How to Deploying Azure Virtual Desktop (AVD or WVD)

Introduction

Azure Virtual Desktop (AVD)is a desktop and application virtualization service which runs in the Azure cloud platform. Azure Virtual Desktop works across devices (Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, and Linux) with apps that you can use to access remote desktops and apps from anywhere.

The architecture of Azure Virtual Desktop

Azure Virtual Desktop

Reference: Microsoft Docs

Prerequisites

Azure Subscription
Microsoft 365 or Windows Enterprise
Windows or Azure Active Directory

Key Benefits

Scalability
Cost Efficacy
Security
Flexibility for remote works

Deployment of AVD step-by-step

Step 1. Sign in to the Azure portal and navigate to AVD.

Step 2. Select Azure Virtual Desktop and Select Workspace on the left-side blade.

Select Workspace

Step 3. Hit Create Workspace and provide the following details as per your infrastructure, Click Next, Application Group.

Application Group

Step 4. For now, I’m going to leave this as NO and hit Review + Create.

Deployment of Host Pool

Step 1. Select Host Pool on Azure Virtual Desktop and Create Host Pool, to create Host Pool below steps.

Host Pool

Step 2. In the Host Pool details select your prepared Host Pool type Pooled or Personal. In my case, I’m going to choose the Pooled option.

For more details, you can refer to the Microsoft docs here: AVD Host Pools

Host Prefix means Session Host VM names
VM size: Choose a VM Size that suits your use case. In my case Standard B2s series of VM
Number of VMs: Specify the number of VMs for the host pool.
With a custom VM image or choose images from Azure Marketplace (for example, Windows 11 multi-session)
OS Disk- select the size and type of disk (Standard, Premium)

Step 3. Ensure that your network settings are associated with the subnet containing your Windows Active Directory (AD) and that the DNS settings are correctly configured to point to your AD DNS servers.

DNS settings

Step 4. Now pre-join the Session Host to my domain, to do that we need to provide our Windows AD admin credentials.

Step 5. Meantime create a Session Host local admin account following the details below, Next: Workspace>

Session Host

Step 6. Register desktop app Group Yes select the workspace that you created, and Review + create.

Note. As a result, successfully my Session Host is completed.

Steps for Assign Application Group Permission to Users

Step 1. In Azure Virtual Desktop Host Pool> Go to Application Group>Select your Host pool>Select Assignment.

Step 2. Add the group synchronized from Windows AD to Entra ID (Azure AD) as the AVDUsers group.

Windows AD and Entra ID

Windows AD

Entra Users

Steps to Test Login in Azure Virtual Desktop User

Step 1. For the test login, I’m going to open my browser in incognito mode to ensure the login doesn’t conflict with my other credentials.

AVD Client Login

Azure Virtual Desktop User

Step 2. Provide the credentials of a user that you want to test, in my case, I’m going to test with [email protected].

Note. Successfully I’m logging into my demo AVD workspace.

AVD workspace

Step 3. If you want to access your desktop you can be able to access double-click the desktop and provide the credential.

Provide the credential

Step 4. I have successfully and securely connected my demo AVD user to the desktop.

AVD user

Conclusion

Deploying Azure Virtual Desktop provides organizations with a secure, scalable, and cost-efficient solution for remote work. By following this step-by-step guide, you will have a fully functional AVD environment.