I've captured my experience in this blog post. It's pretty long so I've divided it into the following sections to make it easier to
read.
- What is Microsoft Windows Virtual Desktop?
- Is it the same as Microsoft Managed Desktop?
- Windows Virtual Desktop prerequisites
- Setting up Windows Virtual Desktop
- Working with Windows Virtual Desktop
- Advanced configuration (with RemoteApp, FSLogix containers and MSIX App Attach)
What is Windows Virtual Desktop?
WVD allows you to deploy and scale virtualized Windows desktops and apps on Azure. It can be deployed in minutes and offers simplified management, multi-session Windows 10 and optimizations for Office 365 ProPlus. We can deploy VMs with Windows 10 or Windows Server 2016. We can also use our own custom Windows 7 images. As an added bonus this includes free extended support for Windows 7 (extended security updates for three years). That's a no-brainer.
Is this the same as Microsoft Managed Desktop?
No, Microsoft Managed Desktops is something different. This is also a cloud service but Microsoft will manage Windows 10 and Office 365 ProPlus on your hardware. Obviously Microsoft will only support this on a specific list of devices.
This service includes the management of:
- hardware (once it's on the approved list and registered)
- software updates
- Office 365 ProPlus and LOB apps as appropriate
- end user device deployment
- security monitoring and response
OK, so back to WVD.
Windows Virtual Desktop Prerequisites
There are some requirements before you can get started.
Setting up Windows Virtual Desktop
Now let's get started setting up the environment. The first thing we need to do is to allow Windows Virtual Desktop services to access the Azure AD tenant. For this we'll need the tenant ID (also referred to as Directory ID).
We can get the Directory ID in the properties of Azure Active Directory. Copy it be clicking on the blue box to the right. You'll need this a couple of times during this process.
Now navigate to https://rdweb.wvd.microsoft.com (this is Windows Virtual Desktop services). Add your tenant ID and click Submit for the Server App.
Accept that you are granting permissions to WVD.
This was successful.
Repeat the process for the client app.
Accept the permissions.
Enjoy the success. Now that we've granted access to Azure AD we need to grant permissions to a user to create a Windows Virtual Desktop tenant. Essentially we'll assign the "TenantCreator" role to a user account.
We do this in the Azure Portal.
Navigate to Azure Active Directory and select Enterprise Applications.
Select Windows Virtual Desktop and choose Users and Groups.
Select Add User and add the lucky user who will create the WVD tenant. I've chosen Fred. See that he is now a TenantCreator.
Now we'll create the WVD tenant. Remember we copied the tenant ID earlier (aka Directory ID). We're going to need it again. We'll also need the Azure Subscription ID.
It's easy to find. Navigate to your Subscriptions using the search.
You'll find the subscription ID. Now's let's create the WVD tenant. We do that using PoSH. Sign in to Windows Virtual Desktop by using the TenantCreator user account with this cmdlet:
Add-RdsAccount -DeploymentUrl "https://rdbroker.wvd.microsoft.com"
Create a new Windows Virtual Desktop tenant associated with the Azure Active Directory tenant (you'll choose a tenant name and replace the bracketed values with your tenant ID and subscription ID):
New-RdsTenant -Name <TenantName> -AadTenantId <DirectoryID> -AzureSubscriptionId <SubscriptionID>
The WVD tenant has been created. Now we'll deploy a host pool of virtual desktops. Sign into the Azure Portal and select Create a Resource.
Search for Windows Virtual Desktop and select Windows Virtual Desktop - Provision a host pool.
Choose to Create a host pool. There are four pages of details to configure.
The first page has some basics.
The next page is for our expected usage. This determines how many VMs will be deployed. Click Change Size if you want to change any VM details. I'm conscious of cost in my lab so I've done that. Also enter a prefix for the names of the VMs
The third page allows you to configure the VMs. Choose the following:
The final page asks for the WVD tenant details. Enter the tenant name and the owner account details. That's Fred, who created the tenant.
Finally you're asked to review your configuration and then Create the host pool.
The deployment is underway. You can see the detailed steps.
The deployment has completed.
The VMs have been created......
…..and joined to the domain.
Working with Windows Virtual Desktop
There are two ways to access the WVD pool from a desktop.
It's an MSI installer so just run and install as normal.
On the first launch you have to Subscribe to WVD.
Sign in as a permitted user.
Looks like we're in business.
I can see my WVD host pool......
….and I've signed into one of my VMs.
- Licenses - you should consult the official docs but I have Microsoft 365 E3 for testing.
- Obviously we need an Azure subscription - this will cost you money (but not too much).
- User accounts - you'll need to nominate a WVD Tenant Creator and some test host pool users.
- You need to decide what directory services you will use to support your infrastructure. You can use Azure AD, DC hosted in Azure or a DC hosted on premises with a VPN to Azure. The Azure VMs that you create can be AD-joined or hybrid AD-joined (not Azure AD-joined.
- Azure network - you need to have a virtual network in Azure. Remember you don't configure DHCP in Azure virtual networks. IP addressing is dynamic based on the assigned subnet.
- I'm using a DC hosted in Azure so I configured a static DNS record for the DC in the properties of the virtual network. This way my VMs will be able to join the domain.
- Download and install the Windows Virtual Desktop PowerShell module. Launch PowerShell as administrator and run:
Install-Module -Name Microsoft.RDInfra.RDPowerShell
- Then import the module:
Import-Module -Name Microsoft.RDInfra.RDPowerShell
Setting up Windows Virtual Desktop
Now let's get started setting up the environment. The first thing we need to do is to allow Windows Virtual Desktop services to access the Azure AD tenant. For this we'll need the tenant ID (also referred to as Directory ID).
