{"id":4284,"date":"2013-12-22T13:37:45","date_gmt":"2013-12-22T21:37:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.zubairalexander.com\/stage\/?p=4284"},"modified":"2013-12-22T14:55:35","modified_gmt":"2013-12-22T22:55:35","slug":"how-to-update-integration-services-in-windows-server-2012-r2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.zubairalexander.com\/blog\/how-to-update-integration-services-in-windows-server-2012-r2\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Update Integration Services and Use Guest Services in Windows Server 2012 R2"},"content":{"rendered":"

Microsoft has made several enhancements to Hyper-V in Windows Serer 2012 and then again in Windows Server 2012 R2. Unlike previous versions, Integration Services are now installed by default in Windows Server 2012 and later.<\/p>\n

In Hyper-V, you can double-click a virtual image to open what is called a Virtual Machine Connection (VMC). When you open a VMC window, you cannot copy a file to or from your host computer to a virtual machine unless you are running Windows Server 2012 R2. In previous versions of Hyper-V, a Hyper-V administrator may have needed to shut down a virtual machine to copy files to it. In Window Server 2012 R2, Microsoft added a Hyper-V Integration Service called Guest Service which allows the Hyper-V administrator to copy files to a running virtual machine without using a network connection. Microsoft also added a Windows PowerShell cmdlet called Copy-VMFile<\/strong> for this new feature.<\/p>\n

Guest Services<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

When you update the Integration Services on a virtual machine, it adds the Guest Services to the list of integration services that were previously available. Guest Services copy files across the Hyper-V Virtual Machine Bus (VMBus), rather than using virtual network switch connections and shared folders to transfer files into each Virtual Machine. Guest Services are extremely useful in isolated environments, such as development and training. They are also useful for servers in the DMZ (Web, FTP servers, etc.). As a Microsoft Certified Trainer (MCT), I often need my students to copy files between their host and the guest Virtual Machine. In an isolated training environment, I had to go through a lot of hoops to give my students such an ability. With Guest Services this is no longer an issue.<\/p>\n

After you have installed Guest Services, you can use Copy-VMFile PowerShell cmdlet to copy files between a host and the Virtual Machines. You cannot, however, copy and paste files like you do in a Remote Desktop Connection session.<\/p>\n

Enhanced Session Mode<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

The enhanced session mode in Windows Server 2012 R2 allows Virtual Machine Connection in Hyper-V to redirect local resources in a Virtual Machine Connection session. In previous versions of Hyper-V, Virtual Machine Connection allowed redirection of only the virtual machine screen, keyboard, and mouse with limited copy functionality. As a workaround, administrators had to initiate a remote desktop connection session. Now any of the following local resources can be redirected when using Virtual Machine Connection.<\/p>\n