How to tell if a server running Windows Server 2016, which you're accessing via Windows RDC, is virtual or real?

Question

How can you tell if a Windows 2016 Server you're accessing via RDC is a virtual machine?

@Michael Hampton: Those answers are from 5 or more years ago and do not relate to Windows Server 2016. Do I gather from your marking the question as a duplicate that you are saying that nothing has changed in the interim? — Tim, Jun 22 '19 at 10:15

score 1 · Answer 1 · answered Jun 20 '19 at 20:57

1

There are dozens of options here. A favorite of mine is to look at the hardware model information on the C: drive if I'm feeling lazy.

If I'm using PowerShell, ( Get-WmiObject -Class Win32_ComputerSystem ).Model

answered Jun 20 '19 at 20:57

Tim Brigham

Thanks. What Model value indicates a virtual machine? – Tim Jun 20 '19 at 21:05
"VMware Virtual Platform" is one option for a VMWare Virtual Machine – Tim Liston Jun 20 '19 at 22:30
@Tim Liston: Is the ONLY thing one needs to look for one of those VM strings? Are there other kinds of virtual machines that wouldn't have "VMWare..."? I am hoping to find a single definitive way of identifying whether it's actual or virtual. – Tim Jun 22 '19 at 10:10

1 Answers1