Windows Server Summit 2026 | Part 8: A tour of Virtualization Mode
Krähe mit Hut
The last session focused on Azure Arc. Microsoft positions Azure Arc as a comprehensive control and management platform for Windows Server, regardless of where it is deployed. Hyper-V, on the other hand, is a strategic technology that is now used for more than just traditional operating system virtualization.
Instead, Hyper-V is used for many other purposes. The following examples are cited:
- Azure, Microsoft 365, Azure SQL
- Azure Local
- Windows Server/Windows Client – here, Hyper-V is also used for security features such as virtualization-based security (VBS)
- Containers
- Xbox
It is therefore clear that Hyper-V is also used in many areas, and this requires a solution for unified management. And this is where Windows Admin Center comes into play.
Windows Admin Center modes
Windows Admin Center can be used in two modes:
| Mode | Description | Scale |
|---|---|---|
| Administration Mode | Administration of operating systems using Remote PowerShell and other remote maintenance features | 1-50 nodes |
| Virtualization Mode | Managing Hyper-V servers and clusters using an agent | 1000 hosts, 25000 virtual machines |
An overview of how it works
This session provides an overview of the installation, functionality, and configuration of Virtualization Mode. It is therefore a good idea to watch this section yourself if you are interested in using this mode in your own environment: Windows Admin Center: Windows Admin Center: A tour of Virtualization Mode - Windows Server Summit (ab Minute 7:13).
From a security perspective, it is worth noting that Windows Admin Center includes a simple role-based access control (RBAC) model that can be managed via Active Directory if needed (through group nesting). Alternatively, it is possible to enable authentication via Entra ID.
New and upcoming features
The following features have recently become available:
- Windows Server 2022 as a host for Windows Admin Center (since March 2026)
- Updates for virtualization mode
- Resource health overview
- Download diagnostic logs
- Search
- Add resources
- Power management for virtual machines and health detection
- Hyper-V replicas
- VM templates
The following features will be added soon:
- Integration with Azure Arc
- High availability for virtualization mode
- Conversion of virtual machines from VMware to Hyper-V
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