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How you probably know is possible run Hyper-V role (or Hyper-V Server) in a VM using latest version of VMware virtualization products (vSphere and Workstation) because they also can “emulate” the hardware instructions (AMD-V or Intel-VT) needed of hypervisors like Microsoft Hyper-V (but also, for example, Citix XenServer).

More complicated if you was to run Hyper-V in a nested VM inside Hyper-V (or some other virtualization platform that lacks of this “emulation” feature).

If you try to add the Hyper-V role though the Server Manager or PowerShell you will have an error and the operation will fail. PowerShell cmlet does not have a force option for this operation:

Install-WindowsFeature –Name Hyper-V -ComputerName <computer_name> -IncludeManagementTools -Restart

And the result will be an error message like this:
Hyper-V_2012R2

The underline hypervisor is recognize (or at least is recognized that there is a hypervisor) and is not possible add the role. Similar issue if you try to install Hyper-V Server.

For testing purpose you can can follow those blog posts:

Basically you need to download and install the Windows assessment and deployment kit for Windows 8 and use it to add the feature off-line with those commands:

  1. DISM /Online /Enable-Feature /FeatureName:Microsoft-Hyper-V
  2. DISM /Online /Enable-Feature /FeatureName:Microsoft-Hyper-V-Management-Clients

Please note that you will be able to creare VMs, test several features, build a cluster, but you will not able to power-on any VM.

 

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Virtualization, Cloud and Storage Architect. Tech Field delegate. VMUG IT Co-Founder and board member. VMware VMTN Moderator and vExpert 2010-24. Dell TechCenter Rockstar 2014-15. Microsoft MVP 2014-16. Veeam Vanguard 2015-23. Nutanix NTC 2014-20. Several certifications including: VCDX-DCV, VCP-DCV/DT/Cloud, VCAP-DCA/DCD/CIA/CID/DTA/DTD, MCSA, MCSE, MCITP, CCA, NPP.