MultiPoint Server Virtualization Support

Windows MultiPoint Server 2011 Premium supports the Hyper-V role in two ways:

• Windows MultiPoint Server 2011 Premium can be deployed as a guest operating system on a server running Hyper-V.
• Windows MultiPoint Server 2011 Premium can be used as a virtualization server.

Windows MultiPoint Server 2011 Standard does not support virtualization as guest operating system or as a virtualization server.

Running Windows MultiPoint Server 2011 Premium on a virtual machine provides the use of the Hyper-V tools to manage operating systems. These tools include checkpoint and rollback features, and they allow you to export and import virtual machines. For larger installations, you can consolidate servers by running multiple MultiPoint Server virtual computers on a single physical server. Possible scenarios include:

• A single classroom or lab has more than 20 seats.  Rather than deploying multiple physical computers running MultiPoint Server, you can deploy multiple virtual machines on a single physical computer. 

You can manage multiple MultiPoint servers, whether physical or virtual, through a single MultiPoint Manager console.

• MultiPoint Server is running on a virtual machine with another server infrastructure on the same physical computer. For example, MultiPoint Server is running with Windows Small Business Server (Windows SBS) Essentials. Windows SBS centralizes the domain, security, and data for the network.  MultiPoint Server provides Remote Desktop Services and centralizes the desktops.

When running MultiPoint Server on a virtual machine, only RDP-over-LAN connected stations are supported. Direct video and USB zero client connected stations are not supported.

For more information about the Hyper-V role, see Hyper-V on Microsoft TechNet.