In this video, we go over using an Azure DevOps pipeline to automate the image build process with Azure Image Builder. This Azure DevOps tutorial goes over using Azure DevOps with VS Code to manage files. We then build a YAML pipeline with Azure CLI, ARM template deployments and PowerShell to build an image.
Continue reading “Azure DevOps Pipeline and Image Builder”
This video provides an introduction to using Azure DevOps Git repos with VS Code. We go over installing and configuring Git, then cloning a repo to the local workstation. We also go over using Git Push to push changes to the DevOps repo and using Git Pull to update the local repo with remote changes.
Continue reading “Azure DevOps, Git and VS Code”
In this video, we go through the process of using Azure DevOps pipelines to deploy a simple Windows server with an Azure ARM template. We add ARM templates to a repo and connect Azure DevOps to a subscription with a service principle. We also go over connecting Azure DevOps to an Azure Key Vault and use a KeyVault secret as a password for the server’s local admin account.
Continue reading “Azure DevOps: Deploy a Windows Server with a DevOps Pipeline and Key Vault”
In this post and accompanying video, we go over the benefits and considerations of using ephemeral disks with Azure Windows Virtual Desktop Session Hosts. We review the performance improvements as well as limitations that come with ephemeral disks, including the inability to deallocate Session Hosts. Next, we examine Azure Reserved Instances and how they can be used to keep the cost of Session Hosts down without using an auto scale solution.
Continue reading “High Performance at a Low Price for WVD”
In this video, we go over how to get scheduled events for an Azure virtual machine by querying the Instance Metadata service API endpoint with a PowerShell Scheduled Task. That data is then sent to a Log Analytics Workspace to be queried or alerted on.
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This is the first of a series of videos on Computer Networking Basics. In this video, we go over the OSI model and how it aligns with TCP/IP. This is the basic fundamental to understanding a computer network.
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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.
Continue reading “Starting Lab Computers with Stream Deck, a Webhook, and an Azure PowerShell Function”
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.
Continue reading “Update with Breadth-First! Auto Scale Session Hosts in Windows Virtual Desktop Spring Update (ARM) with Azure Function”