Automatically Start and Stop VM’s in a Windows Virtual Desktop Host Pool with Azure Automation

Script code can be found on my Github page here:

This video demonstrates a script I created that starts and stops Virtual Machines in an Azure Windows Virtual Desktop host pool based on the number of users logged into the host pool. It uses the number of users logged in to the host pool, a threshold value of spare capacity and the maximum session per VM to calculate the number of servers that should be running. It then starts and stops VM’s based on that number
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This script runs as an Azure Automation Runbook. It’s trigger by a webhook every 5 minutes from an Azure Function.

Link to written description here:

[EE-uxqw]

Thank you Travis and keep up the good work. You have saved many of us time.
Thanks!

[desmondtestazure]

Thank you for this, its great and can save a lot of money. Going to try write it my self to learn. This is a great bench mark

[julianrodiguez]

hola!. muchas gracias por este genial video, justamente necesitaba esto para mi implementacion. Te agradezo mucho por este gran aporte de conocimiento. Yo pensaba hacer los mismo basado en runbooks pero veo que lo realizaste de una manera tal vez mas sencilla.

[hvalentino]

Hi Travis, Thank you for the Video! I do have a question regarding WVD, do we need to set up some kind of NSG for the environment? or it is already secured? the reason why I am asking is that it seems when you go to Azure security center, we got a recommendation saying that wvd is exposed and required some NSG, but the weird thing is WVD doesn't have a public IP... any idea with this? thanks again!

[ShehzadKhan-ykpb]

Hi Travis. Great video. one question at this stage: The GPO you created at the start "Windows Components\Remote Desktop Services\Remote Desktop Session Host\Session Time Limits" and value set to 5 mins. it doesn't seem to work in a WVD environment. As originally, the only multi-session OS from Microsoft was Windows Server OS, and WVD uses Win10, is that the reason this GPO is flaky?

[peterh]

Hi Travis,
I have a question about the upcoming Azure Functions app to PowerShell 7.2 by 3 December 2022
I tried to upgrade the Azure Function app to PowerShell 7.2 but it did not work. Do I need to upgrade to new PowerShell or can I leave the version 6.0? As always Thanks for all your awesome videos. I am learning daily.

[SCMajii]

With the ability for users to now start VM on connect, is it possible to set a parameter for off-peak hours to allow all session hosts to be shut off?

[lokeshkasi]

Hi Travis, accidentally deleted session host. It's possible add same VM to session host. I am only getting add new vm. Plz share your input, it greatly help me on it.

[robinktoussaint]

how come at 13:09 you can search the service principle name as "WVD Svc Principle" but in the commands its called "Windows Virtual Desktop Svc Principal" does it take a moment for this to appear because im not finding it to add as a contributor.

[Goners]

status "Unavailable" replace "NoHeartBeat"
Unavailable : Session Host is either turned off or has failed critical health checks which is causing service not to be able to route connections to this session host. E.g. session host is not joined to the domain, failures in installing critical components like initial versions of agents, stack etc. Note this replaces previous “NoHeartBeat” status.

[johndoucette]

Testing your WVD scaling script. Runs and will shutdown session host as required. When it should power on session host I get a message the no VMs are found to power on. Any thoughts on why script does not find VMs to power on?