Add existing Azure VM to session host pool (Azure WVD)

Question

Hello!

Is it possible to add existing VM to session host pool (Azure WVD)?

I cannot find reference documentation, but on the Microsoft Azure Documentation it states here the following:

"If you've already created virtual machines and want to use them with the new host pool, select No"

Reference Link:
https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/virtual-desktop/create-host-pools-azure-marketplace

It doesn't state on how to add existing Azure VM to a new host pool.

Thank you!

ROLAINE

Answer 1

@Rolaine Nicdao Apologies for delay in response since I was having discussion internally.

I got the below inputs from our internal team :

If you have existing VM’s and want to add them to a host pool, all you need to do is install the agents with the reg key for that host pool. You can ignore the rest of the article and just follow:

https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/virtual-desktop/create-host-pools-powershell#register-the-virtual-machines-to-the-windows-virtual-desktop-host-pool

Hope it helps!!!

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Answer 2

No, the question is about taking an existing VM and adding it to a pool. The links shared so far talk about creating a new VM and adding it to a pool.

As far as I can see, there is no path that allows you to connect an existing VM to an existing pool.

Answer 3

@Rolaine Nicdao You can refer to below document which might be useful in your use case:

https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/virtual-desktop/create-host-pools-powershell

Scroll down to the section create virtual machines for the host pool which might be helpful. Even though these are for adding new vm to host pool same steps an be used with already existing VM to join them to host pools.

Hope it helps :) !!!

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Answer 4

@Marcus Zarra Here's the permalink to the section you're inquiring about: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/virtual-desktop/create-host-pools-powershell#register-the-virtual-machines-to-the-windows-virtual-desktop-host-pool

From what I've seen, you should be able to register an existing VM using the Host Pool Registration Key.

Another way is to sysprep | generalize | shut down | capture the vm to an image which is uploaded to Images or Shared Image Galleries (your choice), which are image management services.

From there, you would deploy a new VM using the captured image.

Click Session host | Add | Ignore the Basics tab, click Virtual Machines| Select your image by selecting "Browse all images and disks" | Click My "Items" and locate your image | Complete the rest of the build as you would traditionally.

@prmanhas-MSFT An how-to select a custom image sub-section is missing here: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/virtual-desktop/expand-existing-host-pool#add-virtual-machines-with-the-azure-portal

Also, it wasn't clear if the source VM is coming from on-prem. If it is, please use this article to prep and upload your image: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/virtual-desktop/set-up-customize-master-image

Precaution - From what I've read, mixing images in the same host pool is not encouraged, unless you plan on aging out the existing ones:

Although it's possible to edit the image and prefix of the VMs, we don't recommend editing them if you have VMs with different images in the same host pool. Edit the image and prefix only if you plan on removing VMs with older images from the affected host pool. - see Note section from first permalink above.

Answer 5

For people coming here for a solution note that you will need the registration key that is avaible on the GUI: