AVDManage leverages Azure Compute Gallery Image Replication to rapidly deploy Azure Virtual Desktop instances in secondary Azure locations in a High Availability, Site Availability or Disaster Recovery Scenario.
Azure Compute Galleries enable replication of Master VM Image Versions from the primary location to one or more secondary locations, allowing Azure Virtual Desktop Session Hosts to be deployed from the same master image in multiple locations.
After a Compute Gallery Image has been replicated to a secondary location, AVDManage is used to create a Virtual Machine Scale Set in the secondary location.
VM Instances may be rapidly deployed on demand enabling site availability of Azure Virtual Desktops running the same master image.
Requirements
AVDManage Plus license to enable deployment of Virtual Machine Scale Sets from Azure Compute Galleries.
The following Azure resources in two locations. This example will use WestEurope and UKSouth as the primary and secondary locations.
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PRIMARY |
SECONDARY |
| Location |
WestEurope |
UKSouth |
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| Network Infrastructure Resource Group |
INFRA |
INFRADR |
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Virtual Network
Virtual Subnet |
Virtual Network
Virtual Subnet |
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| Master VM Resource Group |
GOLD-VDA |
N/A |
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Master VM
Compute Gallery
Image Definitions & Versions
Snapshots |
Replicated Image Version
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| Scale Set Resource Group |
VMSS |
VMSSDR |
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AVDManage (User-Assigned Managed Identity)
Virtual Machine Scale Set(s) |
AVDManage (User-Assigned Managed Identity)
Virtual Machine Scale Set(s) |
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| AVD Host Pool Resource Group |
AVD |
AVDDR |
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WorkSpace
Application Group
Host Pool |
WorkSpace
Application Group
Host Pool |
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The following image shows the configuration of the Entra Scale Set in the primary location (WestEurope). The Scale Set is configured to join Entra ID and the EntraAuth AVD Host Pool.
The VM instances are deployed from the Win11MultiS\2026.0522.1719 Image Version which is hosted in the AVDGallery Azure Compute Gallery.
The Image is available in the WestEurope location only.
Click Manage Replicas
| Add a replica of the Image Version in the secondary location, and click Save. |
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It will take 5-15 minutes to create the Image Version replica.
When complete, AVDManage will display the new Image Replica. |
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Configure the Secondary Site
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| Configure Networking |
- Create a Resource Group
- Create a Virtual Network
- Create a Virtual Subnet
Ensure that network services are available
- DNS
- Active Directory / Entra ID / MDM
- Internet Connectivity / Application Connectivity
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Assign Permissions to |
Permissions |
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AVD-Admins |
Microsoft.Resources/subscriptions/resourceGroups/read
Microsoft.Network/virtualNetworks/read
Microsoft.Network/virtualNetworks/subnets/join |
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| Create Scale Set Resource Group |
Assign Permissions to |
Role(s) |
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AVD-Admins |
Virtual Machine Contributor |
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AVD-Admins |
Automation Contributor |
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AVD-Admins |
Managed Identity Operator |
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| Create AVD Host Pool Resource Group |
Assign Permissions to |
Role(s) |
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AVD-Admins |
Desktop Virtualization Contributor |
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AVD-Join (Service Principal) |
Desktop Virtualization Host Pool Contributor |
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Configure AVDManage
Open AVDManage
Select the Tenant ID and Subscription.
Select the Secondary Location
Select the Secondary Scale Set Resource Group,
Select the Master VM Resource Group (There are no Master VMs, Snapshots or Compute Galleries in the secondary location, so just select the Scale Set Resource Group)
Select the AVD Host Pool Resource Group.
Click Save Config. |
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The Secondary Site configuration will display AVD-Join as this is located in Entra ID and shared by all locations.
No Scale Sets, Compute Galleries or Images are visible.
A User-Assigned Managed Identity (AVDManage) is required in the secondary location to enable Scale Set VM Instances to join Entra ID and the AVD Host Pool.
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Right click the Service Principals Node and click Create Managed Identity.
Click OK when prompted. |
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AVDManage is created. If you check the AVD-Join Service Principal properties , you will notice that a second Federated Credential has been created for the secondary User-Assigned Managed Identity.
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Create the Secondary Scale Set
Right click the Scale Sets node and click New Scale Set.
VM Source: Compute Gallery
Select the Primary Location Compute Gallery, Image Definition and Image Version.
Select appropriate Virtual Hardware.
Configure Networking.
Configure Required VM Instances. This can be left at zero so that no compute costs are incurred.
The number of VM instances can be increased on demand..
Configure the Scale Set to join Active Directory or Entra ID.
Configure the required DR host pool. |
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Scale Set VM instances are available in approximately five minutes.
The following image shows the configuration of the EntraDR Scale Set in the secondary location (UKSouth). The Scale Set is configured to join Entra ID and the EntraAuthDR AVD Host Pool.
The VM instances are deployed from a replica of the Win11MultiS\2026.0522.1719 Image Version which is hosted in the secondary location.
Possible Errors
Error: "The gallery image <RESOURCE ID OF IMAGE VERSION> is not available in uksouth region. Please contact
image owner to replicate to this region, or change your requested region."
Cause: A replica of the image has not been created in the secondary location or replication is still in progress.
Error: Unable to delete Image Version.
Cause: Disable 'Lock deleting Replicated Locations' in the Image Version Configuration.
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