Implement the Start Virtual Machine on Connect feature

The “Start Virtual Machine on Connect” feature in Microsoft Azure Virtual Desktop allows administrators and users to streamline their virtual desktop experience by automatically starting the virtual machines on connection. This feature eliminates the need to manually start the VMs and provides a faster startup time for users.

Step 1: Create an Azure Virtual Desktop host pool

1. Sign in to the Azure portal (https://portal.azure.com).
2. Search for “Azure Virtual Desktop” and select it.
3. Click on “Host pools” in the left-hand menu.
4. Click on “Add” to create a new host pool.
5. Fill in the required details such as name, desktop type, VM settings, etc.
6. Under the “Session Hosts” tab, select the VMs that you want to include in the host pool.

Step 2: Configure the Start Virtual Machine on Connect feature

1. In the Azure Virtual Desktop portal, select your host pool.
2. Click on the “Settings” tab.
3. Under the “Start Virtual Machine on Connect” section, toggle the switch to enable the feature.
4. Choose whether you want to apply this feature to any user connecting to the host pool or only to specific users.
5. If you want to specify certain users, enter their UPNs (User Principal Names) in the provided text box.

Step 3: Save the configuration

1. Click on the “Save” button to save the changes.

Now, whenever a user connects to the Azure Virtual Desktop host pool, the corresponding virtual machine(s) will start automatically. This feature ensures that users can quickly access their virtual desktops without any additional delay caused by manual VM startup.

It is important to note that the “Start Virtual Machine on Connect” feature requires Azure Active Directory (Azure AD) domain-joined VMs. If your VMs are not already Azure AD domain-joined, you can follow the documentation provided by Microsoft to join them to the Azure AD domain.

Additionally, keep in mind that the “Start Virtual Machine on Connect” feature consumes Azure resources. Ensure that you have sufficient resources and monitor your resource usage to avoid any unexpected costs.

By implementing the “Start Virtual Machine on Connect” feature in Azure Virtual Desktop, you can enhance user productivity and simplify the virtual desktop experience. Users can seamlessly connect to their virtual machines without the need for manual startup, leading to a more efficient and convenient workflow.