Hyper-V 2012 R2 - Rename Virtual Machine

Question

_{Friday, December 11, 2015 8:14 AM}

Hello,

I need your help with a simple question. How can I rename a VM on Hyper-V and the vhdx file?

Do I need to change the XML file as well? 

I found in Powershell a cmdlet called Rename-VM, can I do this from here?

Thank you very much for your help.

HV

All replies (5)

_{Friday, December 11, 2015 8:24 AM ✅Answered | 2 votes}

Hello,

Yes you can do it with this command. To rename the VHD, you need to shutdown the VM and to specify the new VHD name in the Hyper-V VM.

Florent

_{Friday, December 11, 2015 11:20 AM}

You can rename VM in Hyper-V manager or using Rename-VM cmdlet. To rename vhd, you'll need to shut down the VM, rename the vhd-file in file system, then edit VM configuration in Hyper-V manager: remove disk that refers to the "old" path, and add new disk with the new path/name.

Gleb.

_{Friday, December 11, 2015 3:24 PM}

First need to shut down the VM and then you can rename the VHDX file. Then use Hyper-V Manager or Cluster manager to attach the VHDX file to the VM.

Then you can switch on the VM.

Hemal

_{Friday, December 11, 2015 7:50 PM | 1 vote}

You can do it via Hyper-V Manager UI or via Powershell.

Use Rename-VM command. You can rename a VM while it's running.

To rename vhdx with OS:

1) Shutdown the VM

2) Disconnect VHDX file

3) Rename the VHDX file

4) Attach VHDX file again

5) Start the VM.

_{Saturday, December 12, 2015 1:35 PM}

Hi HV,

Agree with the others .

As you mentioned , it is hyper-v 2012R2 server , it is a core server , right ?

If there is a win 8.1 , you can install hyer-v manager then manage the hyper-v server remotely .

If not , you may try the following cmdlets :

1 . Rename-VM -Name OriginalVMname -NewName Newname

2. to rename the VHD file , you may need to locate it first using command "Get-VMHardDiskDrive -VMName xxxx"

From the output of this command you can get more information , such as , controller type , controller number, controller location .

Then you can shutdown that vm then change the vhd name , then , attach that VHD file using "set-VMHardDiskDrive " command :

Best Regards,

Elton Ji

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