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Unlock Hyper-V on Windows 365 Cloud PC: A Step-by-Step Guide

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Unlock Hyper-V on Windows 365 Cloud PC: A Step-by-Step Guide

Nested Virtualization is a powerful feature that extends the capabilities of Windows 365 Enterprise, allowing users to create and manage virtual machines directly on their Cloud PCs. This functionality mirrors the experience of using a local physical device, providing a seamless transition for tasks that require virtualization. This article provides a comprehensive walkthrough on how to enable Hyper-V on your Windows 365 Cloud PC, unlocking a range of possibilities for development, testing, and running various virtualized environments.

Enabling Hyper-V on Windows 365 Cloud PC

The integration of Nested Virtualization within Windows 365 Enterprise empowers users to leverage a suite of powerful systems directly on their Cloud PCs. These include:

  • Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL): Run a Linux environment directly on Windows without the overhead of a traditional virtual machine. This is ideal for developers and users who need to work with Linux tools and applications.
  • Windows Subsystem for Android (WSA): Experience Android applications on your Windows environment, broadening the range of applications accessible on your Cloud PC.
  • Sandbox: Create isolated, temporary desktop environments to safely run applications or test configurations without affecting your primary Cloud PC setup.
  • Hyper-V: Microsoft’s robust virtualization platform, allowing you to create and manage virtual machines running various operating systems.

For Cloud PC users seeking to operate local Virtual Machines (VMs), enabling the hypervisor on the Cloud PC and utilizing Hyper-V becomes a viable and efficient solution. The subsequent sections will delve into the detailed steps required to achieve this, broken down into manageable subtopics for clarity and ease of understanding.

  1. Requirements: Outlining the prerequisites for enabling Hyper-V on your Windows 365 Cloud PC.
  2. Enabling Hyper-V: Step-by-step instructions using different methods such as the Settings app, PowerShell, and DISM commands.
  3. Running Hyper-V: Guidance on how to start and utilize Hyper-V on your Cloud PC after it has been enabled.
  4. Troubleshooting Performance Issues: Addressing potential performance challenges related to Nested Virtualization and offering solutions.

1] Requirements for Hyper-V on Windows 365 Cloud PC

Before proceeding with enabling Hyper-V, it is crucial to ensure that your Windows 365 Cloud PC meets the necessary prerequisites. These requirements are designed to guarantee optimal performance and stability when running virtualization-based workloads.

  • Processor and RAM: Your Cloud PC must be configured with at least 4vCPU (virtual CPUs). For enhanced performance, especially when running demanding virtual machines, it is highly recommended to use a Cloud PC with 8vCPU and 32GB of RAM. It is important to note that downsizing to a 2vCPU Cloud PC after enabling nested virtualization will result in the feature being disabled. Furthermore, upgrading from a lower specification Cloud PC to meet these requirements after initial provisioning is not supported; the Cloud PC needs to be provisioned with the correct specifications from the outset.

  • Supported Azure Regions: Your Cloud PC needs to be provisioned within one of the supported Azure regions. Microsoft maintains a list of these regions to ensure optimal service delivery and performance for nested virtualization.

    • 8vCPU Cloud PCs: Nested Virtualization is supported in all Azure regions for Cloud PCs with 8vCPU configurations.
    • 4vCPU Cloud PCs: While supported in all regions, users in certain specific regions might experience a reduction in performance when utilizing Nested Virtualization on 4vCPU Cloud PCs. It is advisable to check the latest Microsoft documentation for any region-specific performance advisories before enabling Hyper-V on a 4vCPU Cloud PC.

  • Cloud PC Provisioning Date: If your Windows 365 Cloud PC was provisioned before April 5th, 2022, it is mandatory to reprovision the Cloud PC to enable Nested Virtualization and Hyper-V functionality. This reprovisioning process ensures that your Cloud PC is running on the updated infrastructure required for nested virtualization.

2] Enabling Hyper-V on Windows 365 Cloud PC: Three Methods

Enabling Hyper-V on a Windows 365 Cloud PC is a straightforward process, mirroring the steps you would take on a physical Windows machine. You will require local administrator privileges on your Cloud PC to proceed. By default, Hyper-V is disabled and needs to be explicitly enabled. You can choose from three primary methods to enable Hyper-V: using the Settings app, PowerShell commands, or DISM commands.

Method 1: Enabling Hyper-V via the Settings App

The Settings app provides a user-friendly graphical interface to enable Hyper-V.

