What “Without Hyper-V” means
For both x86 architectures (64bit and 32bit) and editions (Standard, Enterprise and Datacenter) there’s a “Without Hyper-V” Stock Keeping Unit (SKU) and a SKU that includes the Hyper-V technology. What’s the difference between these versions?
Microsoft describes Windows Server 2008 without Hyper-V as:
For customers that do not need virtualization, Windows Server 2008 Standard, Enterprise, and Datacenter editions are available without Windows Server Hyper-V Technology.
A bit vague for my taste, so I started investigating using multiple versions of Windows Server 2008 with and without Hyper-V to answer the following questions:
- Does it include Hyper-V as a Server Role?
This question is about the ability to install the Hyper-V role using the Server Manager, servermanagercmd.exe or ocsetup.exe on systems that meet the minimum requirements to run Hyper-V.
- Does it include the Hyper-V Management Console?
This question is regarding the availability of the Hyper-V Manager Microsoft Management Console (MMC) in the Server Manager or servermanagercmd.exe under Role Administration Tools in the Remote Server Administration Tools feature.
- Does it feel it wants Hyper-V updates?
This answer to this question answers whether the list of updates Hyper-V update KB9500500, when using Windows Update or WUA_SearchDownloadInstall.vbs.
The following table shows my findings:
| Stock Keeping Unit (SKU) | Server Role | Management | Updates |
| Windows Server x64 | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Windows Server x86 | No | Yes | Yes |
| Windows Server x64 Server Core | Yes | No | Yes |
| Windows Server x86 Server Core | No | No | Yes |
| Windows Server x64 without Hyper-V | No | No | Yes |
| Windows Server x86 without Hyper-V | No | No | Yes |
| Windows Server x64 without Hyper-V Core | No | No | Yes |
| Windows Server x86 without Hyper-V Core | No | No | Yes |
Note:
Server Core installations of Windows Server 2008 don’t include the Hyper-V Manager. They don’t include any Microsoft Management Consoles (MMCs)
Concluding
“Without Hyper-V” means the Windows Server 2008 SKU doesn’t include:
- The Hyper-V Role
- The Hyper-V Manager
All versions of Windows Server 2008 however feel they want to install Hyper-V updates. These updates however will not add the Hyper-V role or the Hyper-V Manager to Windows Server 2008 RTM.
Further Reading
Windows Server 2008: Editions without Hyper-V
Why is there a 32-bit Windows Server 2008 option "without Hyper-V"?
VMWare Forums - 2008, with or without hyper-v?
Eggheadcafe - Add RTM Hyper-V to 2008 "Without Hyper-V"
Vista Forums - Role Hyper-V on windows server 2008
Microsoft TechNet Forums - unable to install hyper-v roll on 2008 core
Microsoft TechNet Forums - Hyper-V Server Management Tools.