Hyper-V Parent-Child VHD Configuration Using
Differencing Disks:
Hyper-V Technology
Date: 5, 7, 2012
Prepared By
Engineer: Mina Saneed Kamel.
Adonia Consultancy- Qatar
Hyper-V Parent-Child VHD Configuration Using Differencing Disks:
Table of Contents
Scenario.......................................................................................................................... 3
Symptom .................................................................................................................... 3
Layout ........................................................................................................................ 3
Lab Configuration ...................................................................................................... 4
Technical Procedure....................................................................................................... 5
Create Parent Virtual Hard Disk ................................................................................ 5
Create Parent Virtual Machine.................................................................................. 7
Create Child Virtual Hard Disk .............................................................................. 21
Create Virtual Machine That Use Child VHD…………………………………….14
Recommendations……………………………………………………………………16
Resources ..................................................................................................................... 27
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Hyper-V Parent-Child VHD Configuration Using Differencing Disks:
Scenario
Symptom:
This task will describe in details how we can optimize disk space and reduce the
number of times that we have to install and update a released operating system,
this will be done by creating parent child VHD configurations using differencing
disks in Hyper-V.
Layout:
The parent VHD is shared between the VMs’ child VHD, The parent VHD is Native
boot for all Childs OS based on.
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Hyper-V Parent-Child VHD Configuration Using Differencing Disks:
Lab Configuration
Computer
Name
mkamel
Win2008Parent
Win2008-Child
Computer
Name
mkamel
Win2008-Parent
Win2008-Child
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O.S
Application/Services
Function/Membership
Windows 2008
Server R2 X64
Enterprise.
Windows 2008
Server R2 X64
Enterprise.
Windows 2008
Server R2 X64
Enterprise
Hyper-V
Virtualization Server.
Parent Virtual
Machine.
Child Virtual
Machine.
TCP/IP Settings
Note
IP:192.168.0.209
DNS: 192.168.0.1
IP:192.168.0.205
DNS: 192.168.0.1
IP:192.168.0.153
DNS: 192.168.0.1
Join Informatique.net Domain
Workgroup
Workgroup
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Hyper-V Parent-Child VHD Configuration Using Differencing Disks:
Technical Procedure
Create Parent Virtual Hard Disk:

In Hyper-V Manager, In the Action Bar click New, Then click Hard Disk.

Choose Disk Type. Dynamically expanding type. And click Next.
Hint: The size of the .vhd file grows as data is
written to the virtual hard disk.
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Hyper-V Parent-Child VHD Configuration Using Differencing Disks:

On the Specify Name and Location page. And click Next.
Enter an appropriate Name
and Location

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Configure your Disk Size. And click Next.
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Hyper-V Parent-Child VHD Configuration Using Differencing Disks:

Review Summary. And click Finish.
Create Parent Virtual Machine.

Click New in the Action pane, and then click Virtual Machine. Then click Next.
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Hyper-V Parent-Child VHD Configuration Using Differencing Disks:

On the Specify Name and Location page, in Name and Location ,enter an
appropriate Name and Location, and click Next.

On the Assign Memory page, enter the amount of memory you want to dedicate to
this virtual machine. Then click Next
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Hyper-V Parent-Child VHD Configuration Using Differencing Disks:

On Configure Networking, determine whether you want the machine connected to
a network and click Next.
Hint: External Network for binding to
Physical Network Adapter to access any
external network.

On Connect Virtual Hard Disk, Select Use an existing virtual hard disk .then
browse to the virtual hard disk that you create it in Step 1.and click Next
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Hyper-V Parent-Child VHD Configuration Using Differencing Disks:

Review Summary. And click Finish.
Hint: In Step2 you Create Parent Virtual Machine named Win2008-Parent.

in the Action pane , under Win2008-parent VM, select Settings, under IDE
Controller 1 If you have Image File for OS select Image file and browse to the
file or if you have DVD Disk select Physical CD or DVD and select drive,
then click Apply and ok
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Hyper-V Parent-Child VHD Configuration Using Differencing Disks:

Then Start and Connect your Machine .and Install the Operating System.


After installation Update your Windows.
Running sysprep. Click Start ,then Command Prompt , right-click Command
Prompt, click Run as administrator .Type this command >> cd
C:\Windows\System32\ sysprep then press Enter.Then type this command >>
sysprep then press Enter. The System Preparation Tool dialog box appears.ensure
that Enter System Out-of-Box Experience (OOBE) is selected, and select the
Generalize check box. In the Shutdown Options list, click Shutdown, and then
click OK.
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Hyper-V Parent-Child VHD Configuration Using Differencing Disks:

Keep your Parent Virtual Machine is Turned off.

Note
 The parent VHD must reside on the same local volume.
 You can’t modify the parent VHD.
 Keep your parent Virtual Machine is Turn off.
Create Child Virtual Hard Disk.





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Right-click the Hyper-V server you want to target, click New, Hard Disk.
The New Virtual Hard Disk Wizard opens
If the Before You Begin page appears, review it and then click Next.
On Choose Disk Type, select Differencing and then click Next.
On Specify Name and Location, type an appropriate name and click Next.
On Configure Disk, in Location, browse to the file path to The Parent
VHD that you created previously and then click Next.
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Hyper-V Parent-Child VHD Configuration Using Differencing Disks:

Review Summary. And click Finish.
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Hyper-V Parent-Child VHD Configuration Using Differencing Disks:
Create Virtual Machine That Use Child VHD.







In Hyper-V Manager, right-click the virtual server on which you want to create
the configuration.
Click New, and then click Virtual Machine. If the Before You Begin page
appears, review it and then click Next.
On the Specify Name and Location page, in Name and Location, enter an
appropriate name and location.
On the Assign Memory page, enter the amount of memory ,and click Next.
On Configure Networking, determine whether you want the machine
connected to a network .and click Next.
On Connect Virtual Hard Disk, select Use an existing virtual hard disk. In
Location, Browse to the differencing virtual hard disk that you created for this
virtual machine, and click Next.
Review Summary. And click Finish.
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Hyper-V Parent-Child VHD Configuration Using Differencing Disks:

Then Start and Connect your Machine .
Hint: by these steps you create Virtual machine using Child VHD.

Repeat the process above for each Child Virtual Hard Disk you created.
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Hyper-V Parent-Child VHD Configuration Using Differencing Disks:
Recommendations
1- Copy the parent VHD to save place, as you will use for new labs
you will prepare
2- After you creating the parent virtual machine manager make sure
to remove from Hyper-V console to avoid running it by mistake
3- Use the same procedures listed above for preparing Windows 7
parent and child VHD. Also it can be used for windows XP when it
is required
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Hyper-V Parent-Child VHD Configuration Using Differencing Disks:
Resources
Item
1-
KB or Article
Hyper-V Over viewhttp://technet.microsoft.com/enus/library/cc816638(v=ws.10)
2-
For practical Lab: http://technet.microsoft.com/enus/library/ee256064(v=ws.10)
3-
Hyper-V Virtual Machine (VM) Parent-Child Configuration:
http://social.technet.microsoft.com/wiki/contents/articles/1393.hyper-vvirtual-machine-vm-parent-child-configuration-using-differencingdisks.aspx
4-
How to use Sysprep: http://technet.microsoft.com/enus/library/bb457073.aspx
Using differencing disks: http://technet.microsoft.com/enus/library/cc720381(v=ws.10)
5-
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