  1. Open the Settings App: Click on the Start Menu and select the Settings icon (gear icon). Alternatively, press Windows Key + I to directly open the Settings app.
  2. Navigate to Apps: In the Settings window, click on Apps.
  3. Access Optional Features: On the Apps page, in the left-hand navigation pane, ensure Apps is selected. On the right-hand pane, click on Optional features.
  4. Open More Windows Features: Scroll down to the “Related settings” section and click on More Windows features. This action will open the classic “Windows Features” dialog box, a Control Panel applet used to manage Windows optional features.
  5. Enable Hyper-V: In the “Windows Features” applet, scroll through the list of features until you locate Hyper-V. Check the box next to Hyper-V to select it.
  6. Expand Hyper-V Options: Expand the Hyper-V node by clicking on the + sign next to it. Ensure that both Hyper-V Management Tools and Hyper-V Platform options are checked. Selecting both ensures that all necessary components for Hyper-V management and operation are installed.
  7. Confirm and Install: Click OK to initiate the installation process for the selected Hyper-V features. Windows will then apply the changes and may prompt you to restart your Cloud PC.
  8. Restart Your Cloud PC: Once the installation process is complete, click on the Restart now button when prompted. A restart is necessary for the Hyper-V feature to be fully enabled and functional.

Method 2: Enabling Hyper-V via PowerShell

PowerShell offers a command-line approach to enable Hyper-V, which is often preferred by users who are comfortable with scripting or need to automate the process.

  1. Open PowerShell as Administrator: Click on the Start Menu, type PowerShell, right-click on Windows PowerShell, and select Run as administrator. This is crucial as administrator privileges are required to enable Windows features.

  2. Execute the Enable-WindowsOptionalFeature Command: In the elevated PowerShell console, type or paste the following command and press Enter:

    Enable-WindowsOptionalFeature -Online -FeatureName Microsoft-Hyper-V -All
    • Enable-WindowsOptionalFeature: This is the PowerShell cmdlet used to enable optional Windows features.
    • -Online: This parameter specifies that the operation should be performed on the currently running operating system.
    • -FeatureName Microsoft-Hyper-V: This parameter identifies the feature to be enabled as Hyper-V.
    • -All: This parameter ensures that all parent and child features associated with Hyper-V are enabled.
      3. Confirm Restart (if prompted): After executing the command, PowerShell may prompt you to confirm a restart. If prompted, type Y and press Enter to confirm and restart your Cloud PC. A restart is necessary for the changes to take effect.

Method 3: Enabling Hyper-V via DISM (Deployment Image Servicing and Management)

DISM is another command-line tool that can be used to manage Windows features. It is a powerful tool often used for offline image servicing but also works effectively for enabling features on a running system.

  1. Open Command Prompt as Administrator: Click on the Start Menu, type cmd, right-click on Command Prompt, and select Run as administrator. Administrator privileges are essential for using DISM to enable Windows features.

  2. Execute the DISM Command: In the elevated Command Prompt window, type or paste the following command and press Enter:

    DISM /Online /Enable-Feature /All /FeatureName:Microsoft-Hyper-V
    • DISM: This is the command-line tool for Deployment Image Servicing and Management.
    • /Online: This switch targets the currently running operating system.
    • /Enable-Feature: This switch instructs DISM to enable a specific feature.
    • /All: Similar to the PowerShell command, this ensures that all parent and child features related to Hyper-V are enabled.
    • /FeatureName:Microsoft-Hyper-V: This specifies Hyper-V as the feature to be enabled.
      3. Confirm Restart (if prompted): After the DISM command completes, it may prompt you to restart your Cloud PC. If prompted, type Y and press Enter to confirm and restart. Restarting is required to finalize the Hyper-V enablement process.

3] Running Hyper-V on Your Cloud PC

Once you have successfully enabled the Hyper-V feature and restarted your Windows 365 Cloud PC, you can begin using Hyper-V Manager to create and manage virtual machines.

  1. Open Hyper-V Manager: Click on the Start Menu, type Hyper-V Manager, and select Hyper-V Manager from the search results.
  2. Run as Administrator (If Necessary): In most cases, Hyper-V Manager should open without issues. However, if you encounter problems connecting to the local server, ensure you are running Hyper-V Manager with administrator privileges. To do this, right-click on the Hyper-V Manager icon in the Start Menu and select Run as administrator.
  3. Connect to Hyper-V Server: Hyper-V Manager should automatically connect to your local Cloud PC as the Hyper-V server. If it doesn’t, in the Hyper-V Manager console, right-click on Hyper-V Manager in the left pane and select Connect to Server. Choose Local computer and click OK.
  4. Create Virtual Machines: With Hyper-V Manager open and connected to your Cloud PC, you can now create new virtual machines. In the Actions pane on the right, click on New and select Virtual Machine. This will launch the New Virtual Machine Wizard, guiding you through the process of configuring your VM, including specifying the name, generation, memory, networking, virtual hard disk, and operating system installation source.
  5. Utilize Quick Create (Optional): For a faster VM creation process with default settings, you can use the Quick Create feature. In the Actions pane, click on Quick Create. This option provides pre-configured VM templates for common operating systems, simplifying the VM setup process.

