In this exercise, you import a VM from the Microsoft Azure Marketplace, configure it with applications, and convert the VM to an image. With this image, you can then create new instances of the VM.

Later in this Tutorial, a set of exercises create an RDS server farm, for which you need an image with a server OS. Another set of exercises create a pool of VDI desktops, for which you need a Windows 10 desktop OS.

This exercise demonstrates deploying a new image using a desktop OS, and the process for deploying a server OS is virtually the same.

1. In the navigation panel of the Horizon Cloud Service Administration Console, click Inventory.
2. In the Inventory menu, click Imported VMs.
3. In the Imported VMs window, click Import, which imports a Windows VM from the Microsoft Azure Marketplace.

In the Import Desktop window under From Marketplace, click Select.

1. In the Import Desktop Marketplace window under Destination Desktop, provide the following information:
   • Location: Select a location from the pop-up menu to get a list of pods available to store the desktop.
   • Pod: Select a pod to serve the desktop from.
2. Scroll down to the Desktop Details panel.

1. Under Admin Credentials for the Desktop, provide the required information:
   • Username: Enter the administration username for the VM account. This username is used for the local administration account to access the OS of the golden image VM.
   • Password: Enter the password for the administrator account, which must adhere to the Microsoft Azure rules.
   • Verify Password: Re-enter the password to verify.
   • Do you have a Windows Server License: Select Yes, and select the check box to confirm that you have the proper license.
2. Scroll to the next panel.

1. Under Horizon Agent Features, accept the default to install all features in the golden VM:
   • Enable Flash MMR: Redirects Flash multimedia content sent to the client system and plays in a Flash container window using the Flash Player ActiveX version.
   • 3D support in RDSH: Provides support for vGPU-powered 3D RDS hosts.
   • MMR for Terminal Services: Redirects multimedia content directly to the client computer, which plays the media content, offloading the demand on the RDS desktop and improving performance optimization.
   • Client Drive Redirection: Allows you to share folders and drives on your local system with remote desktops and applications.
   • Skype for Business: Provides the ability to use the RDS desktops to make optimized audio and video calls with Skype for Business inside a virtual desktop without negatively affecting the virtual infrastructure and overloading the network.
   • Webcam Support (Real Time Audio Video RTAV): Allows you to run Skype, Webex, Google Hangouts, and other online conferencing applications on remote desktops with client local webcam and audio devices.
   • Smart Card: Lets you redirect smart cards from client to remote sessions for both SSO and in-session leverage.
   • Thin Print: Allows you to print to any printer configured for your local computer from a remote desktop or application without installing printer drivers on the remote desktop.
   • Scanner Redirection: Redirects scanning and imaging devices that are connected to the client systems so those devices can be used with the desktop or remote application.
   • USB Redirection: Enables redirection of USB devices that are connected to your local client system so those devices can be used with the desktop or remote application.
   • URL Redirection: Collects performance data from monitored software and hardware objects in your Horizon environment and provides predictive analysis and real-time information about problems in your Horizon infrastructure.
   • Serial Port Redirection: Enables devices connected to serial ports on your local client system so those devices can be used with the remote desktop or application.
   • Geolocation Redirection: Allows the geolocation information of the client system to be used by Internet Explorer in remote desktops.
   • Help Desk: Select Yes to install the Help Desk.
2. In the lower right corner, click Import.

1. When the success banner verifies that the import is complete, you can return to the Microsoft Azure portal.
2. Verify that the VM was successfully completed.

1. Select the imported VM.
2. Explore the details.

1. Return to the Horizon Cloud Service Administration Console, where the imported VM is displayed.
2. Horizon Cloud Service automates the customization of the golden image VM, the green dot appears under Status, and the status changes to Active when the process is complete.

For more information, see VMware Horizon Cloud Service on Microsoft Azure Administration Guide, and search the guide for Create a Master Virtual Machine Automatically from the Microsoft Azure Marketplace.

Note: It is also recommended that you optimize the image using the VMware Windows Operating System Optimization Tool. This tool includes templates that you can customize to enable and disable Windows system services and features across multiple systems. Many Windows system services are enabled by default. You can disable services or features using the optimization tool, and improve performance by eliminating unnecessary services or features. For instructions, see the VMware Windows Operating System Optimization Tool Guide.

When you finish importing the Windows 10 desktop OS VM, proceed to the next exercise to customize it.