Default value of 20000 = 20 seconds. Over all our aim is to automate and have full control on the data that a user potentially can dump into the profile cache. Cloud Cache is a technology that allows Profile & Office Container data to be stored in multiple locations at once including Local Device , traditional SMB shares on-premises and public cloud storage providers to enable storage continuity . The environment in question was already using FSLogix Profile Containers. Big kudos to Ryan for his hard work on this! Storage Sense will not be helpful in case a user uses Always keep on this device option for data downloaded from One Drive. You should also use one of the tools to shrink the .VHDX files. Issue: VHDX profile gets DISCONNECTED at exactly 10 Hours mark. If it doesn't find one, though, it is created in the first entry in the list - which would be the file share with the most available space. https://windowsvirtualdesktop.uservoice.com/forums/921289-fslogix/suggestions/38440933-vhdx-auto-shrink-on-attach-or-detach, Does the powershell script go on the virtual desktop template (Using Horizon View) as a scheduled task. This is the simplest access model, but only allows one concurrent session. The COVID-19 outbreak lies at the heart of this blog post. Specifies a string pattern used when creating a users profile container. 0: Outlook personalization data isn't redirected to the container. 1: attach as computer - folder must have permissions for computer objects. The FSLogix agent is still creating the containers, its merely iterating through the list to find one to create it on. This configuration is not load balancing between the two sites, rather we're relying on users only having access to a single location. 2: Machine should only be the RO profile instance. Over long periods of time duplicate OST files may consume incremental disk space. 1: A difference disk is used on the network. Specifically, users would never trigger an error during sign-in, even if no Cloud Cache providers were available. When configuring logging to a network share, be sure to grant access for the Computer Object to the network share and the folder. 1513 E Campus Drive. Specifies the path where difference disks are created when ProfileType is configured to use them. Next we looked at network capacity again, plenty of headroom for the expected increase. Using CcdMaxCacheSizeInMBs increases storage I/O and network traffic. The path supports the use of the FSLogix custom variables or any environment variables that are available to the user during the sign in process. If the value is nonexistent, then the robocopy results aren't logged at all. Choosing to use VHDLocations rather than Cloud Cache does not mean that the ability to define multiple locations is lost. 1: When a new VHD is created and there are contents in the local OST folder, they're copied to the VHD before the user is given access. Do the following to install Microsoft FSLogix on the VDA machine: Go to https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/fslogix/install-ht and click the download link. The Complex + Disaster Recovery configuration example expands from the advanced + disaster recovery by creating an active / active design. Oh you mean this https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/fslogix/configure-per-user-per-group-ht this wouldnt have helped in this situation, we would still have the overhead of managing the groups and where they map to and what happens when those shares reach capacity and having to move AD groups if we want to move the users. XML file contains minimal entries with minor complexity. When specified as a REG_SZ value, multiple locations must be separated with a semi-colon (;). Multiple VHDLocations Object-Specific VHDLocations The default VHDLocations is used for any user or group not matched by the object-specific configuration. Storage that is appropriate for the local cache VHD(x) will have performance and availability characteristics similar to SSD or NVMe attached storage. The script also writes a handy extra value to the Registry key called scriptDebug which shows the disk space of all the target file shares last time it was run really handy. XML file contains various entries with moderate complexity. Firstly, Cloud Cache replicates profiles rather than distributing them and we were primarily looking to split the load across the file shares rather than provide redundancy. The Complex configuration example expands on the Advanced example above.though introducing concurrent connections. If the VHD path doesn't exist, it's created before it checks if a VHD(x) exists in the path. A new one will only be created if it does not exist on ANY of the configured file shares. There is a cost to this capability, and that is an impact on Logon and Logoff times for users due to the requirement to build a local cache on the endpoint. Holly 162. If you want active-active HA, use cloud cache. However, the DFS namespace controls where that data lands and in which order. Host A has a maximum of 10 users, and CcdMaxCacheSizeInMBs set to 1000 MB (1 GB), and the host has 20 GB of disk space available. But, at least good thing that Microsoft is considering to add a feature to shrink the VDIs on attach or detach. The COMPUTERNAME of the client initiating the connection to the host. A growing number of these environments are non-persistent, requiring a graceful set of tools to manage applications and user profiles. Specifies a string pattern used when creating a profile or ODFC container folder. The algorithm for removing blocks from local cache is a black box, it isn't configurable and isn't documented. More info about Internet Explorer and Microsoft Edge, Configure Windows Search database roaming, Tutorial: Configure profile containers with Cloud Cache, Protect Azure page blob connection string. Sorry I am very new to these things so apologies in advance for any confusion. Multiple storage providers in the same region or zone-redundant storage. Use " when the name contains a space. Assuming that all remote providers are available and have appropriate performance, the maximum size of each local cache VHD(x) is 1 GB. If a user signs in with no available providers, FSLogix assumes that one or more Cloud Cache providers become available prior to the user signing out. Azure Virtual Desktop or equivalent Virtual Desktop infrastructure. And then we came to storage and oh boy, the numbers looked heavy. There may be instances where disabling this setting can improve sign-in performance, but