The Azure Virtual Desktop image building process is essential to understand for an AVD IT Pro. I cover AVD custom image creation-related steps & questions in this post.
I had trouble getting Windows 10 Enterprise and multi-user custom version working with the AVD host pool.
Related Post – AVD Troubleshooting Options Tips Tricks – Windows Virtual Desktop
Introduction
We were trying to build a master image for AVD. You can create a custom image with the Windows 10 Enterprise/multi-user template available in Azure.
The Windows OS versions are available apart from custom image options from the managed custom image and blob storage custom images.
- Windows 10 Enterprise multi-session with Office 365 ProPlus
- Windows 10 Enterprise Multi-Session
- Windows 10 Enterprise Version
- Windows Server 2016 Datacenter
- Windows Server 2019 Datacenter (Coming Soon?)
NOTE! – Windows 10 or Windows 11 Pro version is not supported for building an AVD custom image.
How to Create AVD Master Images
You have many options to create custom master images. You can use SCCM to create custom master images for the AVD host pool. If you don’t have SCCM infra and SCCM master images, you can Azure VM to build custom images.
The following are AVD master images using the automation mechanism:
- The Azure VM Image Builder (AIB) lets you start with a default Windows VM template or custom VM images in Azure to add your customization.
- Another option for the AVD custom image process is explained https://jrudlin.github.io/2019-09-02-windows-virtual-desktop-azure-devops-ci-cd-packer-build-and-release/
How Did I Create AVD Custom Image?
I started using the Azure OS template as part of manual testing and created VM in Azure to test the master image.
- Log in to the Azure portal.
- Create a new Azure Windows VM with the win 10 Enterprise template.
- Run a Sysprep and shut down.
- Click on the capture button and create a managed image (Managed Image).
- Created a new AVD Host Pool using the AVD ARM (Azure portal) template using the managed image.
Do We Need to Build Install RD Client & Boot Loader to AVD Custom Image?
The answer is NO if you are using the AVD ARM template (AVD Host Pool Creation Guide With New Template) to build Host Pools. What makes AVD VM different from any other Azure Windows VM?
RD Agent and Boot Loader are the two agents that make any Azure Windows VM an AVD VM. And, of course, a registration token to join the AVD host pool.
- The current AVD ARM template installs the agent and boot loader.
- The current AVD ARM template for a new session host pool can use a custom image without agent and boot loader pre-installed.
- Installing the RD agent and the bootloader in the AVD master image is one option for custom images but still does not solve the registration piece.
- Unless you use the following PS command to generate code registration code and use that code while installing the RD agent:
- New-RdsRegistrationInfo -TenantName $tenant -HostPoolName $hostpoolname -ExpirationHours 100
- Unless you use the following PS command to generate code registration code and use that code while installing the RD agent:
Tips – AVD Master Image
I don’t recommend adding an AVD agent and Boot loader while making a master image. This point is valid for both Windows 10 enterprise and multi-user versions.
NOTE! – Whenever I followed #3 to make the custom image with Windows 10 Enterprise & Windows 10 Multi-Session versions. The VM didn’t get added to Host Pool.
We tried many combinations, but it never worked. The new RDS pool deployment is completed successfully. The host pool icon is not appearing in the web portal https://rdweb.wvd.microsoft.com/webclient/index.html and AVD RD client console.
Also, I couldn’t see any RDS Session Hosts when I ran the following PS command to find out the AVD VMs registered to a host pool.
Get-RdsSessionHost -TenantName $tenant -HostPoolName $hostpoolname
Resources
- How to Connect AVD Remote Desktop Resources Client or Browser?
- Windows Virtual Desktop Microsoft AVD FAQs from AMA
- Microsoft VDI Story AVD Concept Setup Guide Myths Known Issues
- New Azure Intune Portal App For Windows Devices