AVD Pool creation

Question

Hi Team,

I want to create AVD pool with assigne few VM into the azure with fslogix app services. Can someone help.

Answer 1

Hello @Shamim

Pls try the below steps to create the AVD.

Step 1.Create the Azure Virtual Desktop Host Pool

Sign in to the Azure portal https://portal.azure.com

1. In the search bar, type Azure Virtual Desktop, then select it.
2. Select Host pools → + Create.
3. On the Basics tab, configure the following:
   • Subscription: Select your Azure subscription
   • Resource group: Select an existing RG or create a new one
   • Host pool name: Example: avd-hp-pooled
   • Location: Choose the Azure region where metadata will be stored
   • Validation environment:
   • Select No for production
   • Select Yes only for testing or preview features
   • Preferred app group type:
   • Desktop (full desktop experience)
   • RemoteApp (applications only)
   • Host pool type:
   • Pooled – multiple users share session hosts (recommended for most scenarios)
   • Personal – dedicated VM per user
4. If Pooled is selected:
   • Choose Load balancing algorithm:
   • Breadth‑first (spread users across hosts)
   • Depth‑first (fill one host before moving to the next)
   • Set Max session limit per VM
5. If Personal is selected:
   • Choose Assignment type:
   • Automatic
   • Direct
6. Select Next: Virtual machines.

Step 2. Create and Add Session Host Virtual Machines :

On the Virtual machines tab (recommended during initial creation):

1. Select Yes to add session host VMs.
2. Configure the session hosts:
   • Virtual machine location: Choose where VMs will be deployed
   • Availability options: Optional (Availability zones / sets)
   • Image:
   • Windows 10/11 Enterprise multi‑session (recommended)
   • Or Windows Server (if required)
   • VM size: Select based on user density and workload
   • Number of VMs: Define how many session hosts you need
3. Configure Network settings:
   • Select an existing VNet and subnet
   • Ensure connectivity to AD / Entra ID and FSLogix storage
4. Configure Administrator account:
   • Provide local admin credentials for the session hosts
5. (Optional) Custom configuration script URL:
   • Can be used to automatically install FSLogix or other agents during deployment
6. Select Next to continue.

**Step 3. Workspace and Desktop Application Group :
**On the Workspace tab:

• Set Register desktop app group = Yes
• Select an existing workspace or Create new

1. This automatically publishes the default Desktop Application Group to users once assignments are completed.

Step 4. Enable Diagnostics :

1. On the Advanced tab:
   • Enable Diagnostics settings
   • Select a destination:
   • Log Analytics workspace (recommended)
   • Storage account
   • Event Hub

This helps with monitoring, auditing, and troubleshooting AVD connectivity or performance issues.

Step 5. Review and Create :

1. Select Review + Create
2. Validate configuration
3. Select Create

Azure will now:

• Create the host pool
• Deploy session host VMs
• Install AVD agents
• Register session hosts automatically.

Step 6. Configure FSLogix Profile Containers :

FSLogix is the recommended solution for user profile management in Azure Virtual Desktop.

**Prepare Storage for FSLogix
**Create an Azure Storage Account

1. Create an Azure Files share (for example: fslogixprofiles)
2. Enable Active Directory authentication (AD DS or Microsoft Entra Domain Services)
3. Assign permissions:
   • Storage File Data SMB Share Contributor – users
   • Elevated contributor – admins (for NTFS permissions)

**Install and Configure FSLogix on Session Hosts

**Download and install FSLogix on each session host (Can also be done via image or custom script)

1. Configure FSLogix using Group Policy or Registry:
   • Enable Profile Containers
   • Set VHDLocations to the Azure Files UNC path (for example: \\storageaccount.file.core.windows.net\fslogixprofiles)
2. Ensure users have read/write access to the profile share.

**Step 7. Assign Users and Validate Access :

**Go to Azure Virtual Desktop → Application groups

1. Select the Desktop Application Group
2. Assign users or security groups
3. Have users sign in using the AVD client
4. Verify:
   • Successful sign‑in
   • FSLogix profile container is created
   • Session hosts show Available and Healthy

Please try this steps to configure the AVD with FSLogix App Services.

Thanks,
Manish.

Answer 2

To create an Azure Virtual Desktop (AVD) host pool, add session host VMs, and then integrate FSLogix user profiles, follow these high-level steps.

1. Create the host pool (portal)
2. Sign in to the Azure portal and search for Azure Virtual Desktop.
3. Select Host pools → Create.
4. On the Basics tab, fill in:
   • Subscription and Resource group (create new if needed).
   • Host pool name (for example, hp-avd-pooled).
   • Location: choose the Azure region.
   • Validation environment: choose No unless this is for testing.
   • Preferred app group type: Desktop (or RemoteApp if only apps are needed).
   • Host pool type:
     • Pooled for shared session hosts.
     • Personal if each user gets a dedicated VM.
   • For Pooled, configure Load balancing algorithm (BreadthFirst or DepthFirst) and Max session limit.
   • For Personal, choose Assignment type (Automatic or Direct).
5. Continue through the wizard or select Next: Virtual machines to add session hosts.
6. Add session host VMs to the pool On the Virtual machines tab (optional but recommended during creation):
7. Choose to create session hosts on Azure (or Azure Local/Extended Zones as needed).
8. Specify:
   • VM size and number of VMs.
   • Image (Windows 10/11 multi-session or Windows Server, depending on requirements).
   • Network settings (VNet/subnet, NSGs, etc.).
   • Virtual Machine Administrator account: provide credentials that meet the Windows VM requirements.
9. Optionally provide a Custom configuration script URL if a PowerShell script should run during deployment (for example, to install and configure FSLogix automatically).
10. Complete the wizard and select Review + create, then Create.
11. (Optional) Create workspace and register desktop app group During host pool creation:
12. On the Workspace tab, set Register desktop app group to Yes.
13. Select an existing workspace or Create new. This publishes the default desktop application group to users once assignments are configured.
14. Enable diagnostics (recommended) On the Advanced tab (optional):
15. Enable diagnostics settings.
16. Choose a destination: Log Analytics workspace, storage account, or event hub. This helps with monitoring and troubleshooting AVD.
17. Configure FSLogix for profiles (conceptual steps) FSLogix configuration itself is not detailed in the provided context, but the typical pattern is:
18. Prepare a file share (for example, Azure Files or a file server) for FSLogix profile containers.
19. Install FSLogix on each session host (can be done via the Custom configuration script URL during VM creation).
20. Configure FSLogix registry or GPO settings on the session hosts to point to the profile share.
21. Ensure appropriate permissions for users on the profile share.
22. Verify host pool and session hosts After deployment:
23. Go to the new Host pool → Properties to review configuration.
24. Confirm session hosts are present and in a healthy state.
25. Assign users to the application group and test sign-in using the AVD client.

If automation is preferred, the same can be done via Azure PowerShell (New-AzWvdHostPool) or Azure CLI (az desktopvirtualization hostpool create) using the examples in the references, then adding VMs and FSLogix configuration via scripts.

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References:

• Deploy Azure Virtual Desktop (host-pool-standard)
• Deploy Azure Virtual Desktop (host-pool-session-host-configuration)