An image is a 'copy' of a computer's storage that is generalized to be deployed as other computers. For example, in cloud computing, this is virtual machine storage. This "image" may also be referred to as a golden image, system image, clone image, master image, Sysprep image, generalized image, or base image. It includes everything on the disk and can consist of the following:
Windows operating system and patches
Installed software and updates
Software settings
MyCloudIT has a decade of experience in testing, automating, and developing best practices for golden images so that your company can benefit from the advantages. The MyCloudIT platform has a set of automated web tools and processes for deploying a new or updated Windows image to an RDS collection or an AVD host pool. In addition, MyCloudIT supports customers in finding the best strategy for their needs and provides expert advice on imaging.
MyCloudIT leverages the inbuilt industry-standard Microsoft Azure functions. Azure has a native "managed image" feature that we use to create images that can be used within or outside the MyCloudIT platform. We have developed it, so you are never locked into one vendor's Azure tools. In addition, we leverage other Azure features that tie together with image creation, such as VM deployment from the image, session host promotion, session host cloning, and VM scripting. We advise using Microsoft Sysprep to remove system-specific information, such as the system security identifiers and the system-specific registry entries, making it possible to deploy on multiple VMs via the MyCloudIT portal.
MyCloudIT image processes can be used to deploy images to session hosts with no downtime for users. There are multiple ways to achieve this. For most environments, deploy new session hosts via your customized image. The MyCloudIT portal sets all the session hosts to drain mode, and as users log off and on, they will be on the new image VMs. Once no users are left on the old session hosts, they can be turned off and eventually cleanly removed. You may have dual collection/host pools for complex environments and deploy the image to the standby one. You would then swap over the live and standby environments, and as users log off and back on, they will be active on the new live environment.
Images provide a standardized, secure, and reliable foundation for session hosts within an organization. Organizations embracing the use of golden images can expect significant benefits, including improved reliability, streamlined deployment, consistent updates, and cost savings.
If you plan to, or currently have, a Windows-based cloud session host environment with more than one session host VM, then images are a must. The MyCloudIT platform allows you to clone, manage, deploy, create, and update Windows session host images for RDS collections and AVD host pools. Contact us as an existing or new customer on how you can leverage images or AVD/RDS in general in a new or existing cloud environment today!