Now you can operate virtual machines on your Cloud PC just as you would on a physical machine running Hyper-V, leveraging the power of nested virtualization.

4] Troubleshooting Nested Virtualization Performance Issues

While Nested Virtualization offers significant benefits, users in certain Azure regions with 4vCPU Cloud PCs might experience performance degradation. These regions have been identified as potentially experiencing performance challenges when running nested virtualization workloads on 4vCPU configurations.

  • Regions Potentially Affected:

    • Southeast Asia
    • Central India
    • South Central US
    • East US 2
    • West US 2
    • West US 3

If you are using a 4vCPU Cloud PC in one of these regions and encounter performance issues after enabling Hyper-V and running virtual machines, you have a couple of options to mitigate the problem.

  1. Reprovision the Cloud PC: Reprovisioning your Cloud PC can sometimes resolve underlying infrastructure issues that might be contributing to performance degradation. This process essentially creates a new Cloud PC instance for you.

    • Steps to Reprovision:
      1. Navigate to the Microsoft Intune admin center: intune.microsoft.com.
      2. Sign in with your administrator credentials.
      3. Select Devices in the left-hand navigation menu.
      4. Click on All Devices.
      5. Locate and select the specific Cloud PC you want to reprovision from the list of devices.
      6. Once you have selected the Cloud PC, click on Reprovision in the device actions toolbar.
      7. In the Reprovision confirmation dialog box, click Yes to proceed with the reprovisioning process.

    The reprovisioning process will then begin. It may take some time to complete as a new Cloud PC instance is created and configured. After the reprovisioning is finished, the user associated with the Cloud PC will receive access information for the new Cloud PC instance.

  2. Disable Hyper-V: If reprovisioning does not resolve the performance issues, or if you no longer require Hyper-V functionality, you can disable Hyper-V on your Cloud PC. This will revert the system to its state before Hyper-V was enabled, potentially improving performance if nested virtualization was the source of the problem. You can disable Hyper-V using the same methods used to enable it, simply unchecking the Hyper-V option in “Windows Features” or using PowerShell or DISM commands to disable the feature.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Windows 365 support virtualization?

Yes, Windows 365 Enterprise supports virtualization through Nested Virtualization, enabling features like Hyper-V, WSL, WSA, and Sandbox. However, it is essential to meet the Requirements outlined earlier in this article. Specifically, your Cloud PC must have at least 4vCPU and be provisioned in a supported Azure region. For optimal performance, 8vCPU and 32GB RAM are recommended. If these conditions are met, you can successfully enable and utilize Hyper-V on your Windows 365 Cloud PC by following the steps detailed in this guide. To access your Windows 365 Cloud PC, users need to configure the Remote Desktop client using their Azure Active Directory credentials. Once set up, they can launch their assigned Cloud PC by double-clicking it within the Remote Desktop client.

How do I know if Hyper-V is enabled?

You can verify if Hyper-V is enabled by checking the Hyper-V-Hypervisor event log in Event Viewer.

  1. Open Event Viewer: Right-click on the Start button and select Event Viewer from the Power User Menu. Alternatively, open the Run dialog box (Windows Key + R), type eventvwr, and press Enter.
  2. Navigate to Hyper-V-Hypervisor Log: In the Event Viewer navigation pane, expand Applications and Services Logs > Microsoft > Hyper-V-Hypervisor.
  3. Check Operational Log: Click on Operational under Hyper-V-Hypervisor.
  4. Verify Hypervisor Status: If the Windows hypervisor is running and Hyper-V is enabled, you should see events in the Operational log indicating the hypervisor’s activity. If the log is populated with recent events, it confirms that Hyper-V is enabled and functioning. If the log is empty or indicates errors, Hyper-V might not be properly enabled or running.

Enabling Hyper-V on your Windows 365 Cloud PC opens up a range of possibilities for virtualization, enhancing your Cloud PC’s capabilities and flexibility. By following these steps and ensuring you meet the requirements, you can effectively leverage Hyper-V for your development, testing, and virtualized environment needs within Windows 365.

Do you have any questions or experiences enabling Hyper-V on your Windows 365 Cloud PC? Share your thoughts and comments below!

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