Hyper-V architecture
Knowing how Hyper-V works and how its architecture is constructed will make it easier for you to understand its concepts and operations. The following sections will explore the most important components in Hyper-V.
Windows before Hyper-V
Before we dive into the Hyper-V architecture details, it will be easy to understand what happens after Hyper-V is installed, by looking at Windows without Hyper-V, as shown in the following diagram:
In a normal Windows installation, the instructions access is divided into four privileged levels in the processor called Rings. The most privileged level is Ring 0, with direct access to the hardware and where the Windows Kernel sits. Ring 3 is responsible for hosting the user level, where most common applications run and with the least privileged access.
Windows after Hyper-V
When Hyper-V is installed, it needs a higher privilege than Ring 0. Also, it must have dedicated access to the hardware. This is possible due to the capabilities of the...