Generation 2 Virtual Machines

Windows Server 2012 R2 introduces a new class of virtual machines that are optimized for virtualization—generation 2 virtual machines. They provide advanced features that deliver significant management, storage and security benefits. In Windows Server 2012 R2, generation 2 virtual machine hardware removes most of the emulated (”legacy”) devices, or replaces them with optimized software-based devices.
Generation 2 virtual machines lay the foundation for advanced virtual machine features, including a reduced attack surface for the platform and faster boot times for virtual machines.

Booting Generation 2 Virtual Machines

Generation 2 virtual machines use a Unified Extensible Firmware Interface (UEFI) and software-based devices when turning on your computer. UEFI is an alternate firmware interface and delivers improved boot time performance and flexibility. Generation 2 virtual machines provide the following boot capabilities.

• Running simultaneous virtual machines on the same server Windows Server 2012 R2 supports creating and running generation 1 and generation 2 virtual machines on the same server simultaneously. This ensures you can easily migrate virtual machines running on an earlier version of Hyper-V to Windows Server 2012 R2.
• Network boot: Generation 2 virtual machines use the optimized virtual network adapter. This eliminates the need for an emulated network adapter. It simplifies the process of booting a virtual machine and decreases problems associated with configuring virtual machine network adapters. IPV4 and IPV6 addressing schemes are supported.
• Virtual Machine Secure Boot: Generation 2 virtual machines use UEFI firmware, which provides support for Secure Boot. Secure Boot functionality prevents “unauthorized” operating systems and software from loading during the startup process.
• Boot from a SCSI CD/DVD: Generation 2 virtual machines can boot from a SCSI CD/DVD drive using an ISO image file.
• Boot from a SCSI-attached virtual hard disk: Using UEFI firmware support, generation 2 virtual machines can boot from SCSI-attached virtual hard disks (VHDX). The VHDX file format supports volumes up to 64 TB.

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