Microsoft couldn’t ignore the virtualization trend. Microsoft included Hyper-V as a virtualization platform in 2008, and it continued to release new Hyper-V versions with new Windows server versions. So far, there are 4 complete versions, together with Windows Server 2012 R2, Windows Server 2012, Windows Server 2008 R2, and Windows Server 2008.
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Since Hyper-V’s debut, it’s always been a Windows Server feature, which can be installed whenever a server administrator decided to do so. It’s also accessible as a separate product known as Microsoft Hyper-V Server. Primarily, Microsoft Hyper-V Server could be a standalone and shortened version of Windows Server wherever Microsoft cuts out anything unsuitable to virtualization, services, and Graphical user interface (GUI) to form the server as tiny as attainable. Plus, while not the bells and whistles, the server needs less maintenance time, and it’s less vulnerable, because, for instance, fewer elements mean less fixture.
Hyper-V is a hybrid hypervisor, which is installed within the OS (via Windows wizard of adding roles).