Description of the update for the release version of the Hyper-V technology for Windows Server 2008

Update information

Update packages

The following update packages are available for the release version of the Hyper-V technology:

• Update for Windows Server 2008 (KB950050)
  This 32-bit update package includes the release version of the following:
  • The Hyper-V Manager console
  • The Virtual Machine Connection tool for x86-based editions of Windows Server 2008
• Update for Windows Server 2008 x64 Edition (KB950050)
  This 64-bit update package includes the release version of the following:
  • Hyper-V technology
  • The Hyper-V Manager console
  • The Virtual Machine Connection tool for x64-based editions of Windows Server 2008
  • Integration Services for the following operating systems:
    • Windows Server 2008 (x86-based and x64-based editions)
    • Windows Server 2003 Service Pack 2 (SP2) (x86-based and x64-based editions)
    • Windows 2000 Server Service Pack 4 (SP4)
    • Windows Vista Service Pack 1 (SP1) (x86-based and x64-based editions)
    • Windows XP Service Pack 3 (SP3) (x86-based editions)
    • Windows XP Service Pack 2 (SP2) (x86-based and x64-based editions)
    To install the Integration Services, open the Virtual Machine Connection window, and then click Insert Integration Services Setup Disk on the Action menu.
    
    If the operating system on the virtual machine does not meet the service pack level that is mentioned earlier, you receive the following error message:
     
    Unsupported Guest OS An error has occurred: The specified program requires a newer version of Windows
    
    Notes
    • In Windows Vista, the Integration Services will be listed in "Programs and Features" as KB950214.
    • In Windows Server 2008, the Integration Services will be listed in "Programs and Features" as KB951634.
    • The Service Pack 2 Integration Services for Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008 will be listed in "Programs and Features" as KB956777.

Update requirements

The following list contains prerequisites for the update:

• You must have a release version of Windows Server 2008 installed.
  • The "Update for Windows Server 2008 (KB950050)" update package requires an x86-based edition of Windows Server 2008.
  • The "Update for Windows Server 2008 x64 Edition (KB950050)" update package requires an x64-based edition of Windows Server 2008.

How to obtain the update

The following files are available for download from the Microsoft Download Center:

Update for Windows Server 2008, 32-bit editions

Download the Update for Windows Server 2008 (KB950050), 32-bit edition package now.

Update for Windows Server 2008, 64-bit editions

Download the Update for Windows Server 2008 x64 Edition (KB950050), 64-bit edition package now.

Note This update is included with Service Pack 2 for Windows Server 2008.

For more information about how to download Microsoft support files, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base: Microsoft scanned this file for viruses. Microsoft used the most current virus-detection software that was available on the date that the file was posted. The file is stored on security-enhanced servers that help prevent any unauthorized changes to the file.

What to consider before you upgrade

Upgrading from the Release Candidate to the release version

• Saved state files are not supported between the Release Candidate (RC) and the release version of Hyper-V. All virtual machines should be shut down correctly before you install the release version of Hyper-V.
  
  Note If you have already applied the release version of Hyper-V, virtual machines in a saved state will not start. Additionally, you will receive the following error message:
  An attempt to initialize the virtual machine saved state failed.
  To resolve this issue, select the "Delete Save State" option for each virtual machine that is currently in a saved state.
• Snapshot files are not supported between the Release Candidate (RC) and release version of Hyper-V. All virtual machine snapshots should be deleted by using the "Delete Snapshot Subtree" option for each virtual machine.
  
  Note After you delete the snapshots and after you shut down the virtual machines, the changes that exist in the snapshot files (.avhd files) will merge into the parent virtual hard disk file (.vhd).
  
  This operation can take a while. To verify that the snapshots have merged into the parent virtual hard disk file, locate the snapshots, and then verify that no .avhd files exist.

Note The saved state and snapshot files are compatible if you are upgrading from Release Candidate 1 (RC1) to the release version of Hyper-V.

Upgrading from a prerelease version (beta version) of Hyper-V to the release version of Hyper-V

If you run virtual machines on a Hyper-V prerelease build, follow the steps that are described in the following Microsoft Knowledge Base article after you upgrade to the release version of Hyper-V: