Configure backup and restore for FSLogix user profiles, personal virtual desktop infrastructures (VDIs), and golden images

FSLogix is a powerful tool that simplifies the management of user profiles in virtual desktop infrastructures (VDIs) by consolidating profile data into a single location. It offers seamless profile access and eliminates the need for complex profile management solutions. In this article, we will explore how to configure backup and restore for FSLogix user profiles, personal VDIs, and golden images in Microsoft Azure Virtual Desktop.

Azure Virtual Desktop (formerly known as Windows Virtual Desktop) is a desktop and application virtualization service that runs on Azure. It provides a cloud-based virtual desktop experience to users, enabling them to securely access their applications and data from anywhere, on any device.

Step 1: Prepare the Storage Account

1. Create a storage account in Azure if you don’t have one already.
2. Configure the storage account with the relevant settings like performance, redundancy, and access controls based on your requirements.

Step 2: Configure Azure Blob Storage for Profile Containers

1. Open the Azure portal and navigate to your Azure Virtual Desktop environment.
2. Go to the “Host pools” section and select the host pool you want to configure.
3. Under “Settings,” click on “Profile container settings.”
4. Choose “Azure Blob Storage” and provide the details of your storage account.
5. Specify the container name and access settings for the profile containers.

Step 3: Configure Backup for FSLogix Profile Containers

1. Install the Azure Backup agent on each Azure Virtual Desktop session host.
2. Run the “MARSInstaller.exe” file to install the agent.
3. After the installation, open the Azure Backup agent and click on “Registration” to register the agent with Azure Backup.
4. Follow the prompts to sign in with your Azure account and register the agent.
5. Once registered, go to the “Backup” tab and click on “Schedule Backup” to configure the backup settings.
6. Select the items you want to back up, such as the profile container folders.
7. Choose the desired backup frequency and retention policy.

Step 4: Configure Restore for FSLogix Profile Containers

1. To restore FSLogix profile containers, open the Azure Backup agent on the session host.
2. Go to the “Recovery” tab and click on “Restore.”
3. Select the backup item and the recovery point you want to restore.
4. Choose whether to restore the entire profile container or specific files/folders within it.
5. Specify the restore location and click on “Restore” to initiate the restore process.

Step 5: Configure Backup and Restore for Personal VDIs and Golden Images

1. To back up personal VDIs and golden images, you can use Azure Backup or Azure Site Recovery.
2. Follow the same steps as mentioned in Step 3 to configure backup for personal VDIs and golden images.
3. Similarly, follow the steps in Step 4 to restore personal VDIs and golden images when needed.

By configuring backup and restore for FSLogix user profiles, personal VDIs, and golden images in Azure Virtual Desktop, you ensure the availability and recoverability of critical user data and system configurations. This helps to mitigate the risk of data loss and provides easy recovery options in the event of any issues or failures.

Note: It is essential to regularly test the backup and restore process to ensure its effectiveness and reliability. Additionally, consider implementing a comprehensive disaster recovery strategy that includes off-site backups and geographically redundant storage for maximum resilience.

In conclusion, FSLogix combined with Azure Virtual Desktop offers a robust solution for managing user profiles in virtual desktop infrastructures. By configuring backup and restore for FSLogix user profiles, personal VDIs, and golden images in Microsoft Azure Virtual Desktop, you can effectively safeguard user data and system configurations, providing a seamless and reliable experience to end users.