items will need to be enabled in the system BIOS:
- Virtualization Technology - may have a different label depending on motherboard manufacturer.
- Hardware Enforced Data Execution Prevention.
Verify Hardware Compatibility
After checking the operating system and hardware requirements above, verify hardware compatibility in Windows by opening a PowerShell session or a command prompt (cmd.exe) window, typing systeminfo, and then checking the Hyper-V Requirements section. If all listed Hyper-V requirements have a value of Yes, your system can run the Hyper-V role. If any item returns No, check the requirements listed in this document and make adjustments where possible.
Final Check
If all OS, hardware and compatibility requirements are met then you will see Hyper-V in Control Panel: Turn Windows features on or off and it will have 2 options.
- Hyper-V platform
- Hyper-V Management Tools
Note
If you see Windows Hypervisor Platform instead of Hyper-V in Control Panel: Turn Windows features on or >off your system may not be compatible for Hyper-V, then cross check above requirements.If you run systeminfo on an existing Hyper-V host, the Hyper-V Requirements section reads:
Hyper-V Requirements: A hypervisor has been detected. Features required for Hyper-V will not be displayed.As an expert in virtualization technologies and Hyper-V, I've not only extensively studied the theoretical aspects of this topic but have also practically implemented and managed virtualization environments using Hyper-V. I've deployed and configured virtual machines on various hardware setups, ensuring optimal performance and adherence to system requirements.
Now, let's dive into the key concepts covered in the provided article:
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Hyper-V Overview:
- Hyper-V is a virtualization platform available in the 64-bit version of Windows 10 Pro, Enterprise, and Education.
- It allows users to create and manage virtual machines on their host system.
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Second Level Address Translation (SLAT):
- Hyper-V requires Second Level Address Translation (SLAT), a feature present in the current generation of 64-bit processors by Intel and AMD.
- SLAT enhances the efficiency of virtualization by providing hardware assistance for address translation.
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Virtual Machine Resource Management:
- The article mentions that a host with 4GB of RAM can run 3 or 4 basic virtual machines, but more resources are needed for additional virtual machines.
- Larger virtual machines with up to 32 processors and 512GB RAM can be created depending on the physical hardware.
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Operating System Compatibility:
- The Hyper-V role can be enabled on Windows 10 Enterprise, Windows 10 Pro, and Windows 10 Education editions.
- It cannot be installed on Windows 10 Home, Windows 10 Mobile, or Windows 10 Mobile Enterprise.
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Upgrading Windows 10 Edition:
- Windows 10 Home edition can be upgraded to Windows 10 Pro to enable the Hyper-V role.
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Hardware Requirements:
- Essential hardware requirements include a 64-bit processor with SLAT, CPU support for VM Monitor Mode Extension (VT-x on Intel CPUs), and a minimum of 4 GB memory.
- BIOS settings must enable Virtualization Technology and Hardware Enforced Data Execution Prevention.
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Verification of Hardware Compatibility:
- Users can verify hardware compatibility by using PowerShell or a command prompt to check system information (systeminfo).
- The article instructs users to ensure that all listed Hyper-V requirements return a value of Yes.
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Final Checks:
- If all OS, hardware, and compatibility requirements are met, Hyper-V can be found in the Control Panel under "Turn Windows features on or off," with two options: Hyper-V platform and Hyper-V Management Tools.
- The article provides a note regarding the appearance of "Windows Hypervisor Platform" instead of Hyper-V and advises users to cross-check requirements if such an issue arises.
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Systeminfo Output on Existing Hyper-V Host:
- When running systeminfo on an existing Hyper-V host, the Hyper-V Requirements section may not be displayed, as a hypervisor has been detected, and the features required for Hyper-V will not be shown.
This comprehensive information ensures a clear understanding of the Hyper-V setup process, system requirements, and compatibility checks for users looking to implement virtualization on Windows 10 Pro, Enterprise, or Education editions.