We can get the Directory ID in the properties of Azure Active Directory. Copy it be clicking on the blue box to the right. You'll need this a couple of times during this process.
Now navigate to https://rdweb.wvd.microsoft.com (this is Windows Virtual Desktop services). Add your tenant ID and click Submit for the Server App.
Accept that you are granting permissions to WVD.
This was successful.
Repeat the process for the client app.
Accept the permissions.
We do this in the Azure Portal.
Navigate to Azure Active Directory and select Enterprise Applications.
Select Windows Virtual Desktop and choose Users and Groups.
Select Add User and add the lucky user who will create the WVD tenant. I've chosen Fred. See that he is now a TenantCreator.
Now we'll create the WVD tenant. Remember we copied the tenant ID earlier (aka Directory ID). We're going to need it again. We'll also need the Azure Subscription ID.
It's easy to find. Navigate to your Subscriptions using the search.
You'll find the subscription ID. Now's let's create the WVD tenant. We do that using PoSH. Sign in to Windows Virtual Desktop by using the TenantCreator user account with this cmdlet:
Add-RdsAccount -DeploymentUrl "https://rdbroker.wvd.microsoft.com"
Create a new Windows Virtual Desktop tenant associated with the Azure Active Directory tenant (you'll choose a tenant name and replace the bracketed values with your tenant ID and subscription ID):
New-RdsTenant -Name <TenantName> -AadTenantId <DirectoryID> -AzureSubscriptionId <SubscriptionID>
The WVD tenant has been created. Now we'll deploy a host pool of virtual desktops. Sign into the Azure Portal and select Create a Resource.
Search for Windows Virtual Desktop and select Windows Virtual Desktop - Provision a host pool.
Choose to Create a host pool. There are four pages of details to configure.
The first page has some basics.
- Choose the subscription that you want to use (there will be a cost).
- Select a Resource Group. It needs to be empty so you'll probably create a new one here.
- Select your region.
- Enter a name for the host pool.
- Choose the desktop type. Personal is where every user has a dedicated VM. I've chosen pooled.
- Configure the users that will log into these VMs (comma-separated list). Note that you'll also need to enter the TenantCreator here if he will need access. It is not automatic.
The next page is for our expected usage. This determines how many VMs will be deployed. Click Change Size if you want to change any VM details. I'm conscious of cost in my lab so I've done that. Also enter a prefix for the names of the VMs
The third page allows you to configure the VMs. Choose the following:
- Image Operating System - I've chosen Windows 10 Enterprise multi-session with Office 365 ProPlus.
- Disk type - I've chosen Premium SSDs for performance.
- Domain join account and password - the account must already be configured on the domain. This requires password complexity so be careful here.
- Domain and domain OU - remember the VMs must be able to find the DC
- Virtual network and subnet - make sure your DNS configuration is in place.
The final page asks for the WVD tenant details. Enter the tenant name and the owner account details. That's Fred, who created the tenant.
Finally you're asked to review your configuration and then Create the host pool.
The deployment is underway. You can see the detailed steps.
The VMs have been created......
Working with Windows Virtual Desktop
There are two ways to access the WVD pool from a desktop.
- Remote Desktop client
- Browser (HTML5 client)
It's an MSI installer so just run and install as normal.
On the first launch you have to Subscribe to WVD.
Sign in as a permitted user.
Looks like we're in business.
I can see my WVD host pool......
….and I've signed into one of my VMs.
I can now work normally. I can browse to fileshares on one of my servers hosted in Azure.
Advanced WVD configuration
So what's next? We can get lot more advanced with WVD and I will when I have more time.
Management Tool
You cannot manage WVD host pools in the Azure portal. You can manage the pool using PowerShell or you can create you own management UI.
http://gerryhampsoncm.blogspot.com/2019/12/deploy-management-tool-for-windows.html
RemoteApp
We can create a RemoteApp app group and publish individual Start menu apps.
FSLogix profile containers
The WVD service offers FSLogix profile containers as the recommended user profile solution.
http://gerryhampsoncm.blogspot.com/2019/12/use-fslogix-containers-for-windows.html
MSIX App Attach
MSIX app attach is where the application (stored in MSIX format on a central location) is attached to the operating system. After attaching, applications look and feel as locally installed to the user as well as the operating system.
That's it for now. I've enjoyed test driving Windows Virtual desktop. You can get more information in the official docs
Until next time.......
Advanced WVD configuration
So what's next? We can get lot more advanced with WVD and I will when I have more time.
Management Tool
You cannot manage WVD host pools in the Azure portal. You can manage the pool using PowerShell or you can create you own management UI.
http://gerryhampsoncm.blogspot.com/2019/12/deploy-management-tool-for-windows.html
RemoteApp
We can create a RemoteApp app group and publish individual Start menu apps.
FSLogix profile containers
The WVD service offers FSLogix profile containers as the recommended user profile solution.
http://gerryhampsoncm.blogspot.com/2019/12/use-fslogix-containers-for-windows.html
MSIX App Attach
MSIX app attach is where the application (stored in MSIX format on a central location) is attached to the operating system. After attaching, applications look and feel as locally installed to the user as well as the operating system.
That's it for now. I've enjoyed test driving Windows Virtual desktop. You can get more information in the official docs
Until next time.......
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