Windows Server 2012 R2 is central to Microsoft's Cloud OS vision; the operating system platform delivers enhancements and new features in virtualization, management, storage, networking, and more.  Our Cisco server infrastructure solutions (UCS) as well as our management (UCS Director, UCS Manager, Cisco Intercloud) and network capabilities are purpose built for supporting Microsoft's virtualization and cloud offerings.

Figure 1. Cisco's Microsoft Cloud OS Solutions and Capabilities

Together Microsoft and Cisco provide tightly integrated and flexible solutions that deliver on the benefits of a Microsoft private or hybrid cloud. Our R&D teams have spent, and continue to spend serious time together developing technologies, APIs, and solutions.  In our blog post today, let's focus in on the networking side of things, specifically on our award winning Nexus 1000V offering for Hyper-V:

• It's all about simplifying and scaling virtual networking.  Nexus 1000V for Hyper-V helps to reduce the operational complexities associated with virtual machine-to-virtual machine networking and thus help customers gain more of the benefits of server virtualization technology and cloud.
•  It maintains networking resiliency across your physical and virtual environments as you move to the cloud.  Protect your investment by future-proofing your network design with a flexible virtual networking platform.
• Recognized with the 2013 Best of Tech Ed award in the Virtualization category, Nexus 1000V extends comprehensive networking capabilities to your Hyper-V environment. A distributed virtual switching platform with advanced networking features and integrated virtual services, Nexus 1000V delivers consistency across your physical, virtual and cloud environments.
• Uses a consistent operational model designed to accelerate server virtualization and cloud deployments securely and transparently.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kSa3Kd6taRo

We've taken a quick look here at the Nexus 1000V for Microsoft Hyper-V environments. Please feel free to look at the documents in the library below to learn more. Also visit www.cisco.com/go/microsoft to learn about our other Microsoft oriented technologies and solutions.