Create a session host by using a golden image

To create a session host by using a golden image in Microsoft Azure Virtual Desktop, you can follow a simple process. A golden image is a VM (virtual machine) that includes the pre-configured operating system and applications you want to use for your session host deployment. This article will guide you through the steps required to create a session host using a golden image in Azure Virtual Desktop.

Before you begin:

• Ensure that you have an active Azure subscription.
• Set up a virtual network in Azure that can be used by your session hosts.
• Install the necessary software on your golden image VM, such as applications, patches, and security updates.
• Generalize the golden image VM for deployment.

Step 1: Generalize the golden image VM

Before creating the session host, you need to generalize the golden image VM. Generalization removes the unique information from your VM, making it ready for deployment as a session host image. Follow the steps below to generalize your golden image VM:

Connect to your golden image VM using Remote Desktop or another suitable method.
Open a Command Prompt as an administrator.
Run the following command to sysprep the VM and generalize it:
%windir%\System32\Sysprep\Sysprep.exe /oobe /generalize /shutdown

Step 2: Capture the golden image

After generalizing the golden image VM, you need to capture it as a VHD (Virtual Hard Disk) image. This VHD image can then be used for session host deployment. Follow the steps below to capture the golden image:

In the Azure portal, navigate to the virtual machine blade for your golden image VM.
Under the "Support + troubleshooting" section, select the "Capture" option.
Fill in the details such as the resource group, virtual machine name, and destination storage account.
Click on "Capture".

Step 3: Create an image from the captured VHD

After capturing the VHD, you need to create a custom image from it. This custom image will be used to create session hosts. Follow the steps below to create an image from the captured VHD:

In the Azure portal, navigate to the storage account where you captured the VHD.
Under the "Blob service" section, select the "Containers" option and create a new container to hold the VHD.
Upload the captured VHD to the container.
Navigate to the "Images" section and click on "Create image".
Fill in the details such as the name, resource group, and location for the image.
Specify the VHD file you uploaded to the storage account.
Click on "Create" to create the custom image.

Step 4: Create a host pool and session hosts

Now that you have the custom image, you can create a host pool and session hosts using that image. Follow the steps below to create a host pool and session hosts:

In the Azure portal, navigate to the Azure Virtual Desktop service.
Under the "Host pools" section, click on "Add".
Fill in the details such as the name, resource group, location, and registration info.
Select the custom image you created as the source for the session hosts.
Specify the virtual network and subnet where the session hosts will be deployed.
Configure the scaling settings, session timeout values, and other options as per your requirements.
Click on "Review + create" and then "Create" to create the host pool and session hosts.

Step 5: Test the session host deployment

Once the host pool and session hosts are created, you can test the deployment to ensure that everything is working as expected. Connect to the session hosts and verify that the applications and configurations from the golden image are present.

In conclusion, creating a session host using a golden image in Azure Virtual Desktop involves generalizing the golden image VM, capturing the VHD, creating a custom image from the VHD, and finally deploying the session hosts using the custom image. By following the steps outlined in this article, you can efficiently configure and operate Microsoft Azure Virtual Desktop with session hosts created from a golden image.