Item: Hyper-V
Rating: 7
Author: Verified User

Use Cases and Deployment Scope

Hyper-V is being used by consultants like myself in our organization. Consultants often work for multiple different clients, each of which has different parameters for connecting to their systems. Some use VPNs or VMware, but others have their own VMs that we can manage locally with Hyper-V. This way we can conform to whatever standards the client requires with an image that they provide.

Pros and Cons

Switch Manager. Once you get your Hyper-V Manager set up, it is pretty easy to use the Virtual Switch Manager to toggle between different connection types for different VMs. It even allows you to change that switch configuration on a running instance without rebooting.
Multiple VMs. It is very easy to maintain multiple VMs, hence the name "Manager" in Hyper-V Manager.
Metrics. It is very easy to see the metrics for any specific instance. For example, the allocated memory, checkpoints, security settings, etc.

Initial Setup. Adding in new VMs is not an intuitive process. Going through the boot file, the ISO, and figuring out how to get that initial configuration right can be challenging.
Stability. Overall, it's pretty stable, but I have had my VM crash unexpectedly more times than I expected. It's caused me to take certain precautions in how I handle the data that I keep on there.
Connectivity. Although the Switch Manager is easy to use, establishing that initial connectivity within the VM can be tough. In a few instances, I had to do a number of resets and reboots in order to get it to work properly.

Return on Investment

Positive: It saved my client money because they didn't have to provide an entire laptop for me. Instead, they just gave me a USB stick with an ISO file, which I used to load their image on my Hyper-V.
Negative: Downtime. I have spent a lot of time troubleshooting connectivity and stability issues within Hyper-V. So although it saved them the initial money of not having to provide a separate laptop, a lot of money was spent in man-hours trying to troubleshoot other issues.
Positive: Interfacing with the local system. How a VM interfaces with a local system can often be hit or miss. As an example, I'm referring to how easily it can copy/paste between the two systems. Hyper-V does this remarkably well, and it also handles screen sizing with ease.

Alternatives Considered

VMware Horizon (formerly VMware View)

Hyper-V has better deployment options and is easier to maintain backups. The functionality that exists between client and host also works more effectively with Hyper-V. VMWare is a bit more intuitive but is limited in its functionality and isn't always the ideal choice for complex enterprise environments. One advantage VMWare has is that it's been around longer as a product, and therefore is more stable. I have never had any issues with reliability or stability with VMWare. Ultimately, however, Hyper-V is more configurable and flexible, which works better for our business.

Other Software Used

Microsoft Power BI, Microsoft Access, Microsoft PowerApps, Microsoft SQL Server

Likelihood to Recommend

Well-Suited
1) Multiple VMs to manage. It works well if you have multiple VMs to manage, and don't have external software to connect to them (and would rather maintain them locally).
2) Specific images required. In the consulting world, if a client requires a specific OS image for their work, Hyper-V is perfect for maintaining that image.

Less Appropriate
1) No image required. If the work that you do doesn't require a specific image, but rather just access to propriety data and systems, online portals might be a better option.
2) High levels of security. If you have a setup that requires token authentication, MFA, etc., maintaining all of that through an instance on Hyper-V can be challenging.

Hyper-V Review from a Technical Consultant

Overall Satisfaction with Hyper-V