What’s the big deal with Microsoft Windows Server 2012 R2? Hyper-V – it’s just getting better and better.

During the TechEd North America Keynote yesterday, Microsoft unveiled Windows Server 2012 R2.

These products are slated for release by the end of the year, with a Preview version coming before the end of June.

Check out Benjamin Armstrong from Microsoft speaking on what’s new in Windows Server 2012 R2 and the improvements to Hyper-V:

Here are some of the details on the added value that Windows Server 2012 R2 will bring.

Live migration compression: Compresses virtual machine during live migration to improve migration speed.

Hyper-v Replica:  Hyper-V Replica provides a cost-effective way for SMBs to implement disaster recovery/business continuity scenarios. Extended replication, now add a second replica to add extra protection for your VM at offsite location or hoster. Finer grained control of replication, now choose 30 sec interval or 5 minutes (default) For other scenarios choose 15 minutes.  Windows Azure will support orchestration of recovery using Hyper-V DR replica’s and system center VMM on premise.

Dynamic memory for Linux guests: Automatically reallocates memory between virtual machines that are running Linux as a guest OS on a Hyper-V host.

Online VHDX resize: Online VHDX resize allows a virtual SCSI disk to either grow or shrink the VHDX file whilst attached to a running virtual machine.

Storage tiering: Storage Spaces has been enhanced with the capability to pool a combination of SSDs and traditional spinning disks into a single virtual disk.  Data is automatically moved between tiers based on usage patterns.

Multitenant, site-to-site VPN gateway inbox: Provides connectivity between physical and virtual networks, enterprise datacenters and hosting organizations, and between enterprise networks and Windows Azure.

More Hyper-V improvement write-ups from other tech company:

http://www.petri.co.il/top-virtualization-features-in-windows-server-2012-r2-hyper-v.htm

http://windowsitpro.com/hyper-v/top-ten-windows-server-2012-r2-hyper-v-new-features

This really is huge for SMB and Enterprise as these features will reduce operating costs and management as well as the need to purchase third-party software.