Dumb Question? Can Server 2012 R2 Essentials use Hyper V role?

[drnick5]

Hey Folks,

Wondering if you guys can clarify something for me if you've run into this before. Working with a small office that I'm trying to get inline. They currently have no central server, with 8 employees, and a new piece of software they asked me to install on a workstation and share out to the other users. I put the stop to that, saying its something I can't support. (the software itself recommends being run on a server, but the salesperson told them they could run it on a workstation... yeah, I don't trust Salesmen).

So anyway, I'm looking to see what I can get in there that's reasonably priced. but I'm getting conflicting stories from Microsoft if Server 2012 R2 Essentials can run the Hyper V role. Which will be used to run 1 VM to run the software. (using Hyper-V with 1 VM under it will allow me to back this up to a synology NAS using Veeam for easy restores in case it goes down).

I found this comparison for 2012 R2, showing that Essentials doesn't support Hyper V, but CAN be run in a VM (I'm guessing if you wanted to run this under ESXi, or under a Standard 2012 R2 Hyper V setup.)

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/ser...ows-server-2012-r2-essentials/comparison.aspx

However, I also found this Article, dated 2013, that seems to conflict with that, saying Hyper-V has been expanded to now work on Server Essentials.
https://blogs.technet.microsoft.com...he-windows-server-essentials-experience-role/

Can anyone clarify?

Thanks in advance!

 

[FremontPC]

Hmm. This might clarify things a bit while someone with more experience composes a reply:

https://community.spiceworks.com/to...012-r2-essentials-hyper-v-role-as-host-and-vm

BTW, what kind of hardware are you working with here? It might have an impact on the answers you get.

 

[TAPtech]

Server 2012 R2 Essentials, under regular install, does not support Hyper-V.

What you can do, is install Server 2012 R2 Essentials as a Hyper-V host, and then install 2012R2E as a VM there. Here's a great guide:

http://www.serverjunge.de/2014/07/windows-server-2012-r2-essentials-als-hyper-v-host/

Steps are:
1. Terminate the assistant:

dism /online /disable-feature:Microsoft-Windows-ServerEssentials-ServerSetup

- terminate the assistant without server restart

2. Remove all unused roles (Essentials, AD). (Don't disable Powershell...)

3. Restart the server

4. Install Hyper-V-Role

 

[trevm999]

I would just install the free Hyper-V server, manage it with RSAT, and install Essentials as a VM

 

[YeOldeStonecat]

Yeah there's a lot of confusion re: Hyper-V and Server 2012 R2E

In the first version, non R2, I don't believe Hyper-V was supported. In either R2 of E...or a later rollup package..Microsoft added the ability to install the Hyper-V role, and run the Essentials full install as a guest.
https://blogs.technet.microsoft.com...he-windows-server-essentials-experience-role/