hyper-v vhd multiple machines

hello, can create several machines each having exact copy of existing vhd, have os installation ready , want copy vhd other machines point , not have setup os again. told me can create differential disk points original vhd. method copy vhd or create differential disk best ?

neither method better. each serves different purpose.

you can make vhd readonly , create differencing disks point it. make 1 differencing disk each virtual machine. cannot make change original vhd. if do, irreparably invalidate every differencing disk based on original base vhd. means if underlying operating system in base vhd needs security patch, you'll have apply security patch every virtual machine using differencing disk uses base vhd.

the differencing vhds contain changes made since diffencing made. these means differencing vhds small. if instead copied complete original vhd, every virtual machine using copy of original vhd quite large. that's because you're copying file containing complete operating system every time want make new virtual machine. you'll better performance because you're using single vhd directly, practically speaking, not enough matter. having single vhd offers greatest portability. have 1 vhd concerned with. don't have worry moving differencing vhd , base vhd pair.

personally copy vhd , use differencing disks. have lots of disk space.

Windows Server  >  Hyper-V