Install and configure FSLogix

FSLogix is a set of tools that enables seamless user profile and application virtualization for virtual desktop environments like Microsoft Azure Virtual Desktop (formerly known as Windows Virtual Desktop). It simplifies the management and delivery of user profiles and applications across virtualized desktops, providing a smooth and responsive experience for end users. In this article, we will discuss how to install and configure FSLogix in an Azure Virtual Desktop environment.

Prerequisites

• A Microsoft Azure subscription.
• An Azure Virtual Desktop host pool configured.
• Administrative access to the Azure portal.

Now, let’s proceed with the installation and configuration of FSLogix:

Step 1: Create a Storage Account

FSLogix requires a storage account to store user profiles and application data. To create a storage account, follow these steps:

1. Sign in to the Azure portal (https://portal.azure.com).
2. Navigate to the Storage Accounts page.
3. Click on “Add” to create a new storage account.
4. Provide the required details such as subscription, resource group, and account name.
5. Choose the appropriate performance, replication, and networking settings.
6. Click on “Review + Create” and then “Create” to create the storage account.

Step 2: Configure Storage Account Access

To allow FSLogix to access the storage account, perform the following steps:

1. Go to the newly created storage account in the Azure portal.
2. Under the Settings section, select “Shared access signature (SAS)”.
3. Create a new SAS token with appropriate permissions (e.g., read, write, delete) for Blobs.
4. Copy the generated SAS token for later use.

Step 3: Download and Install FSLogix Components

To download the FSLogix components, follow these steps:

1. Go to the FSLogix download page on the Microsoft website.
2. Choose the appropriate version of FSLogix for Virtual Desktops.
3. Download the installation package.
4. Extract the package to a local folder.

To install the FSLogix components, perform the following steps:

1. Open an elevated command prompt on each Azure Virtual Desktop VM.
2. Navigate to the extracted folder containing the FSLogix installation files.
3. Execute the following command to install FSLogix:

msiexec /i "FSLogixAppsSetup.msi" /q

Note: Use the appropriate MSI file based on your installation requirements (e.g., FSLogixAppsSetup.msi for application virtualization).

Step 4: Configure FSLogix with Azure Virtual Desktop

To configure FSLogix with Azure Virtual Desktop, follow these steps:

1. Open an elevated PowerShell session on each Azure Virtual Desktop VM.
2. Execute the following command to configure FSLogix:

Set-ItemProperty -Path "HKLM:\SOFTWARE\FSLogix\Profiles" -Name "VHDLocations" -Type String -Value "SAS_URL_OF_STORAGE_ACCOUNT"

Replace SAS_URL_OF_STORAGE_ACCOUNT with the generated SAS URL of the storage account from Step 2.

3. (Optional) If you want to enable Office 365 containerization, execute the following command:

Set-ItemProperty -Path "HKLM:\SOFTWARE\FSLogix\Profiles" -Name "Enabled" -Type DWord -Value 1

4. Close the PowerShell session.

Step 5: Update Azure Virtual Desktop VM Image

After configuring FSLogix on individual Azure Virtual Desktop VMs, update the VM image to include the FSLogix installation. Follow these steps to capture and update the VM image:

1. De-provision the VM by running the following command in an elevated PowerShell session:

Invoke-AzVmRunCommand -ResourceGroupName "RESOURCE_GROUP_NAME" -Name "VIRTUAL_MACHINE_NAME" -ScriptPath "C:\Program Files\FSLogix\Apps\frx64\HvDiag\HVDEProvisioningTool.ps1" -CommandId "Delete"

Replace RESOURCE_GROUP_NAME and VIRTUAL_MACHINE_NAME with the appropriate values.

2. Capture the VM image by running the following command in an elevated PowerShell session:

New-AzImageConfig -ResourceGroupName "RESOURCE_GROUP_NAME" -OsDiskName "OS_DISK_NAME" -ImageName "IMAGE_NAME" -SourceVirtualMachineId "/subscriptions/SUBSCRIPTION_ID/resourceGroups/RESOURCE_GROUP_NAME/providers/Microsoft.Compute/virtualMachines/VIRTUAL_MACHINE_NAME" | Set-AzImageOsDisk -Windows -CreateOption FromImage -ManagedDiskId "/subscriptions/SUBSCRIPTION_ID/resourceGroups/RESOURCE_GROUP_NAME/providers/Microsoft.Compute/disks/OS_DISK_NAME-delta" | New-AzImage -ResourceGroupName "RESOURCE_GROUP_NAME" -ImageName "IMAGE_NAME"

Replace RESOURCE_GROUP_NAME, OS_DISK_NAME, IMAGE_NAME, SUBSCRIPTION_ID, and VIRTUAL_MACHINE_NAME with the appropriate values.

Step 6: Update Azure Virtual Desktop Host Pool

Once the VM image is updated, follow these steps to update the Azure Virtual Desktop Host Pool:

1. Open the Azure portal and navigate to the Azure Virtual Desktop host pool.
2. Under the Session Hosts section, click on “Image”.
3. Select the updated VM image from the list.
4. Click on “Save” to apply the changes.

With FSLogix successfully installed and configured, it will now handle profile and application virtualization for user sessions in the Azure Virtual Desktop environment. Users will experience faster logins, improved desktop responsiveness, and seamless application availability across virtual desktops.

Note: Remember to allocate ample storage capacity for the FSLogix profiles and maintain regular backups to prevent data loss.

That’s it! You have now installed and configured FSLogix for Microsoft Azure Virtual Desktop. Enjoy the benefits of simplified profile and application management in your virtual desktop environment.