Azure Virtual Desktop, formerly known as Windows Virtual Desktop, is Microsoft’s comprehensive desktop and app virtualization service running on the Azure cloud. It allows you to create a full desktop virtualization environment within your Azure subscription without having to run any additional gateway servers. For utilizing this service, understanding host pools and session host configuration settings is essential.
Host Pools
A host pool is a group of one or more identical virtual machines within Azure Virtual Desktop environment. This configuration allows you to manage resources for your users and also allows Azure to manage load balancing of user sessions.
Types of Host Pools
There are two types of host pools: personal and pooled.
- Personal: Users are assigned a specific session host in the host pool and only they can sign into that session host.
- Pooled: Users can sign into any session host in the host pool. Pooled host pools can handle a larger number of users because they take advantage of load-balancing.
Example:
Create a host pool via Azure portal:
- Sign in to Azure portal.
- Select Create a resource > Azure Virtual Desktop > Host pool.
- Fill in the required details like name, location, desktop type etc.
- Select ‘Review + create’.
- After reviewing carefully, click on ‘create’.
Another method to create the host pool is via PowerShell. Here is a sample code for the same:
$hostpool = New-AzWvdHostpool -Name "
Session Host Settings
On the other hand, session hosts are virtual machines that run Windows operating system required for Azure Virtual Desktop. User desktops and applications run here.
There are a range of settings you can configure for your session hosts to ensure the environment is tailored to your needs including:
- Session limit, which sets the maximum number of simultaneous sessions-per-user allowed.
- Disconnect timeout, which sets the maximum amount of time a user can be inactive before their session is automatically disconnected.
- Force logout, which forcibly logs users out when their session limit is reached.
Example:
You can change your session host settings using PowerShell with these commands:
#Define Session Host Settings
$sessionhostsetting = New-AzWVDSessionHost -HostPoolName "
#Set Session limit and timeout (In minutes)
$sessionhostsetting.SetSessionLimit(2)
$sessionhostsetting.SetDisconnectTimeoutInMinutes(60)
#Force Logout
$sessionhostsetting.ForceLogOffWhenSessionLimitReached = $true
Conclusion
Managing host pools and session host settings are a fundamental requirement for managing a successful Azure Virtual Desktop environment. It allows you to efficiently allocate resources and tailor user experience based on your usage needs. All these configurations can be managed effectively with the help of Microsoft Azure portal and PowerShell. As you prepare for the AZ-140 Configuring and Operating Microsoft Azure Virtual Desktop exam, understanding of these configurations would definitely be a great asset.
Practice Test
True or False: It’s impossible to create a host pool by using Azure PowerShell.
- True
- False
Answer: False
Explanation: Host pools can be created in multiple ways, including Azure Portal, PowerShell, and Azure CLI.
What are valid ways to create an Azure Virtual Desktop host pool? (select all that apply)
- a. Azure Portal
- b. Azure CLI
- c. PowerShell
- d. Azure DevOps
Answer: a, b, c
Explanation: Azure DevOps isn’t a direct way to create Azure virtual desktop host pools. The other three are valid methods.
True or False: Once a host pool has been created, you can’t change its type from Pooled to Personal.
- True
- False
Answer: True
Explanation: The host pool type is a setting chosen when the host pool is created and can’t be changed later.
When creating a host pool, what is the Load Balancing Method used for?
- a. Distributing incoming sessions among available session hosts
- b. Defining the maximum number of sessions
- c. Assigning a personal desktop to a user
- d. None of the above
Answer: a
Explanation: The Load Balancing Method is used to determine how new sessions are distributed among the available session hosts in a pool.
When assigning users to a Personal Host Pool, which setting should you configure?
- a. Maximum Number Of Sessions
- b. Load Balancing Method
- c. Assignment Type
- d. None of the above
Answer: c
Explanation: The Assignment Type setting is used to control the assignment of users to a Personal Host Pool.
True or False: The default depth-first load balancing strategy prioritizes distributing sessions across all available hosts before filling up individual hosts.
- True
- False
Answer: False
Explanation: This is a description of a breadth-first strategy. The depth-first strategy fills up each host to a maximum limit before moving to the next host.
What’s the purpose of the Max Session Limit setting?
- a. To determine the maximum number of users who can be assigned to a host pool
- b. To control the maximum number of sessions that a single session host can handle
- c. To set an upper limit for the number of host pools that can be created
- d. None of the above
Answer: b
Explanation: The Max Session Limit setting allows you to control how many sessions a single session host can have.
To allow direct RDP connections to the VMs in Azure Virtual Desktop, which setting must you enable?
- a. Max Session Limit
- b. Personal Desktop Assignment
- c. Direct RDP
- d. None of the above
Answer: c
Explanation: The Direct RDP setting must be enabled to allow direct RDP connections to VMs.
True or False: It is possible to assign users directly to specific session hosts within a Pooled Host Pool.
- True
- False
Answer: False
Explanation: This isn’t possible in Pooled Host Pools, but can be done in Personal Host Pools.
In Breadth-First load balancing strategy, how are new user sessions distributed?
- a. Fill up one host before moving to the next
- b. Evenly distribute sessions across all hosts before filling up them up individually
- c. Assign new sessions to the host with the least number of sessions
- d. None of the above
Answer: b
Explanation: Breadth-First strategy distributes new sessions evenly across all available hosts before filling them up individually.
Interview Questions
What are host pools in Azure Virtual Desktop?
Host pools are a collection of Azure virtual machines that register to the Azure Virtual Desktop service.
How can you create a host pool in Azure Virtual Desktop?
You can create a host pool using the Azure portal by navigating to the Azure Virtual Desktop service, selecting “Host pools,” and choosing “Add.”
What is the purpose of session host settings in Azure Virtual Desktop?
Session host settings allow the customization of configurations for individual session hosts within a host pool, like VM size, scaling options, etc.
How can you adjust session host settings for a specific machine in a host pool?
You can adjust session host settings for a specific machine by selecting the host from the Azure Virtual Desktop portal, then going to the “Properties” section to make the necessary configurations.
What considerations should be made when selecting VM sizes for session hosts in Azure Virtual Desktop?
Considerations include workload requirements, processing power needed for applications, memory capacity, and potential scalability requirements.
What is the significance of custom script extensions in session host settings?
Custom script extensions enable the execution of custom scripts on session hosts during provisioning or scaling operations, facilitating additional configurations or software installations.
How can you automate the deployment of session host settings in Azure Virtual Desktop?
You can automate deployment using PowerShell scripts in Azure Virtual Desktop, allowing for efficient and consistent configuration across multiple session hosts.
What role does the Network Security Group (NSG) play in session host settings?
NSGs help control network traffic by allowing or blocking specific types of traffic to and from session hosts, enhancing security within the Azure Virtual Desktop environment.
How can you monitor the performance of individual session hosts in Azure Virtual Desktop?
You can monitor performance metrics like CPU usage, memory utilization, and network performance for individual session hosts through Azure Monitor or other monitoring tools.
What is the process for updating session host settings after the initial configuration in Azure Virtual Desktop?
To update session host settings, you can modify the existing configurations in the Azure portal under the specific host pool’s settings, then save the changes for them to take effect.
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