The Microsoft Hyper-V Server 2008 was designed to provide a simplified, reliable, and optimized virtualization solution, enabling improved server utilization and reduced costs.
Since Hyper-V Server is a dedicated stand-alone product, which contains only the Windows Hypervisor, Windows Server driver model and virtualization components, it provides a small footprint and minimal overhead. It easily plugs into customers’ existing IT environments, leveraging their existing patching, provisioning, management, support tools, processes, and skills.

IT Pros can easily to leverage their existing knowledge and skills with Microsoft virtualization products, as well as the collective knowledge of the community, minimizing any learning curve. In addition, with Microsoft providing comprehensive support for Microsoft applications and heterogeneous guest operating systems, customers can virtualize with confidence and peace of mind.

System Requirements:

Processor :
- Minimum: An x64 processor with Hardware-assisted virtualization. This is available in processors that include a virtualization option; specifically, Intel VT or AMD Virtualization.
- Hardware Data Execution Protection (DEP) must be available and be enabled. Specifically, you must enable Intel XD bit (execute disable bit) or AMD NX bit (no execute bit).
- Recommended: 2 GHz or faster

Memory :
- Minimum: 1 GB RAM; Recommended: 2+ GB RAM
- Maximum (64-bit systems): 32 GB

Available Disk Space :
- Minimum: 10 GB; Recommended: 40 GB or greater
Note: Computers with more than 16 GB of RAM will require more disk space for paging, hibernation, and dump files

Network Adapters :
- Minimum: 1; Recommended: 2 or more

Drive :
- DVD-ROM drive

Display :
- Super-VGA (800 × 600) or higher-resolution monitor

Other :
- Keyboard and Microsoft Mouse or compatible pointing device

Internet access (fees may apply) : 
- Active Directory highly recommended

Remote Management :
- Hyper-V Server requires a second system for remote management running:
Windows Server 2008 with the Hyper-V Manager MMC
Windows Vista SP1 with the Hyper-V Manager MMC
Microsoft System Center Virtual Machine Manager

Here are some key features of "Microsoft Hyper-V Server":

· VHD format: To move a virtual machine from Hyper-V Server to a Windows Server 2008 Hyper-V environment (or vice versa), simply export the virtual machine and import it on the other host using the standard management tools.

· BitLocker support: Hyper-V Server can take advantage of BitLocker technology to encrypt a Hyper-V Server so that even if it is stolen and the hard disks are removed, the data is still safe because it’s encrypted. This is particularly useful for branch offices or environments where physical security is a concern.

· Live Backup support: Hyper-V Server includes native support for Volume Shadow Services so that it can provide Live Backup of running virtual machines without downtime.

· Flexible hardware support: Microsoft Hyper-V Server leverages the Windows Server driver model and is compatible with a wide variety of server hardware and driver support for newer peripherals such as 10 Gb/E.

Flexible Storage: Hyper-V Server offers flexible storage support, such as:
· Direct Attach Storage (DAS): SATA, eSATA, PATA, SAS, SCSI, USB, Firewire
· Storage Area Networks (SANs): iSCSI, Fiber Channel, SAS
· Network Attached Storage (NAS)
· Virtual Machine Snapshots: Hyper-V Server fully supports virtual machine snapshots.
· VSP/VSC/VMBUS: Both products fully leverage the driver enlightened architecture (VSP/VPC/VMBus) for high performance I/O. There is no conversion when moving virtual machines between Microsoft Hyper-V and Windows Server 2008 w/ Hyper-V.

Hyper-V Server (Parent Partition) provides:
· Support for systems with up to 4 processors with 1, 2, or 4 cores
· Support for systems with up to 32 GB of physical memory
· Support for up to 128 virtual machines or as many will fit within 32 GB of memory (whichever comes first)

Hyper-V Server virtual machines provide:
· 32-bit (x86) and 64-bit (x64) virtual machines
· Up to 4 virtual processors per virtual machine
· Up to 31 GB memory for all running virtual machines (1GB reserved for Hyper-V Server Parent Partition)