SD boot
SD is becoming a common feature on many servers. I understand that Microsoft, via an OEM, will support booting Hyper-V Server from USB. SD is a low-cost option for deploying servers that would get all their storage from SAN or SMB, but Microsoft needs to support (not OEMs) Windows Server booting from SD.

3 comments
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Stuart Daniels commented
Agree here as well for Nano and Hyper-V this is needed, its a little behind the times that this is something that can not be done already.
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Tim Cerling commented
Microsoft will support Windows Server/Hyper-V booting from SD or USB for installation media but not running systems. They will support Hyper-V booting from USB if the OEM provides modified USB drivers (https://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/jj733589.aspx). Basically the modified driver changes the USB from removable media to fixed media so the installation process will recognize the drive as a drive it can use for installation. Since both SD and USB are seen by the operating system as removable media, installation will not recognize the device. This is a change that Microsoft needs to implement instead of the OEM making a special driver for it.
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Patrick commented
SD or Thumb Drive booting should be possible for either Hyper-V or Nano Server boot volumes.