Recommended approach for deploying network configurations — SCVMM vs Network ATC

Question

Recommended approach for deploying network configurations — SCVMM vs Network ATC

Ahmed Essam 290

Hello Microsoft Community,

I’m preparing to deploy a Windows Server 2025 Hyper-V cluster on a Cisco UCS X9508 chassis, and I’d like clarification on the recommended method for network configuration and management.

Specifically, I’m trying to decide whether to:

Use System Center Virtual Machine Manager (SCVMM) to define and deploy logical networks, uplinks, and virtual switches, or

Use Network ATC (Intent-Based Networking) built into Windows Server 2022/2025 for automatic network configuration.

I’d appreciate guidance on the following:

Which approach is considered best practice for new Hyper-V cluster deployments on Cisco UCS hardware?

Are there any compatibility considerations or limitations when using SCVMM and Network ATC together?

Does Microsoft recommend migrating from SCVMM-based networking to Network ATC for future deployments?

Any official Microsoft documentation or real-world deployment guidance would be very helpful.

Thanks in advance for your assistance

MATTHEW OSBURN 0 Reputation points

2025-10-16T01:04:20.01+00:00

Funny enough I just spent the last hour with CoPilot, Gemini, and ChatGPT on this exact question and all three said basically the same thing-- until VMM supports and integrates ATC, use ATC for the networking at the cluster level and use VMM just for the logical networks and VM Networks and Templates. So Build hosts, create cluster, create ATC intents, enable storage spaces direct (if doing HCI), import cluster into VMM, create sites and logical networks, create VM networks, use VMM VM networks for VMs and Templates and don't use any of the VMM classificstipns, profiles, or logical switches. Done.

Your answer

MATTHEW OSBURN 0 Reputation points

2025-10-16T01:04:20.01+00:00

Funny enough I just spent the last hour with CoPilot, Gemini, and ChatGPT on this exact question and all three said basically the same thing-- until VMM supports and integrates ATC, use ATC for the networking at the cluster level and use VMM just for the logical networks and VM Networks and Templates. So Build hosts, create cluster, create ATC intents, enable storage spaces direct (if doing HCI), import cluster into VMM, create sites and logical networks, create VM networks, use VMM VM networks for VMs and Templates and don't use any of the VMM classificstipns, profiles, or logical switches. Done.