Implement and manage Microsoft Teams, including AV redirect

Microsoft Teams is a powerful collaboration platform that offers a wide range of features to enhance teamwork and productivity. As part of the Configuring and Operating Microsoft Azure Virtual Desktop exam, it is essential to understand how to implement and manage Microsoft Teams, including AV redirect. In this article, we will explore the key concepts and steps involved in setting up and managing Microsoft Teams within an Azure Virtual Desktop environment.

What is AV Redirect?

AV Redirect, short for Audio and Video Redirect, is a feature that allows Microsoft Teams to leverage local audio and video devices on the user’s device rather than redirecting the traffic through the virtual desktop. This helps optimize performance, enhance audio quality, and reduce latency during video calls and conferencing within the Azure Virtual Desktop environment.

Prerequisites

Before implementing AV Redirect for Microsoft Teams in Azure Virtual Desktop, there are a few prerequisites that need to be met:

1. Azure Virtual Desktop deployment: Ensure you have a fully functional Azure Virtual Desktop deployment in place.
2. Azure AD tenant: You should have an Azure Active Directory (AD) tenant set up and connected to your Azure Virtual Desktop environment.
3. Microsoft Teams setup: Make sure you have a Microsoft Teams account and have the necessary licenses assigned to users within your Azure AD tenant.

Implementation Steps

To implement AV Redirect for Microsoft Teams within Azure Virtual Desktop, follow these steps:

Step 1: Install Audio and Video Redirection components

To enable AV redirect, install the necessary components on your Azure Virtual Desktop host pool. This involves installing the following components:

1. Remote Desktop Session Host (RDSH): Ensure that the RDSH role is installed and configured correctly on your Virtual Desktop host pool.
2. Remote Desktop Virtualization Host (RDVH): Install RDVH on your Virtual Desktop host pool to handle the audio and video redirection.
3. Media Optimizer for Teams: Install the Media Optimizer for Teams agent on the Virtual Desktop session hosts.

Step 2: Configure Group Policy settings

To configure AV redirect, modify the Group Policy settings on your Azure Virtual Desktop environment. Follow these steps:

1. Open the Group Policy Management Editor.
2. Navigate to Computer Configuration > Policies > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Remote Desktop Services > Remote Desktop Session Host > Remote Session Environment.
3. Enable the Use video redirection for Remote Desktop Services sessions policy.
4. Enable the Optimize poor network connections for video policy.
5. Enable the Enable Remote Desktop Protocol 10 policy.

Step 3: Configure Microsoft Teams policies

To ensure optimal AV redirection with Microsoft Teams, configure the necessary policies. Here’s how:

1. Open the Microsoft Teams Admin Center.
2. Go to Teams Apps > Setup Policies.
3. Create a new policy or modify an existing one.
4. Enable the Allow audio and video redirection option.
5. Apply the policy to the appropriate user or group.

Step 4: Validate AV redirect functionality

Once the configuration is complete, it’s crucial to validate AV redirect functionality. Follow these steps:

1. Launch a remote session on Azure Virtual Desktop.
2. Sign in to Microsoft Teams using your credentials.
3. Start a video call or join a meeting.
4. Verify that the audio and video are being redirected through the local devices instead of the virtual desktop.

Troubleshooting

If you encounter any issues with AV redirect in Microsoft Teams within Azure Virtual Desktop, consider these troubleshooting steps:

1. Ensure that the correct components and policies are installed and configured.
2. Verify that the necessary permissions are granted to users for audio and video redirection.
3. Review the event logs on your Azure Virtual Desktop environment for any error messages related to AV redirect.
4. Check for any known issues or updates related to AV redirect in Azure Virtual Desktop and Microsoft Teams documentation.

Conclusion

Implementing and managing Microsoft Teams, including AV redirect, within Azure Virtual Desktop can greatly enhance collaboration and communication in a virtualized environment. By leveraging local audio and video devices, users can experience improved performance and audio quality during video calls and conferencing. Following the steps outlined in this article will help you configure and optimize AV redirect for Microsoft Teams within your Azure Virtual Desktop environment effectively.