Create and configure an application group

Microsoft Azure Virtual Desktop is a powerful cloud-based virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI) solution that enables organizations to provide secure and remote access to applications and desktops. With Azure Virtual Desktop, you can deliver a personalized Windows 10 or Windows 11 experience to your users from anywhere, on any device.

Understanding Application Groups

One of the key components of Azure Virtual Desktop is the application group. An application group is a logical container that allows you to organize and manage applications that your users can access remotely. By creating and configuring an application group, you can control the availability and presentation of applications to your users.

Steps to Create and Configure an Application Group

Let’s walk through the steps to create and configure an application group in Azure Virtual Desktop:

Step 1: Sign in to the Azure portal

To get started, sign in to the Azure portal (https://portal.azure.com) with your Azure account credentials.

Step 2: Create a host pool

Before creating an application group, you need to have a host pool associated with it. A host pool contains the virtual machines that will run the applications for your users. If you already have a host pool, you can skip this step.

To create a host pool, navigate to the Azure Virtual Desktop service and click on “Host pools” in the left menu. Click on the “Add” button to create a new host pool and follow the wizard to configure the necessary settings, such as VM size, image, and domain join options.

Step 3: Create an application group

Once you have a host pool, you can proceed to create an application group. In the Azure Virtual Desktop service, click on “Application groups” in the left menu and click on the “Add” button to create a new application group.

Provide a name and description for the application group. Select the host pool that you created in the previous step. Choose whether you want to publish applications or desktops (or both) to the users. You can also configure additional settings, such as scaling options and session behavior.

Step 4: Configure applications

After creating the application group, you can configure the applications that you want to publish to your users. Click on the “Applications” tab within the application group settings.

Click on the “Add” button to add a new application. You have two options here: create a remote app or create an MSIX package. If you choose to create a remote app, you can specify the path to the application executable on the host pool’s virtual machine. If you choose to create an MSIX package, you can upload the package file.

Once you have added the applications, you can configure various settings such as display name, icon, command-line arguments, and file type associations.

Step 5: Assign users or groups

After configuring the applications, you can assign users or groups to the application group. Click on the “Access control (IAM)” tab within the application group settings.

Click on the “Add role assignment” button and select the users or groups that you want to grant access to the applications. You can choose from existing Azure AD users or groups, or you can create new ones.

Step 6: Test and validate

Once you have completed the configuration, it’s important to test and validate the application group. Sign in to the Azure Virtual Desktop web client (https://rdweb.wvd.microsoft.com/) using the credentials of a user who has been assigned to the application group.

You should be able to see the published applications and launch them directly from the web client. Ensure that the applications open and function as expected.

Conclusion

Creating and configuring an application group in Microsoft Azure Virtual Desktop allows you to deliver remote access to applications and desktops for your users. By following the steps outlined in this article, you can effectively organize and manage your applications in Azure Virtual Desktop, providing a seamless and productive experience for your users.