XenApp and XenDesktop

VDI desktops

Use Desktop OS machines to deliver VDI desktops.

VDI desktops are hosted on virtual machines and provide each user with a desktop operating system.

VDI desktops require more resources than XenApp published desktops, but do not require that applications installed on them support server-based operating systems. In addition, depending on the type of VDI desktop you choose, these desktop can be assigned to individual users, and allow these users a high degree of personalization.

When you create a machine catalog for VDI desktops, you create one of the following types of desktops:

  • Random non-persistent desktops, also known as pooled VDI desktops. Each time users log on to use one of these desktops, they connect to a dynamically selected desktop in a pool of desktops based on a master image. All changes to the desktop are lost when the machine restarts.
  • Static non-persistent desktop. The first time a user logs on to use one of these desktops, the user is assigned a desktop from a pool of desktops based on a master image. After the first use, each time a user logs on to use one of these desktop, the user connects to the same desktop that was assigned on first use. All changes to the desktop are lost when the machine restarts.
  • Static persistent, also known as VDI with Personal vDisk. Unlike other types of VDI desktops, these desktops can be fully personalized by users. The first time a user logs on to use one of these desktops, the user is assigned a desktop from a pool of desktops based on a master image. Subsequent logons from that user connect to the same desktop that was assigned on first use. Changes to the desktop are retained when the machine restarts because they are stored in a Personal vDisk.

To deliver VDI desktops:

  1. Create a master image running a supported Windows desktop OS.
  2. Create a machine catalog for this master image or update an existing catalog with the master image. When defining the desktop experience for the machine catalog, decide whether you want users to connect to a new VM each time they log on, or connect to the same machine each time they log on. If users connect to the same machine, you can specify how changes to the desktop are retained.
  3. Create a Delivery Group to deliver the desktops to users.

See the installation and configuration articles for details.

VDI desktops

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