shouldn't be a long term solution as the orphaned entries continue. Extract the downloaded .zip file. FSLogix uses the VHDLocations or CCDLocations as the location where to search and this setting defines what to create. Don't use the plain-text connectionString for Azure page blob storage providers. Having such capability withing One Drive client would really make sense. Where is the sweet point on number of vhdx / users per share. Each user local cache VHD(x) continues to expand to support normal operation. I have seen this work with success; however, it wouldnt be my first go-to solution these days. The rest of the engine is all about the cache. It is also important to note that should you be utilising REFS file system for your containers (which you definitely should where possible), then DFS-R will not be an option for you, The mighty robocopy is still a beast to this day and offers a fantastic free option for keeping your container data in sync. 3: Machine should try to take the RW role and if it can't, it should fall back to a RO role. Depicted below is the most common and most simple deployment of the FSLogix solution. FSLogix Profile Container is enabled by default on the Nerdio configured AVD Windows 10 multi-session template VM. And i tested it and it works well. In this situation it simply wasnt required, because the business didnt want to have to pay the cost of the extra storage (doubling it on top of an inital 170TB+ increase can be a bitter pill to swallow). When enabled, this setting attempts to compact the VHD disk during the sign out operation and is designed to automatically decrease the Size On Disk of the user's container depending on a predefined threshold. One subscription support only 2500 VDIs so will be using 4 different subscriptions. The result of clearing the local cache, without flushing to a Cloud Cache provider, is the permanent deletion of the user's session data stored in the local cache. RoamSearch is set prior to GPOs being applied, it is not possible to rely on GPOs to set RoamSearch in environments where a GoldImage is applied at boot. In this section we cover the steps needed to configure a VM with FSLogix. Blob storage was the first available option for Azure native storage consumption when leveraging FSLogix Cloud Cache, allowing for an individual blob to be created per user in an Azure Storage Account. If it doesnt find one, though, it is created in the first entry in the list which would be the file share with the most available space. Figure 3: Cloud Cache (primary / failover) | FSLogix Cloud Cache (CCDLocations). FSLogix allows for multiple paths to be defined to allow for Failover should one location be unavailable. The path supports the use of the FSLogix custom variables or any environment variables that are available to the user during the sign in process. Anytime the use of a VHDLocation is defined; we are automatically subscribing to a single active profile location methodology. The Advanced + Disaster Recovery configuration example adds complexity through multiple storage providers in at least two regions and various custom profile redirections. Change the value to the number of seconds a user's sign out is delayed if the number of available providers is less than the value specified in HealthyProvidersRequiredForUnregister. 1: Enables legacy roaming for credentials and tokens created by the Web Account Manager (WAM) system. The first is the traditional path which allows writes to effectively any presented SMB share. FSLogix uses the VHDLocations or CCDLocations as the location where to create and this setting defines what to create. Verify that you understand the implications of changing the default value of this setting prior to making changes. The benefit of this model, (along with the next) is that Cloud Cache removes the requirement for a replication tool to be in place and handles active-active profile locations natively. It is important to note that this model does not provide seamless failover and is designed to help cover the complete loss of a single storage location. FSLogix Profiles configured to use a decent redirections.xml file to remove useless bloat from the profile. The AppxPackages.xml file is not meant to be edited or modified. Most profiles were in the 5-10GB mark (Teams, it would appear, throws out 4.6GB of data every time it is run for the first time, although this might have been down to an erroneous Chocolatey package), but we had some outliers around the 20GB mark, and a very small number slightly above this. The following post will discuss scenarios relating to HA options and considerations around replication requirements. The type accepts either smb or azure. Note: Do not set a VHD location. The following settings allow configuration of Cloud Cache behavior during disk register (associated with user sign-in) and disk unregister (associated with user sign out) events. Again, we have to get help using a script to predefined this for a user as the entries/key is named with users SID. 2: A difference disk is used on the local machine. It shouldnt affect the naming pattern for the containers at all. Two storage providers in at least two regions. The logging is sensational and I am struggling to fault the tool so far. ), it was felt that users would simply resync their data, Teams cache and Outlook cache and then put back any other minor customizations at their leisure. We both have different insights based on our respective roles; I am a consultant who sees many different environments, Brandon operates within a monster environment . There are multiple ways to deploy in bulk and configure FSLogix that do not require work on each . 