What is Guest integration services

Integration services allow the virtualization host to extract information and perform operations on a hosted VM. It is usually necessary to install Hyper-V integration services on a VM, though Windows Server 2016, Windows Server 2012 R2, Windows 10 and Windows 8.1 include Hyper-V integration services by default. Integration services installation files are available for all operating systems that are supported on Hyper-V. You can enable the following integration services:

• Operating system shutdown. This integration service allows you to shut down the VM from the virtualization host, rather than from within the VM’s operating system.

• Time synchronization. This synchronizes the virtualization host’s clock with the VM’s clock. It ensures that the VM clock doesn’t drift when the VM is started, stopped or reverted to a checkpoint.

• Data Exchange. Allows the virtualization host to read and modify specific VM registry values.

• Heartbeat. This allows the virtualization host to verify that the VM operating system is still functioning and responding to requests.

• Backup (volume checkpoint). For VMs that support Volume Shadow Copy, this service synchronizes with the virtualization host, allowing backups of the VM while the VM is in operation.

• Guest services. They allow you to copy files from the virtualization host to the VM using the Copy-VMFile Windows PowerShell cmdlet.