How Do I Update a Desktop Image and Hosts?

Nerdio Manager allows you to update a desktop image and then re-image all the hosts in all the host pools that use that desktop image.

To update a desktop image and re-image hosts:

1. In Nerdio Manager, at the Account level, navigate to Desktop Images.

2. Locate the desktop image you wish to work with and power it on.

3. Locate IP address for the desktop image VM.

   

4. RDP to the desktop image VM and make your changes.

   Notes:

   • You can often use a session host or other Azure VM that is connected to the same VNet to do this.

   • Ensure there are no pending OS update installations and all apps are updated as desired. Pending installations are a common cause for unhealthy images.

5. Sign off the VM and leave it powered on if you plan to set the image immediately.

6. In Nerdio Manager, at the Account level, navigate to Desktop Images.

7. Locate the desktop image you wish to work with and, if it is powered on, select Power off and set as image. If it is powered off, from the action menu, select Set as image.

   

8. Enter the following information:

   • Geographic distribution and Azure compute gallery: Toggle this option on to store the image in the Azure Compute Gallery and automatically distribute to the selected Azure region(s).

   • Run the following scripted actions: Toggle this option On to specify the scripts that run during creation.

     • Target VM: Select whether the scripted actions run on the Clone VM or the Source VM.

       Note: Applying scripted actions to the Source VM retains the changes during future image maintenance or staging.

   • Applications Management: Toggle this option On and select the applications to manage during creation.

   • Retain current image object: This option is automatically selected when you select Set new image as inactive.

     Note: This option creates a copy of the current image and retains it for a specified duration. This provides an option to restore the image and revert any changes, in case of any issues.

     • Versions to keep: Type the number of image versions to retain.

   • Install certificates: Select this option to install all stored certificates on the desktop image, if any.

   • Change log: Optionally, type the list of changes made to the desktop image.

   • Schedule: Toggle this option On and create the schedule when this task is run. Otherwise, the task is run immediately.

9. Once you have entered all the desired information, select OK.

   The re-image task starts. You can follow the task's progress in the Desktop Images Tasks section.

10. When the desktop image re-image task completes, you need to re-image the host pool(s).

    • In Nerdio Manager, at the Account level, navigate to AVD > Host Pools.

    • Locate the host pool that uses the changed desktop image.

    • From the action menu, select Hosts > Resize/Re-image.

      

      Note: If the host pool has a existing resize/re-image task currently scheduled, you have the option to remove the current schedule or run this task once now and leave the schedule unchanged.

      

    • Enter all the desired information and select OK. See Create a Host Pool for details.

      Note: For several of the required parameters, you may filter the available choices by using the Resource Selection Rules. For example, you may filter the VM Size or OS Disk choices for Intel RAM-optimized VMs only. See Resource Selection Rules Management for details.

      The re-image task starts. You can follow the task's progress in the Host Pools Tasks section.

    • Repeat all of these steps for each host pool that uses the changed desktop image.

      Note: Once individual VMs are re-imaged, the changes made to the desktop image are deployed to all users.