Azure Remote Desktop client

There are two ways to access the AVD Remote desktop and remote app that you published. In this post, we will discuss both options in detail. Also, you would be able to see a video experience of the Azure Virtual Desktop [AVD] remote desktop.

NOTE! AVD is GAd Generally Available World Wide with App Attach Feature?

Related Post Install Subscribe Windows RD Client for AVD End User Step by Step Guide

Introduction

Microsoft AVD is the new VDI story from Microsoft. I have a post in which I explained about Microsoft AVD Vs. Citrix, AVD Myths, AVD Known Issues, and AVD setup. More details are in the Microsoft VDI Story post.

Microsoft shared details about Microsoft AVD release dates [GA], and the future roadmap of AVD is explained in the Windows Virtual Desktop Ask Me Anything [AMA]. I have a post that highlighted the points the AVD engineering team shared in the AVD AMA. More details are in the AVD AMA post.

In this post, you are going to see two methods to access AVD remote apps and remote desktops from a Thin client or physical desktop. The following are the two options available to access AVD Remote Desktops and Apps.

NOTE!--PWA [Progressive Web Apps]options areNOTenabled for the AVD web browsers yet. Maybe this is coming in the future?

NOTE! Do you have Questions about AVD Remote/Web SSO? The following link will help you to understand better. //www.anoopcnair.com/microsoft-wvd-ama-faq-ga-dates/#WVD_SSO_Related_Questions

• Web Browser [HTML5 supported browser]
• Remote Desktop Client [Windows Devices]
• Thin Clients?

AVD Web Client Browser [HTML5 based browser]

The Web browser is the easiest way to connect to AVD remote desktops and apps. AVD remote desktop resources can be accessed from any web browser which supports HTLM5.

• Only for AVD V2 ARM
  • //rdweb.wvd.microsoft.com/arm/webclient/index.html

//aka.ms/wvdARMweb

NOTE! The end-user experience of AVD Remote Desktop Client [explained] is better than a Web browser. I have seen inconsistency in Single Sign-On[SSO] and a couple of pop-ups etc

NOTE! You can use the following URL to connect to AVD remote desktop resources. //rdweb.wvd.microsoft.com/webclient/index.html [This wont work for WVD V2 or new WVD with ARM support or AVD Spring release].

Windows 10 Device

I use the web browser to connect to AVD resources during the test scenarios as its straightforward to test with different web browsers on my Windows 10 Surface book.

Mobile Devices Non Windows Devices

The only option to access AVD resources from mobile and non Windows devices is via a Web Browser. Microsoft mentioned in their documentation that you could access AVD remote desktop resources from all non-windows devices with HTML5 support.

I tried to access AVD resources from iOS 12/13/14/15 devices on different browsers, and the following are the results.

• Chrome Works perfectly fine

• Safari Works fine

• Microsoft Edge Not able to list down the AVD resources

AVD Remote Desktop Client [Windows Devices]

The second option to connect to AVD remote desktop resources is to download and install the AVD Remote Desktop client. This client is available only for Windows devices.

• Download the RD Client for AVDfrom the following links:
  • Windows 64-bit
  • Windows 32-bit
  • Windows ARM64

Features of Update Microsoft Remote Client for AVD

Following are the features included in the latest version of the Microsoft Remote desktop client as per Freek Berson @fberson.

• Fallback language forlocalizedversion is improved
• Upon removing a subscription, cached credentials in thecredential manager are adequately cleaned up.
• Unattended client updateprocess and client relaunch once completed [noticeable once the next update is available]
• The Microsoft Remote Desktop Client can be used on Windows 10S

Once the client is installed, it will get theAutomatic updatefrom the cloud. You can see the notification within the AVD remote desktop client/Windows Action Center. The latestMicrosoft Remote Desktopclient supports Windows 10Sversion, and its more stable.

NOTE! In Microsoft documentation, there are only Windows 7, and Windows 10 support statement is available. I hope Windows 8.1 is also supported.

Download AVD Remote Desktop Client

You can download the latest Azure Remote Desktop [AVD] client from the Microsoft website here. Latest version

Video Experience AVD Remote Desktop Client

The following video will give you the experience of Microsoft remote desktop client app installation, subscription, display settings, and automatic client update.

Microsoft AVD Remote Desktop Client Download
Microsoft Remote Desktop Client app installation
AVD Remote Desktop Client subscription
AVD Remote Desktop Client display settings
AVD Remote Desktop Client automatic client update

AVD Remote Desktop Client Display Settings

Following are the AVD remote desktop client display settings available with the latest version of the client. If you dont change the setting, it will automatically take the display settings of your physical device. This behavior is a bit troublesome user experience [when you connect to dual-screen etc..]

NOTE! Right client on your AVD Remote Resources listed down in the client and select Settings. In the settings menu, you can adjust the display setting as you need.

The following are my favorite display settings for Microsoft Remote Desktop Client when I test AVD Remote Desktops/Remote Apps.

• Use Default Settings OFF
  • Display Settings
  • Use All Monitors OFF
  • Start in full screen OFF
  • Update the resolution on resize OFF
  • Resolution Choose for me 1280 x 1024
  • Change the size of the text and apps: 175% [this will show the windows inside the remote desktop much clear]
  • Fit Session to Window ON

AVD Microsoft Remote Desktop Client WIP Conflict?

I think there is a conflict between Windows Information Protection [WIP] policies [deployed through Microsoft Intune] and Microsoft Remote Desktop Client.

You might be able to reproduce the issue once the subscription is timed out and you need to unsubscribe and subscribe again. The same issue is there with the newest version 1.2.246.0.

I could see Microsoft Remote Desktop is WIP enlighten app. But, not sure whether the RD client [msrdcw.exe] we use for AVD is enlightened or not.

Thin Client Access

Microsoft is closely working with all the thin client vendors and specifically with DELL as they mentioned in the AVD AMA. The following are the Thin client OSes which Microsoft is going to support currently/future.

• Windows 10 IoT Enterprise [supported]
• Linux based thin clients [Future roadmap]
• Dell Thin Clients [Future roadmap]

Resources

• AVD Video Play List //aka.ms/WVDPlaylist
• AVD AMA 28th Aug 2019Windows Virtual Desktop Microsoft AVD FAQs from AMA
• Microsoft VDI Story AVD Concept Setup Guide Myths Known Issues
• SCCM Intune Support for Persistent Non-Persistent VDI VMs