Azure Virtual Desktop Linux Overview and Configuration

Azure Virtual Desktop (AVD) Linux offers a scalable and secure way to deploy and manage Linux virtual desktops in the cloud. AVD Linux supports various Linux distributions, including Ubuntu, CentOS, and RHEL.

To get started with AVD Linux, you'll need to create a virtual network and a subnet, as described in the "Azure Virtual Network" section. This will allow you to configure your virtual desktops and connect to the internet.

AVD Linux uses Azure Active Directory (Azure AD) for authentication and authorization. This means you can use your existing Azure AD credentials to access your virtual desktops.

The "Azure Virtual Desktop Linux Configuration" section provides detailed instructions on how to configure your AVD Linux environment, including setting up the virtual network and subnet, creating the virtual desktop, and configuring Azure AD authentication.

To get started with Azure Virtual Desktop Linux, it's essential to understand the pricing overview. You can learn more about Azure pricing by checking out the Azure pricing calculator.

Azure Reserved Virtual Machine Instances can save you up to 72 percent versus pay-as-you-go pricing, making them a great option to optimize infrastructure costs. This flexibility is crucial when choosing the right components for compute, storage, and networking.

You can estimate infrastructure costs on Azure cloud by considering the different components and their pricing. To do this, you'll want to take advantage of the Azure pricing calculator.

Azure offers a range of purchasing options, including a custom proposal, which can help you understand pricing for your cloud solution. This is especially helpful when trying to estimate costs for your Azure Virtual Desktop Linux deployment.

To set up an Azure Virtual Desktop (AVD), you'll need an Azure account with an active subscription. The free tier account is sufficient for this tutorial. Ensure you have a local environment to access the virtual desktops, such as a laptop or desktop computer with Windows 10, macOS, or Linux installed.

You'll also need to install the Remote Desktop Client on your local machine. This client is required for this tutorial, and the default Remote Desktop Connection application won't work.

A well-structured resource group is a solid foundation for deploying AVDs. To set up a resource group, search for "resource" and select "Resource groups" from the auto-suggested list. Configure the basic details of the new resource group, such as subscription, resource group name, and region.

VDI on Azure is a game-changer for businesses. It allows organizations to create virtualized desktop environments that can be accessed remotely by users on various devices.

By implementing VDI on Azure, businesses can take advantage of the scalability, flexibility, and cost-effectiveness of the Azure cloud platform for their virtual desktop needs. This is a huge advantage for companies with remote or mobile workforces.

The primary solution for deploying VDI on Azure is Microsoft's Azure Virtual Desktop or AVD. This service allows Azure customers to access Windows apps and desktops from anywhere, using any device.

Azure Virtual Desktop is an application and desktop virtualization service that's designed to make remote work seamless. It's a powerful tool that can help businesses streamline their operations and improve productivity.

Here are some key benefits of using VDI on Azure:

Before you start setting up Azure Virtual Desktop, make sure you've got the necessary prerequisites in place.

You'll need an Azure account with an active subscription, and the good news is that the free tier account is sufficient for this tutorial.

I've found that having a local environment to access virtual desktops is crucial, and it can be a laptop or desktop computer – I've used a Windows 10 device, but a macOS or Linux machine also works.

To access these virtual desktops, you'll need a Remote Desktop Client installed on your local machine. The default Remote Desktop Connection application won't work for this tutorial.

Here are the specific requirements you'll need to meet:

Setting up a resource group is a crucial step in deploying Azure Virtual Desktops. It's like creating a filing cabinet in Azure to keep all related services organized.

A resource group is your project's filing cabinet within Azure, keeping all related services neatly organized. To set up a resource group for an AVD, start by navigating to the resource group management interface.

Search for "resource" and select "Resource groups" from the auto-suggested list to get there. Once you're on the Resource groups page, hit the "Create" button to start the creation wizard.

Configure the basic details of the new resource group by selecting your preferred subscription, assigning a name to your resource group, and choosing a region close to your users for optimal performance. This is crucial for a smooth AVD deployment.

Consider choosing a region like (US) East US for optimal performance. You can also automate resource group creation using Azure CLI or PowerShell scripts if you frequently set up similar environments.

To enable remote access to your Azure Virtual Desktop, you'll need to switch back to your host pool's page and navigate to RDP Properties.

You'll find this option in the left pane, where you can click on the Advanced tab to access your host pool's advanced RDP properties.

Prepend the parameter "targetisaadjoined:i:1;" to the existing instructions in the RDP Properties field.

This parameter configures how the RDP client interacts with AVD, and it's essential to get it right.

Here's a breakdown of the parameter:

Once configured, click Save to save your changes to the RDP properties.

To deploy and configure Azure Virtual Desktop Linux, start by launching WVDAdmin and copying your Azure tenant ID, service principal ID, and service principal key into the welcome tab. Press save and reload the data by clicking "Reload all".

You'll then be able to administer WVD, create images from template VMs, and roll out new session hosts. To do this, you'll need to enter your Active Directory and file share configuration information.

