How to Enable Hyper-V and Start a Home Lab Cost-Effectively
Virtualization is a powerful tool in the tech world, enabling users to emulate hardware and run multiple operating systems simultaneously on one machine. This capability opens up an expansive world of possibilities, from developing software in various environments to testing new operating systems without the risk of altering your main system.
Hyper-V, Microsoft’s native hypervisor, is a compelling option for those looking to tap into this functionality. With its ease of use and deep integration with Windows, Hyper-V has made virtualization more accessible to regular users and professionals alike. This article will guide you on how to enable Hyper-V and how you can leverage it to start a home lab affordably.
Enabling Hyper-V
Before you start, ensure that you have a computer running Windows 10 Pro, Enterprise, Education, or higher. Hyper-V is not available on Windows 10 Home. Also, your system should have a 64-bit processor that supports Second Level Address Translation (SLAT).
Step 1: Check Virtualization Support
You’ll need to ensure your CPU supports virtualization. You can do this by opening the Task Manager (Ctrl + Shift + Esc), click on ‘Performance’, and under ‘CPU’, look for ‘Virtualization: Enabled’. If it’s disabled, you’ll…
