AVDManage 2

Virtual Machine Scale Set Image Management for Azure Virtual Desktops

Administration

Download Version 2.2.11

Standardise and Simplify Azure Virtual Desktop Master Image Management

Deploy AVD Session Host Master Image updates

Consistent repeatable process for Golden Image Continuity

Maintain machine identities

Schedule out of hours updates

Create Virtual Machines , Snapshots & Master Images
Create Uniform Virtual Machine Scale Sets for Azure Virtual Desktop Host Pools
Deploy Virtual Machines with Persistent or Ephemeral disks
Deploy, Re-Deploy, Re-Image, Update & Rollback Virtual Machine Scale Sets using Managed Images, Azure Gallery Images or Compute Gallery Images
Virtual Machine instances retain ther identity when updating, re-imaging, re-deploying
Scale Up / Down – Change Virtual Machine Size
Scale In / Out – Adjust Virtual Machine Scale Set VM instances
Join Active Directory Domain during deployment / update
Delete AVD Session Host and Active Directory Computer objects when deleting VM instances
AVD-Join - Join AVD Host Pool during deployment / update
AVD-Turbo - Join AVD Host Pool during deployment / update for Specialized Images
AVD-Automate – Schedule tasks for planned maintenance

Rapidly deploy AVD Session Host Scale Set VM instances from Specialized Images with AVD-Turbo

Quick Start

Create a Master Virtual Machine

Add / Remove required Applications and Features
Remove unwanted Microsoft Store Apps
Install required Language Packs
Install all available Windows and Application updates
Configure the Default User Profile
Disable unnecessary Scheduled Tasks
Disable unnecessary Services
Enable required Services (Windows Search)
Enable Firewall Rules (Domain Profile)
Delete Temporary Files and Source Media on the OS Disk
Apply known optimizations

Snapshot the Master Virtual Machine

Shutdown and take a snapshot of the Master Virtual Machine. The snapshot will be used to re-create the Master Virtual Machine during the next update cycle.

Sysprep the Master Virtual Machine

Start the Master Virtual Machine and run Sysprep..

Run

C:\Windows\System32\Sysprep\sysprep.exe /oobe /generalize /shutdown

Create a Master Image

Create a Master Image from the Master Virtual Machine.

The Master Virtual Machine can be deleted after the Master Image is created.

Create a Virtual Machine Scale Set

Create a Virtual machine Scale Set using the Master Image.

The OS Disk may be Persistent or Ephemeral.

Configure the Virtual Network and Subnet.

Name the Scale Set.

Configure a VM Name prefix and Local Administrator credentials.

Configure Active Directory parameters and credentials.

Credentials are stored in ProtectedSettings. ProtectedSettings are encrypted through a key known only to Azure and the Virtual Machine.

Scale Set VM instances will join the AVD Host Pool using Secretless Authentication.

Update a Virtual Machine Scale Set

Re-Create the Master Virtual Machine from the last snapshot.

Perform required updates and changes.

Create a new snapshot of the Master Virtual Machine for the next update cycle.

Sysprep the Master Virtual Machine.

Create an updated Master Image

Modify the Scale Set configuration by updating the VM Source attribute

Virtual Machine instances may be updated on-demand or the update may be scheduled using AVD-Automate.

After updating, the Virtual machine instances will be running the updated Master Image. They will retain their Active Directory computername, Entra ID device identity (sync via Entra Connect), and Azure Virtual Desktop Session Host name.

Editions

AVDManage is available in two editions, Free and Plus.

AVDManage Plus enables deployment of images from Azure Compute Galleries. This allows for deployment of generalized and specialized images.

VMs and scale sets created from specialized images can be up and running quicker, because they're created from a source that has already been through first boot. VMs created from specialized images boot faster and can contain a greater degree of local customisation as they have not been sysprepped.

AVDManage Plus requires an evaluation or annual license. Please contact info@chawn.com for license enquiries.

Features	Free	Plus
Create Virtual Machines from Snapshots
Create Virtual Machines & Scale Sets from Azure Gallery
Create Virtual Machines & Scale Sets from Managed Images
Create Virtual Machines & Scale Sets from Compute Galleries
Create Virtual Machines in any Resource Group in the base Location
Deploy Generalized Windows Images
Deploy Specialized Windows Images
Persistent & Ephemeral Disks
Accelerated Networking
NVMe Disks
Create Trusted Launch Virtual Machines & Scale Sets
AVD-Automate
JoinAD – Join Active Directory Domain
AVD-Join – Join AVD Host Pool
AVD-Turbo – Join AVD Host Pool (for Specialized Virtual Machines & Scale Sets)
AVD-Prep – Pre-stage the Remote Desktop Infrastructure and Boot Loader Agents

Generalized vs Specialized

The following logs demonstrate deployment duration when deploying Generalized or Specialized Images. In both cases, the Microsoft Remote Desktop Agents have been pre-staged using AVD-Prep to reduce deployment time.

Generalized - 6m13s

After joining the AD Domain, AVD-Join joins the VM to the AVD Host Pool

Specialized - 3m48s

AVD-Turbo renames the VM, joins the VM to the AD Domain and the AVD Host Pool

Event	Duration
Job Start	00:00:00
First System Startup (12)	00:00:36
RDAgent Start	00:04:09
Join Domain	00:04:25
AVD-Join Start	00:04:31
AVD-Join End	00:05:34
Job End	00:06:13

Event	Duration
Job Start	00:00:00
First System Startup (12)	00:00:37
RDAgent Start	00:01:24
AVD-Turbo Start	00:02:04
Join Domain	00:02:27
AVD-Turbo End	00:03:34
Job End	00:03:48

Master Image initial configuration and regular updates

Master Image Optimisation

Master Image Finalisation and Sysprep

Specialized Image Finalisation

AVD-Config - Configure AVD Session Host post deployment

AVD-Prep - Reduce AVD Session Host Image Deployment times

Unable to create a VM from Azure Gallery or a Managed Image (AVDManage 1.6.0.0)

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