Create a golden image manually

Microsoft Azure Virtual Desktop allows you to create and manage virtual desktops in the cloud. One of the key features of Azure Virtual Desktop is the ability to create a golden image, which serves as a baseline for all the virtual desktops in your environment. In this article, we will explore the steps to manually create a golden image for Azure Virtual Desktop.

1. Provision a virtual machine (VM)

To get started, you will need an Azure subscription with the necessary permissions to create resources. Follow these steps:

• In the Azure portal, navigate to “Virtual machines” and click on “Add”.
• Select the appropriate configuration according to your requirements, such as VM size, region, and operating system.
• Provide a VM name and specify administrative credentials.
• Choose the desired disk type and size, keeping in mind the storage requirements for your applications and data.
• Complete the VM provisioning process by reviewing and selecting additional configuration options, such as networking and monitoring.

2. Connect to the VM

Once the VM is provisioned, follow these steps to connect to it:

• Locate the VM in the Azure portal and click on “Connect” to obtain the RDP file.
• Download and open the RDP file to establish a remote connection to the VM. Use the provided administrative credentials when prompted.

3. Configure the VM

After connecting to the VM, install and configure the necessary applications, updates, and settings that should be part of the golden image. This may include installing software, configuring security settings, and performing system updates. Customize the desktop background, screensaver, and other visual settings to align with your organization’s branding or requirements.

4. Optimize the VM

Optimize the VM for performance by following best practices recommended by Microsoft. This may include configuring power settings, adjusting virtual machine size, and optimizing storage options.

5. Install additional components

If there are specific applications or components that need to be part of the golden image, install them on the VM. Make sure to validate their functionality after installation.

6. Validate the configuration

Test the applications and settings on the VM to ensure everything is working as expected. This step is crucial to identify any issues or misconfigurations that might affect other virtual desktops in your environment.

7. Generalize the VM

The next step is to generalize the VM to remove any unique machine-specific information. This prepares the VM to be used as a template for creating multiple virtual desktop instances. Open a command prompt as an administrator on the VM and run the following command:

sysprep /generalize /oobe /shutdown

8. Capture the VM as a managed image

In the Azure portal, go to the “Virtual machines” section and locate the VM you just prepared. Follow these steps:

• Click on “Capture” to create a managed image from the VM.
• Provide a name and specify the resource group and storage account where the image should be stored.

9. Create a virtual desktop pool

With the golden image ready, you can proceed to create a virtual desktop pool using Azure Virtual Desktop. This pool will use the golden image as a baseline for all the virtual desktop instances it creates.

That’s it! You have manually created a golden image for Azure Virtual Desktop. Now, you can leverage this golden image to create virtual desktop instances at scale, providing a standardized desktop experience to your users.

It’s worth noting that Azure Virtual Desktop also provides additional automation options for creating and managing golden images, such as using Azure Image Builder service or PowerShell scripts. These options can help streamline the process and enable more advanced customization scenarios.

Remember to regularly update and maintain the golden image to incorporate security patches, updates, and new software releases. Monitoring and managing your golden image effectively will ensure a consistent and secure virtual desktop environment for your organization.