Hyper-V Core & Antivirus

[Chuckster]

I was thinking of having a tinker with Hyper-V Core and see how well the Hyper-V Replica works - you'd be mad not to since VMware is beginning to appear overpriced!

 

My question is: do I need to install antivirus software when the only server role enabled is Hyper-V and the installation will be a Core Install and not Standard.

 

Thoughts?

[Arthur]

FWIW, Hyper-V MVP Aidan Finn, doesn't recommend installing anti-virus software on any Hyper-V hosts.

[eduitsup]

If it's just a server core installation, as there is no GUI you're 10 times less likely to get a virus as there is nothing to really latch on to. I have never done it and only applied anti-virus on the child VM's and everything is dandy!

[Psymon]

We do not have AV on our Hyper-V hosts - they also have no access to internet etc....

[Chuckster]

Hey guys,

 

Do you have your Hyper-V hosts as standalones or are they connected to the domain?

 

How do you handle the updates for your hosts?

[Psymon]

Domain joined (we have a physical DC to be safe). Updates pushed out through WSUS.

 

Edit - physical DC is in place as our Hyper-V servers are clustered, cluster is an AD account so we need a DC up to start the cluster...

Edited May 21, 2013 by Psymon

[Chuckster]

If it's installed GUI-less then how do you go about installing the updates manually or do you have it configured to install automatically?

[Psymon]

Once you log in you can type "sconfig" and you get a little text-based GUI to set up the basics (including Windows Update settings etc...).

[Arthur]

If it's installed GUI-less then how do you go about installing the updates manually or do you have it configured to install automatically?

Cluster Aware Updating does it all for you.

[mattianuk]

No av on our cluster hyper v hosts. Both are dcs though

[LCPSWolf]

While it sounds like the typical is to NOT install AV on the Hyper V host, if you do (or are required to) and you use AVG, please note you'll need to except some directories for HyperV to function well.

 

I attempted to pull up the avg FAQ article, but it appears their site is down currently...

 

Ah, here is the MS KB that's similar: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/961804 from the poster's link above

Edited July 4, 2013 by LCPSWolf