Session Objectives

Why Windows 8 in VDI?

★ ★★ ★★★ ★★ ★★★ ★★ ★★★ ★ Personalization Application Compatibility Image Management Cost Effectiveness Personal VMsSessionsPooled VMs Good ★ Better ★★ Best ★★★

Which Windows Edition for the Guest OS? FeatureWindows 8 Pro Windows 8 Enterprise Windows 7 Enterprise (with RDP 8.0) Ability to use RemoteApp RemoteFX Multi-Touch Advanced Device Redirection Features (RemoteFX USB & PnP redirection) User Profile Disk RemoteFX virtual Graphics Processing Unit (vGPU)

Which Windows Bitwise Edition for the Guest OS?

Memory Allocation

Memory Usage Comparison 64-bit 32-bit

Disk Size and Partitions

Disk Partitions

64-bit 32-bit Increase of ~2.2 GB when using 64-bit Notes These figures are before optimization efforts are complete Windows Update was not run, so final used space will be slightly higher

Number of Virtual Processors

Requirements to Support RemoteFX

Enabling RemoteFX

CPU-emulated DirectX 11 software GPU Provides 3-D capabilities to sessions and virtual machines at high scale Optimized for knowledge worker workloads such as Microsoft Office and web browsing Provides the highest scale for session host and VDI RemoteFX vGPU Provides a virtualized hardware-accelerated DirectX 11 GPU for VDI, optimized for: Best performance for 3-D graphics-intensive applications Best experience with full animations and transitions Best application compatibility, running as a console session in a virtual machine Options for GPU on server 17 RICH USER EXPERIENCE

Multiple Display Configurations Maximum Resolution Number of Monitors supported Windows 7 w/SP1Windows x x x x x 1600N/A2

Antivirus Software

Windows 8 Service Configuration Service NameDefaultRecommendedDetails Application Layer Gateway ServiceManualDisabled This service manages mobile broadband (GSM & CDMA) data card/embedded module adapters and connections by auto-configuring the networks. It is strongly recommended that this service be kept running for best user experience of mobile broadband devices. Background Intelligent Transfer Service ManualDisabled VDI infrastructure is usually connected to fast LAN/WAN links to infrastructure servers hosting data BitLocker Drive Encryption ServiceManual (TS)DisabledBitLocker is not available to be used on a virtual machines Block Level Backup Engine ServiceManualDisabled Service is used to backup data on the workstation – not used for virtual machines Bluetooth Support ServiceManual (TS)DisabledBluetooth Wireless not supported from a virtual machine BranchCacheManualConsiderThis service caches network content from peers on the local subnet. Computer BrowserManual (TS)Disabled Maintains an updated list of computers on the network and supplies this list to computers designated as browsers. Device Association ServiceManual (TS)DisabledEnables pairing between the system and wired or wireless devices. Device Setup ManagerManual (TS)Disabled Enables the detection, download and installation of device-related software. If this service is disabled, devices may be configured with outdated software, and may not work correctly.

Windows 8 Service Configuration Service NameDefaultRecommendedDetails Diagnostic Policy ServiceAutomaticDisabled The Diagnostic Policy Service enables problem detection, troubleshooting and resolution for Windows components. If this service is stopped, diagnostics will no longer function. Diagnostic Service HostManualDisabled The Diagnostic Service Host is used by the Diagnostic Policy Service to host diagnostics that need to run in a Local Service context. If this service is stopped, any diagnostics that depend on it will no longer function. Diagnostic System HostManualDisabled The Diagnostic System Host is used by the Diagnostic Policy Service to host diagnostics that need to run in a Local System context. If this service is stopped, any diagnostics that depend on it will no longer function. Distributed Link Tracking ClientAutomaticConsider Tracks NTFS links locally and across the network (but only if the service is also running on the remote system) Encrypting File System (EFS)Manual (TS)Consider Provides the core file encryption technology used to store encrypted files on NTFS file system volumes. If this service is stopped or disabled, applications will be unable to access encrypted files. Extensible Authentication ProtocolManualConsider The Extensible Authentication Protocol (EAP) service provides network authentication in such scenarios as 802.1x wired and wireless, VPN, and Network Access Protection (NAP). Family SafetyManualDisabled This service is a stub for Windows Parental Control functionality that existed in Vista. It is provided for backward compatibility only.

Windows 8 Service Configuration Service NameDefaultRecommendedDetails FaxManualDisabled Enables you to send and receive faxes, utilizing fax resources available on this computer or on the network. Function Discovery Resource Publication ManualDisabled Publishes this computer and resources attached to this computer so they can be discovered over the network. If this service is stopped, network resources will no longer be published and they will not be discovered by other computers on the network. File History ServiceManual (TS)Consider Protects user files from accidental loss by copying them to a backup location Home Group ListenerManualDisabled Used to establish Home Groups, not used with virtual machines in a corporate environment Home Group ProviderManual (TS)Disabled Used to establish Home Groups, not used with virtual machines in a corporate environment Internet Connection Sharing (ICS)Disabled Provides network address translation, addressing, name resolution and/or intrusion prevention services for a home or small office network. Microsoft Account Sign-in AssistantManual (TS)Consider Enables user sign-in through Microsoft account identity services. If this service is stopped, users will not be able to logon to the computer with their Microsoft account.

