Starting Lab Computers with Stream Deck, a Webhook, and an Azure PowerShell Function

Posted on by Travis Roberts

This video is a step-by-step introduction for using an Elgato Stream Deck to send a Webhook that starts or stops computers in Azure based on their tag settings.  We go over creating the Azure Function App, setting up system assigned identities and creating a custom RBAC role in Azure to grant the identity permissions to the subscription.  Then we configure the start stop function to use values passed in from the web hook to start or stop the computers.  Finally, we configure the Elgato Stream Deck with start and stop buttons that control the lab.

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Update with Breadth-First! Auto Scale Session Hosts in Windows Virtual Desktop Spring Update (ARM) with Azure Function

Posted on by Travis Roberts

I am excited to announce a significant update to the Auto Start and Stop script for WVD.  This update adds a new option that works with the peak time settings to change the load balancing type from Depth-First to Breadth-First.  When used, it also starts all available session hosts during peak time to accommodate the user load. 

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Azure Automanage now in Public Preview

Posted on by Travis Roberts

In this post and accompanying video, we go over Azure Automanage.  Automanage is an Azure solution to automate management of IaaS servers within the Cloud Adoption Frameworks best practices.  This post gives an overview of the services.  The video reviews the service and provides a demonstration of on-boarding a server.  After that, we go on to review settings on a server that is part of Azure Automanage.

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Azure Cost Management Course at Skylines Academy

Posted on by Travis Roberts

I am excited to announce my new course available at Skylines Academy on Azure Cost Management.  This course is for anyone starting out with Azure or those who need to get a better understanding of their organizations azure cost.  Please see the link below for more information on the course.

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Please Wait for the Windows Modules Installer

Posted on by Travis Roberts

I do not like to wait; who does?  So, getting a ten-minute delay logging into VM’s with the message “Please Wait for the Windows Modules Installer” was frustrating.  There is a way to speed this up, and that is what this post is about.  In this post and accompanying video, I show you how to bypass this message when creating a custom image, including with Azure Image Builder.

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Azure Monitor for WVD in Public Preview

Posted on by Travis Roberts
WVD and Azure Monitor

Azure Monitor for WVD is now in public preview.  This is a great option for monitoring Windows Virtual Desktop performance, capacity and client experience. With integration into Azure Monitor, collecting and viewing performance data is now easier than ever.

In this video, we go over configuring Azure Monitor Insights for WVD and do a quick review of the data collected.

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WVD Session Host Status “Shutdown”

Posted on by Travis Roberts
WVD

A recent change took place in WVD host pools that cause an issue with the scale Host Pool VMs script I created.  Before the change, a shutdown Session Host would report as “Unavailable” in the Session Hosts status on the Host Pool.  Unavailable indicates that the agent was not reporting to WVD. 

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