How to configure virtual machine replication on Hyper-V (Replica)

Virtual machine replication is a powerful technology for business continuity and disaster recorvery. Microsoft introduced its own replication technology, called Hyper-V Replica, with Windows Server 2012.

Hyper-V Replica allows asynchronous replication between two Hyper-V hosts. The configuration is quite simple and can save your day in case of accident.

In our example we have two – Windows Server 2012 R2 – Hyper-V hosts: HYPERVTEST01 and HYPERVTEST02. We’ll configure HYPERVTEST02 as the Replica host.

First of all you need to enable virtual machine replication on the secondary host. In our case we launched Hyper-V Manager from HYPERVTEST02. Under the Action menu select Hyper-V Settings:

Enable this computer as a Replica server. Select Kerberos as authentication system:

You need to enable the Hyper-V Replica HTTP Listener rule of the Windows Firewall (we’re still on HYPERVTEST02):

Now go to the main host, in our example HYPERVTEST01, and select the virtual machine(s) you want to replicate. Then click Enable Replication:

A Wizard will start:

Specify the Replica server name:

Hyper-V will automatically detect the port. Select Kerberos authentication and be sure compression is enabled:

Select the virtual HDs you want to replicate:

Select update cadence:

Select data retention policy:

You can start the initial replication (much longer) now or schedule it:

Click Finish and Hyper-V will start the initial replication: