How Do I Create Windows 10 VDI Desktops?

Applies to: Nerdio for Azure Enterprise (RDS)

Nerdio helps you build virtual desktop and virtual application deployments to meet your dynamic business needs. If you are a NFA Enterprise customer using RDS for virtual desktops, you will be assigned a virtual desktop at the time of provisioning your account. Nerdio desktops are built off a "golden desktop" image. Any time a new desktop is spun up, it is a copy of the golden desktop image at that point in time. The golden desktop image is named XXXX-WS00, where XXXX is your four-digit Account ID. Let us understand the process of creating virtual desktops in Nerdio.

To create Windows 10 VDI desktops

1. Login to Nerdio Admin Portal (NAP) as an IT admin.
2. On the accounts page, scroll down and click "Add NFA Account" button:
3. On the “Create NFA Account” screen, expand the "Advanced options" menu:
4. Under advanced options, there is a radio button called “GOLDEN IMAGE” which gives you an option to choose either a:
   • Windows 10 Experience (Server 2016) or
   • Windows 10 Enterprise (Windows 10 Enterprise subscription) configuration. If you select "Windows 10 Enterprise" option, then the golden image for the VDI desktops in your account will be a Windows 10 Enterprise image instead of Windows Server 2016. Any users that are assigned a VDI desktop will have a Windows 10 Enterprise OS desktop.

How to check the configuration of your Golden image? 

You can check if the Golden Image is a "Windows 10" or "Windows Server 2016" by navigating to the Servers module in Nerdio Admin Portal (NAP). The “Manage VDI Golden Desktop Image” will display the configuration (say “Windows 10”):

If your accounts have a "Windows Server 2016" based golden image, you can easily switch to a "Windows 10" image with the click of a button:

Note: Switching golden image to "Windows 10 Enterprise" does not change any existing VDI desktops. Only new desktops going forward will be "Windows 10 Enterprise".