As we conclude the fifth Chapter, it is going to be quite a realization that we have covered almost all the basic attributes and aspects required for a simple Windows Server 2012 R2 Hyper-V infrastructure setup. If we revise the contents, we will notice this: we started off in this chapter by understanding and defining the purpose of virtual storage, and what the available options are for storage to be used with a virtual machine.

We reviewed various virtual hard disk types, formats, and associated operations that may be required to customize a particular type or modify it accordingly. We recounted how the VHDX format is superior to its predecessor VHD and which features were added with the latest Window Server releases, namely 2012 and 2012 R2. We discussed shared VHDX and how it can be used as an alternative to the old-school iSCSI or FC LUN as a shared storage for Windows guest clustering.

Pass-through disks are on their way out, and we all know the reason why. The advent of the...