Windows 8 Service Configuration Service NameDefaultRecommendedDetails Microsoft iSCSI Initiator ServiceManualDisablediSCSI will not be used on virtual desktops Microsoft Software Shadow Copy Provider ManualDisabled Manages software-based volume shadow copies taken by the Volume Shadow Copy service. If this service is stopped, software-based volume shadow copies cannot be managed. If this service is disabled, any services that explicitly depend on it will fail to start. Network List ServiceManualAutomatic Identifies the networks to which the computer has connected, collects and stores properties for these networks, and notifies applications when these properties change. Offline FilesManual (TS)Disabled – REQUIRES GPO The Offline Files service performs maintenance activities on the Offline Files cache, responds to user logon and logoff events, implements the internals of the public API, and dispatches interesting events to those interested in Offline Files activities and changes in cache state. Optimize DrivesManualDisabled Helps the computer run more efficiently by optimizing files on storage drives. Sensor Monitoring ServiceManual (TS)Consider Monitors various sensors in order to expose data and adapt to system and user state. If this service is stopped or disabled, the display brightness will not adapt to lighting conditions. Stopping this service may affect other system functionality and features as well. Secure Socket Tunneling Protocol Service ManualDisabled This service publishes a machine name using the Peer Name Resolution Protocol. Configuration is managed via the netsh context 'p2p pnrp peer' Shell Hardware DetectionAutomaticDisabledProvides notifications for AutoPlay hardware events.

Windows 8 Service Configuration Service NameDefaultRecommendedDetails SNMP TrapManualDisabled Receives trap messages generated by local or remote Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP) agents and forwards the messages to SNMP management programs running on this computer. If this service is stopped, SNMP-based programs on this computer will not receive SNMP trap messages. If this service is disabled, any services that explicitly depend on it will fail to start. SSDP DiscoveryManualDisabled Discovers networked devices and services that use the SSDP discovery protocol, such as UPnP devices. Also announces SSDP devices and services running on the local computer. If this service is stopped, SSDP- based devices will not be discovered. If this service is disabled, any services that explicitly depend on it will fail to start. TelephonyManualDisabled Provides Telephony API (TAPI) support for programs that control telephony devices on the local computer and, through the LAN, on servers that are also running the service. ThemesAutomaticConsiderProvides user experience theme management. UPnP Device HostManualDisabled Allows UPnP devices to be hosted on this computer. If this service is stopped, any hosted UPnP devices will stop functioning and no additional hosted devices can be added. If this service is disabled, any services that explicitly depend on it will fail to start. Volume Shadow CopyManualConsider Manages and implements Volume Shadow Copies used for backup and other purposes. If this service is stopped, shadow copies will be unavailable for backup and the backup may fail. If this service is disabled, any services that explicitly depend on it will fail to start.

Windows 8 Service Configuration Service NameDefaultRecommendedDetails Windows BackupManualDisabledProvides Windows Backup and Restore capabilities. Windows Color SystemManualDisabled The WcsPlugInService service hosts third-party Windows Color System color device model and gamut map model plug-in modules. Windows Connect Now - Config Registrar ManualDisable WCNCSVC hosts the Windows Connect Now Configuration which is Microsoft's Implementation of Wi-Fi Protected Setup (WPS) protocol. Windows DefenderAutomatic (TS)Consider – REQUIRES GPO Helps protect users from malware and other potentially unwanted software Windows Error Reporting ServiceManual (TS)Disabled Allows errors to be reported when programs stop working or responding and allows existing solutions to be delivered. Also allows logs to be generated for diagnostic and repair services. Windows Media Player Network Sharing Service ManualDisabled Shares Windows Media Player libraries to other networked players and media devices using Universal Plug and Play Windows SearchAutomatic (Delayed)Consider Provides content indexing, property caching, and search results for files, , and other content. WLAN AutoConfigManualDisabled The WLANSVC service provides the logic required to configure, discover, connect to, and disconnect from a wireless local area network (WLAN) as defined by IEEE standards. WWAN AutoConfigManualDisabled This service manages mobile broadband (GSM & CDMA) data card/embedded module adapters and connections by auto-configuring the networks. It is strongly recommended that this service be kept running for best user experience of mobile broadband devices.

Windows 8 Configurations Configuration NameFunction Configure Event log size/retentionSet event log sizes to minimum size and configure retention to overwrite when needed, reduces overhead for event logging (especially in pooled VM scenarios) Disable Hard Disk timeouts, increase disk I/O timeout, disable NTFS last access timestamp, disable System Restore, disable hibernation, perform a disk cleanup Reduce I/O load when writes happen, allow longer writes, and clean up disk before Sysprep process Disable unneeded scheduled tasks 36 scheduled tasks associated with disabled services or services not useful in virtual environment Reconfigure boot (quiet boot/no animation), Disable UAC secure desktop prompt, set visuals to a minimum Reduce overhead on vGPU and/or vCPU

Automation Tools

Optimization Resources for VDI

Automation Tools PFE Windows 8 VDI Script now-the-windows-8-vdi-optimization-script-courtesy-of-pfe.aspx

Memory Usage Comparison After: Before:

Windows ADK (Assessment and Deployment Kit)

Windows ADK

Recommended Tools

Recommended Performance Tools

Complete your session evaluations today and enter to win prizes daily. Provide your feedback at a CommNet kiosk or log on at Upon submission you will receive instant notification if you have won a prize. Prize pickup is at the Information Desk located in Attendee Services in the Mandalay Bay Foyer. Entry details can be found on the MMS website.

Resources