Enter your local administrator account credentials, including the local admin and local password, to complete the configuration process.

Virtual Desktop Architecture is a crucial aspect of Azure Virtual Desktop deployment. The typical architecture of an Azure Virtual Desktop is depicted in a diagram.

Your application endpoints reside on your on-prem network, which can be extended into Azure using Azure ExpressRoute. This allows for a seamless connection between your on-premises network and Azure.

Azure Active Directory Connect (AD Connect) integrates your customer's Active Directory domain services with Azure, providing a secure and managed identity solution.

The control plane in Azure Virtual Desktop manages web access, diagnostics, extensibility, the gateway, and broker components, including any REST APIs. This ensures a robust and scalable architecture for your virtual desktop environment.

You're responsible for managing Azure AD and AD DS, as well as Azure subscriptions, Azure files, Azure NetApp files, virtual networks, and the AVD workspaces and host pools. This includes increasing capacity by using multiple Azure subscriptions in a hub-and-spoke architecture and connecting them with virtual peering.

To deploy an Azure Virtual Desktop, you'll first need to create a resource group. This is like a filing cabinet within Azure where you'll store all related services. To set up a resource group, search for "resource" and select "Resource groups" from the auto-suggested list.

Next, hit the "Create" button on the Resource groups page to start the creation wizard. Configure the basic details of the new resource group by selecting your preferred subscription, assigning a name to your resource group, and choosing a region close to your users for optimal performance.

Consider automating resource group creation using Azure CLI or PowerShell scripts, especially if you frequently set up similar environments. This can save you time and effort in the long run.

Once you've set up your resource group, you can create a host pool for your Azure Virtual Desktop. To do this, go to the Azure portal and enter "Azure Virtual Desktop" in the search bar. Select the service to go to the AVD overview page and click on "Create a host pool."

Enter the necessary information under the Basics tab, then click on "Next" to go to the Virtual Machines tab. Enter the necessary information there, then click on "Next" to continue to the Workspace tab. Finally, click on "Next" to go to the Review + create tab, where you can check that the information is correct, and then click "Create" to deploy the new host pool.

To manage your AVD resources, you need to give your service principal permission to your subscriptions or resource groups.

The service principal needs the "owner" role to assign users to app groups, but "contributor" is sufficient for other resources.

You can add role assignments in the Azure portal by clicking "Access control (IAM)" in your resource group or subscription.

Select "Add" and then "Add role assignment", and search for your service principal name to assign the role.

The service principal also needs permission to your virtual network (vnet) to assign new VMs to the right subnet.

You can add the "contributor" role to your service principal in the vnet's "Access control (IAM)" settings.

If you've already assigned the service principal to the subscription or resource group containing your vnet, you can skip this step.

To configure WVD Admin, start by launching the WVDAdmin tool. Copy your Azure tenant ID, service principal ID, and service principal key into the welcome tab.

Before proceeding, press save to store the information. Then, reload all data by clicking "Reload all". This will enable you to administer WVD, create images from template VMs, and roll out new session hosts.

To roll out new session hosts, you'll need to enter your Active Directory and file share configuration information. This includes the local admin and local password credentials.

To create an image, open WVDAdmin and follow the prompts.

In a split-tenant setup, the AVD tenant and resources (session hosts) are usually in the same Azure Active Directory (AAD) tenant.

You can use a second service principal for the session hosts if you have two Azure AD tenants.

This allows you to manage the session hosts separately from the AVD tenant.

Follow this link for more information on implementing a split-tenant setup.

Reviewing the Service Level Agreement for Azure Virtual Desktop is crucial for ensuring a smooth deployment. You can review the SLA by following the instructions in the "SLA" section.

Azure Virtual Desktop's SLA is designed to provide a high level of uptime and reliability. The SLA guarantees a minimum of 99.99% uptime for the service.

To ensure you're meeting the SLA requirements, you should regularly review and monitor your Azure Virtual Desktop deployment. This will help you identify and address any potential issues before they impact your users.

In Azure Virtual Desktop Linux, advanced configuration options are available to streamline your setup and improve performance.

WVDAdmin supports custom scripts to run administrative tasks simultaneously on different session hosts, a feature introduced in version 1.6.15.

This feature makes it easy to automate repetitive tasks and extend the functionality of your Azure Virtual Desktop Linux setup.

You can access more information about custom scripts by following the link provided in the documentation.

To get the most out of Azure Virtual Desktop Linux, it's essential to review technical tutorials and videos. This will give you a solid foundation to work with.

Azure Virtual Desktop resources are abundant, but knowing where to look can be a challenge. You can find them all in one place, so take some time to explore.

Documentation is key to successfully implementing Azure Virtual Desktop Linux. Reviewing technical tutorials and videos will save you time and headaches in the long run.

Azure Virtual Desktop offers a wide range of resources to help you get started. From technical tutorials to videos, you'll find everything you need to succeed.