AZ-104 Certification Notes

Chapter 9.7 - VM Generations

Hyper-V and Generation 1 vs 2

Hyper-V is Microsoft's hardware virtualization product. It lets you create and run a software version of a computer, called a virtual machine. Each virtual machine acts like a compete computer, running an operating system and programs.

There are two generations of Hyper-V VMs:

• Generation 1 - Supports most guest operating systems
• Generation 2 - Supports most 64-bit versions of Windows and more current versions of Linux and FreeBSD operating systems

Azure has Generation 1 and Generation 2 VMs which are similar but are not exactly the same as Hyper-V Generations.

The most important difference between Azure Gen 1 and Gen 2:

• Gen 1
  • BIOS-based architecture
• Gen 2
  • UEFI-based boot architecture (improved boot and installation times)
  • Secure Boot verifies the boot loader is signed by a trusted authority
  • Large boot volume up to 64 TB

Hyper-V VMs are packaged into Virtual Hard Disk formats: VHD or VHDX files.

Practice Quiz

• What type of Hyper-V VMs support most 64-bit versions of Windows and more current versions of Linux and FreeBSD operating systems?

  • Generation 2
  • Premium
  • Standard
  • Generation 1

• Hyper-V VMs are packaged into Virtual Hard Disk formats: VHD or VHDX files

  • False
  • True

• What is Microsoft's hardware virtualization product? It lets you create and run a software version of a computer, called a virtual machine.

  • Hyper-V

• What is the most important difference between Azure Gen 1 and Gen 2?

  • Gen 1 has BIOS-based architecture.

• Gen 2 has UEFI-based boot architecture, has secure Boot which verifies the boot loader is signed by a trusted authority, and has a larger boot volume up to 64 TB.