I'm setting up a straightforward RDS (Remote Desktop Services) environment and I'm looking for a way to continuously update a couple of system images without being restricted by the sysprep generalization limit, which allows only three uses. I've heard that software like Citrix can manage endless updates to images, but since we're not using Citrix, I'm wondering if there's any alternative software or method out there that could help. I've already tried the Hyper-V trick with checkpoints, but it's too cumbersome for my liking. Any suggestions?
4 Answers
If you're looking for flexibility, have you checked out Azure Virtual Desktops? They offer a more modern take on RDS and might suit your needs better.
You could try putting the system into sysprep audit mode. This lets you modify and update the image as you wish before finalizing it with the generalize and oobe switches. Remember, the generalized image is what you'll deploy, while the audit mode version is just for your IT team.
Hey, you could consider not saving the generalized version of the OS. Just keep the image before you actually sysprep it, and you can keep updating that as needed!
Exactly! When you sysprep, the VM powers off, so you could take a snapshot of the powered-off VM afterwards. That way, you can reuse that image however often you need. Plus, golden images can get bloated over time, so instead of relying on one, you could use MDT to create fresh images. It keeps things cleaner!
This sounds like you're looking for something beyond a basic RDS setup. Normally, a simple RDS involves just deploying brokers and a couple of servers and keeping them updated monthly. Are you really aiming for VDI (Virtual Desktop Infrastructure) instead?
Absolutely! You can just shut it down afterward, clone it, and then sysprep the clone for deployment.