Assumptions.

This guide is built assuming the following software:

  • Microsoft Windows 2008 R2 SP1 with the Hyper-V Role enabled.
  • CentOS-6.2-x86_64-minimal.iso.
  • Linux Integration Services for Hyper-V 3.2.

Download CentOS-minimal.

The first thing to do is download an updated CentOS-minimal distribution.

I suggest you get the x64 build because Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1 works natively on 64bit CPUs only. CentOS-6.2-x86_64-minimal is a RedHat derivative, so it is supported by the Hyper-V Host and by the Linux Integration Services for Hyper-V (version 3.2 at the moment of this writing).

You can download CentOS-6.2-x86_64-minimal.iso from the following address:

http://isoredirect.centos.org/centos/6/isos/x86_64/

Remember to download "CentOS-minimal" (NOT CentOS-network - refer to the note below why not), because:

  1. Is the smallest (after CentOS-network).
  2. It allows you to have a full OS up-and-running without depending on the network configuration.

Then store it somewhere where it makes sense for you, say D:\LINUX\

Download Linux Integration Services for Hyper-V.

Once we're at downloading, fetch the latest Linux Integration Services for Hyper-V from Microsoft.

The latest version, at the time of this writing, was version 3.2 and can be downloaded from the following address:

http://www.microsoft.com/download/en/details.aspx?id=28188

Save it to where you can find it!

That's all for the "downloading part".

Over the next article I'll show you how to create a new CentOS VM inside your Hyper-V Host.

CentOS-network Note.

Please note that even if CentOS-network is actually smaller than CentOS-minimal, if you try and follow my guide with CentOS-network, you won't be able to proceed with the setup process, because CentOS-network isn't able to recognize the Hyper-V network adapters (not the Legacy nor the Synthetic one).

This happens because CentOS-network (as the name suggests) depends on the network for the successful installation process. CentOS-minimal, instead, does not depend on the network and offers you a booting environment straight away.

Been there, done that 😉

Andrea Matesi when tried to install CentOS-network. Been there, done that!

This is what is gonna happen if you attempt to follow my guide with CentOS-network. You've been warned...

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