14 DAY TRIAL // On May 20, 2008 Microsoft made available for download Release Candidate 1 for Windows Server 2008 Hyper-V. The RC1 build was served through the Download Center at that time, although it was packaged as an update for Hyper-V Release Candidate 0. RC1 via Windows Update is distributed automatically as of May 27, but this does not mean that the build will be installed by default. In fact, users have to manually take Windows Server 2008 Hyper-V to the next level.
"The Release Candidate 1 (RC1) of Hyper-V is now available as a optional update on Windows Update. Optional updates are not installed automatically by default. To install the update open the Windows Update control panel and click 'View available updates' under the 'Install Updates' button. Then check the Update for Windows Server 2008 (KB950049) and click install," informed Taylor Brown, Hyper-V Test Team Lead.
According to Microsoft, Hyper-V with RC1 has problems playing well with Hewlett-Packard (HP) servers or with the HP Network Configuration Utility. The Redmond company offers a workaround for the HP related issues through KB950792. Otherwise, Brown informed that there are no problems related to the integration of RC1 into Windows Server 2008 Hyper-V.
The Hyper-V RC1 package is only available for Windows Server 2008 x64 machines, this because the hypervisor comes only on 64-bit flavor, and is designed as a permanent install. This means that reverting back to the Beta or RC0 builds of Hyper-V will no longer be possible after integrating RC1.
"In addition to bug fixes and stability improvements we also made some additional changes largely based on feedback from customers. Integration Components For Windows Server 2008 guest's included in Integration Services Setup Disk; new Graphics for Hyper-V Manager and Virtual Machine Connection; IPv4 Address Migration - when creating a new Virtual Network bound to an adapter with a static IPv4 address the IPv4 settings are migrated to the new virtual adapter," Brown added.