URGENT - Setting Up Hyper-V cluster

thx, so I don't need a third server to only simply manage the two nodes, I'm ok with managing the cluster from one of the nodes. So that means if one of the servers goes down the other one will take over the roles of running the VMs (as well as the clustering) from the other host? Does it matter which node is the cluster manager?

can one of the existing physical boxes be the cluster manager if it runs only Windows Server 2008 Standard (not R2 even)

kevinhsieh, thx for the calrification

can the cluster manager be installed on Windows 2008 Standard and how?

also my existing Dell R610 has dual E5620, the new server will have X5660. Will that introduce problems?

I looked up the differences between E5620 and X5660, they are slightly different as far as:
-      # cores
-      #of treads
-      Clock speed of course
-      Max turbo frequency
-      Bus/core ratio
-      Intel QPI Speed (not so important?)
-      Max TPD  (not so important?)
-      Memory types (not so important?)
-      Max Memory bandwidth (not so important?)
-      Tcase (probably irrelevant)

However they are at the same Instruction Set Extensions SSE4.2 is that the most important factor maybe?

A windows 2008 or Vista machine can not properly manage a Windows 2008 R2 cluster because it doesn't understand the R2 capabilities. My experience is that the Cluster management tool won't even connect. The Hyper-V Manager will, but it can't manage the R2 features. You need to use Windows 7 or Windows 2008 R2. To install the management tools, add it under Windows Features. On Windows 7, download and install RSAT.