Sign in
 
HomeWindows Server 2012Windows Server 2008 R2Windows Server 2003LibraryForums
Windows Server TechCenter >
> 
> 
Move Hyper-V 2012 VM's BACK to Server 2008 Hyper-V

Answered Move Hyper-V 2012 VM's BACK to Server 2008 Hyper-V

  • Friday, November 16, 2012 5:26 AM
     
     
    Sign In to Vote
    0

    In my attempt to use some of the new features in the Hyper-V 2012 role I moved a number of VM's to a secondary Server 2008 R2 system, exported them, then imported them into a new install of Server 2012 with the Hyper-V role added.

    Performance on the new Server 2012 is HORRIBLE, with the CPU's (2 x 2 core XEONS) running at 100% any time I RDP into the system or run any application.

    I want to move them back to Server 2008 R2, and go back to a Server 2008 R2 environment.  Can I export them from the Server 2012 system and import them back to the 2008 R2 system, or has the file types changed and now I am stuck with this unusable environment?  PLEASE tell me I can move back!

    Thanks!

    Brian

     

All Replies

  • Saturday, November 17, 2012 12:00 AM
     
     Answered
    Sign In to Vote
    0

    You must have something configured strangly in your environment to have such poor performance.  That is totally out of the ordinary.

    But, to answer your question, you should be able to convert back.  Did you change the VHD from the .vhd file extension on 2008 to the .vhdx extension on 2012?  If so, go into Hyper-V Manager on 2012 and Edit the disk to convert it back to a .vhd format.  If you did not change the format when you moved it over, there should be no format changes.

    The issue you may problems with is the integration services.  Generally the integration services are tied to the Hyper-V version.  Since I've never had a need to move one back to 2008, I don't know if you can simply request to install the integration services when you get the machine back to 2008.  I don't know if the request to install them will say that a later version is already installed.

    If I were you, I would try to trouble shoot the issue as to why you are getting such poor performance.  2012 has many performance improvements over 2008, besides many feature improvements.

    tim

     
  • Sunday, November 18, 2012 7:36 PM
     
     
    Sign In to Vote
    0

    Hey Tim..

    Thanks for the reply!  I have not converted the disks, so it looks like I can move back!  WHEW! :)

    As for the issues, I agree, I would LOVE to sort it out as I have two identical servers and would love to use the replication between the two, that was 80% of the my reason to move to 2012. With performance where it is though I can't leave my customers on there.  I am running 100% CPU 90% of the time and its destroying performance and even the ability to manage the systems.

    If you have any ideas PLEASE let me know, I'd even let you take a peek! :)  Maybe it is something I'm doing.  Its a clean install of Server 2012 Standard... one  RAID 1 for the OS, RAID 10 for the VM's etc...  Ran great under 2008 R2.

    Thanks again!

    Brian


    • Edited by SipnEat Sunday, November 18, 2012 8:43 PM
    •  
     
  • Monday, November 19, 2012 1:54 PM
     
     Answered
    Sign In to Vote
    0

    I would try to just copy the VHD file over and define a new VM pointing to the VHD.  Then install integration services on the VM when it first comes up.  This is basically what the export/import is doing, but by doing it manually, you are in full control.  Other typical things to check is that the Legacy Network Adapter is not used and that you have enough memory defined for the VM.

    Another thing you should definitely do is ensure that you have the latest drivers for the 2012 installation.  Check the vendor web sites for disk and network drivers.  It is not uncommon that vendors are tweaking the performance of their drivers.  They may have released a driver early just to have it included with the Windows distribution, but now they have an updated driver that performs according to the expectations they want.

    tim


     
  • Monday, November 19, 2012 8:11 PM
     
     
    Sign In to Vote
    0
    I think you can use Backup EXEC 2012 for move the VM

    I’m going take a look at where Backup Exec has been in support of Microsoft’s virtual platform; from Virtual Server to Hyper-V. It started with Backup Exec 12.5 which was released in 2008 and the Backup Exec Agent for Virtual Servers. It supported Microsoft Virtual Server 2005 R2 SP1 or later as well as Hyper-V 2008.

    MCSE | MCITP [x2] | ISMS27001