Have an existing physical Windows server that you'd like to convert to a Hyper-V image? Version 3.,0 of the free Microsoft Virtual Machine Converter adds that ability.

Hyper-V is built into Windows Server 2012, which means it's very good at running Windows virtual machines -- but the advantage of running Linux VMs is that you don't have to pay for the licences. If you want to run Linux under Hyper-V, follow these tricks for better performance.

Microsoft's Virtual Machine Converter automatically converts VMware virtual machines into the Hyper-V platform. The newly-released version 2.0 adds another trick: the ability to automatically migrate existing VMware images into Microsoft's Azure cloud platform.

Microsoft's aim with the Xbox One was to use as much Windows technology as possible, and when Windows Threshold appears, it should be theoretically possible to run a single piece of code on both platforms. Yet despite that Windows dependency and the need to run multiple apps in parallel, the Xbox One doesn't actually use Microsoft's Hyper-V virtualisation technology. This is why.

Deploying software on a private or hybrid cloud doesn't eliminate the need to have a backup in case things go wrong. Microsoft's newly-released Hyper-V Recovery Manager automates the process of restoring backups from Windows Azure if something goes awry in your cloud implementation.

Windows Server 2012 R2 offers new ways to approach data centre deployment and management. Learn how the platform makes it possible to manage your datacentre more effectively, and master the options available for live migration with our handy infographic poster.

Hyper-V virtualisation is one of the key benefits of Windows Server 2012, and it works essentially identically in R2 to the original version. One important exception to bear in mind? You shouldn't use R2's shared virtual hard disk feature to hosting virtual machine operating systems -- purely for shared data sotres.

One of the big decisions that always comes up early on in any physical to virtual, or P2V, project is choosing a hypervisor. In the project I'm working through with a client, this was an early sticking point as we contemplated which option would best suit the needs of a rapidly changing business.

Microsoft and Oracle's new partnership means that you can run Oracle's namesake database software on Hyper-V and Azure, and Java apps will eventually be supported on Azure. It's good news for enterprises running a mixed Oracle/Windows environment and looking to expand into the cloud, and also suggests that Oracle is also going to give up on its own attempts in the virtualisation market.

Grappling with a virtualised network architecture that's difficult to manage? The Hyper-V Extensible Switch running on Windows Server 2012 can simplify your management workload, letting you add capabilities to your virtualised network to meet your exact needs.

Looking to enhance virtualisation performance under Hyper-V? Centralise storage and shift to VHDX.

TechEd attendees cannot live by tech alone. Last night we ventured out to Bourbon Street for a few hours for a bite to eat and beer in a novelty oversized cup. It's quite the experience with a mixture of souvenir shops, bars with bands and jazz, restaurants and an art precinct.

Monitoring performance on a single system is complicated enough, but what should you do when you're tracking virtual machines? Here are four basic principles to apply before choosing.

Our blogging competition winner Tommy Carron packed in a busy first day at TechEd North America 2013. The high points? The inner secrets of Orchestrator and systems designed to deal with lower bandwidth speeds. The low points? Diet Dr Pepper and Microsoft apparently deciding to place a data centre in Alice Springs.

Managing a data centre can be a tricky balancing act. Your organisation needs consistent and stable infrastructure that supports a growing business, but you also need to know how to incorporate modern IT trends will help you remain competitive. Microsoft is inviting Lifehacker readers to join a free webcast on June 4. Senior data centre gurus will explain how the cloud delivers new products and services faster. And you’ll be able to get instant answers to your tough questions.

Today's announcement of the Xbox One has seen a decidedly mixed reaction, but also offered hints at the key roles some of Microsoft's more enterprise technologies will play on the console/entertainment device/potential doorstop. Here's what we know so far.

Private cloud implementations give you flexibility and security, but how can you ensure those essential business apps and data are backed up in case of emergency? System Center 2012's Data Protection Manager feature is the easy solution.

Handy for virtualisation junkies who enjoy mixing platforms: you can now use Hyper-V to manage the Amazon Storage Gateway, an on-premises and cloud appliance which lets you manage Amazon storage. Interesting.

The replication capabilities built into Hyper-V Replica, one of the key virtualisation features available to Windows Server 2012, will change the way you think about disaster recovery. With Hyper-V Replica, you can easily move VMs from one machine to another.