6,750 Sq. I will post findings at a later date. When CcdMaxCacheSizeInMBs is set, the local cache is allowed to expand to the maximum size, at which point blocks are removed from the local cache as they're written to the remote Cloud Cache providers. To consume and utilise traditional NTFS style Access Control Lists (ACLs) you will require, To bypass the requirement of ADDS above, FSLogix can be configured to access the Network Location for storing containers as the computer object. When youre talking about tens of thousands of users, this number gets very big, very quickly. Looking at OneDrive usage gave us an average of around 8-10GB so being cautious, we anticipated looking at 30-40GB per user. 3: A unique VHD(x) is used for each concurrent session. We run it from a network share, but you can just as easily run it from the local machine and deliver it from the template. Products: Profile Containers: Put users' profile folder (\users\<username) in a VHD(x) and connect at logon to roam profiles without streaming. Adding unnecessary complexity leads to incorrect configurations and support cases. The path supports the use of the FSLogix custom variables or any environment variables that are available to the user during the sign in process. For more information, see Configure Windows Search database roaming. Do you know of a way to seamlessley migrate the profile data or atleast maybe introduce another location that data is copied too? A single profile container is created for the user. This setting is used when VHDAccessMode is set to (3). Editing this file may cause unexpected results and the file is overwritten at each sign out. This setting isn't designed to limit the size of the local cache during failure scenarios, but is rather intended to provide predictable operation during normal operation. Depending on the size of your FSLogix profile containers and Office containers, doing so could translate into significant delays that could impact user performance. Cloud Cache part of the VHD configuration file on the local hard drive. Just getting error, that first location can not be found. Option 2: Leverage VHD locations and replicate data between these locations using other solutions As far as FSLogix is concerned, again it too has an additional overhead to plan disk shrinking/compressing. Why let my storage grow. We decided on this due to the requirement to keep profiles lean. There was no requirement here to provide resiliency, merely the capacity to absorb an unprecedented and exceptional uplift of user numbers. A list of SMB locations to search for the user's profile VHD(x) file. Administrators should be familiar with the use of OST files, and potential implications, before choosing to enable this setting. Im just performing some testing using this script before rolling it out. A Cloud Cache configuration may be used for Profile and / or ODFC container(s). This is the only operating model and is designed to utilize resources in the most efficient way possible prior to impacting the user's experience. When a user logs on, FSLogix iterates through the entire list of VHDLocations searching for an existing profile. RefreshUserPolicy should not be set, or should be set to 0, unless there is a specific GPO event. If all the user data can be synced back, how much inconvenience is it to lose a profile (and map this against the storage requirements)? CCDLocations should be used instead of VHDLocations. FSLogix uses the VHDLocations or CCDLocations as the location where to search and this setting defines what to search. This setting is recommended for troubleshooting only. If a user accesses a system where it's desirable to have the local cache VHD(x) deleted when they sign out, set this value to 1. This allows user data to be recovered from the local cache, however the local cache VHD(x) must then be managed (deleted) manually after user data is restored. FSLogicX profile locations Hello, im testing FSLogicX on RDS, looks like everything works fine except that if i created registry key VHDLocations with two different locations and for example one location is down, FSLogicX does not load profile or create from another location. This specifies how many to keep. 1 / 11. 1: Teams data is redirected to the container. Sorry, what feature are you referring to? For example, if set to (2) and the user creates a third session, a new session VHD is created, but it's deleted when the third session ends. Only one location can ever be active at one time. 1: Machine should only be the RW profile instance. If it finds one, fine. 1: OneNote notebook files are redirected to the container. Migrate existing profiles into a VHD (X) container with frx.exe. For our purposes this has worked very well, however there are a couple of points to be aware of. By the way we have Win10 1809 and Server 2019 1809 in prod and have to use GPP to define Storage Sense settings. Dr. Amy Alias is an internist in Fullerton, CA, and is affiliated with Providence St. Jude Medical Center. If one isn't found, one is created in the first listed location. Windows Virtual Desktop (WVD) is now known as Azure Virtual Desktop (AVD), though the name of the setting uses the legacy name. We uses this in our Win 2019 RDS / FSLogix environment. But there are still few things unaddressed. Default Value: C:\ProgramData\FSLogix\Proxy. Setting CcdMaxCacheSizeInMBs to 0 (default value) means that Cloud Cache doesn't attempt to limit the size of the local cache. The settings are created in the following location: When set to '0', the specific settings for each log file are ignored and all log files are disabled. FSLogix tools improve the user experience, and simplify the management of these . 1: Outlook data is redirected to the container. Furthermore, your mileage on the above may vary depending on your specific use cases and requirements. This article outlines the various registry settings applicable to FSLogix that includes, but not limited to: Some FSLogix settings will accept environment variables. The example configurations outlined in this article are a progression of complexity based on configuration choices. I recently stumbled upon this little gem of a solution: BVCKUP2 developed by Alex Pankratov. It can be leveraged both On-Premises and with any Cloud platform that provides an SMB location to write data. Click on Apply . This is a very important consideration in every Profile Containers deployment, and its really impossible to tell without sending users into the environment to test it. This model is particularly relevant for Azure-based deployments using VHDLocation with Azure Files, as there is no current way to leverage an Azure Files based file share as a DFS-N endpoint. Although it is possible to change the location of the. The Standard + Disaster Recovery configuration example expands on the Standard example through duplicate, powered down infrastructure in another region. When setting CCDLocations, the first location is the primary storage provider and is the only provider used for read operations, unless it becomes unhealthy. If one isn't found, one is created in the first listed location. This allows for simultaneous session access. Use this setting to define how FSLogix attempts to create a users profile or ODFC container folder. With Storage Sense enabled and correctly configured, you can avoid the profile filled up with local copy of OneDrive data. There are five common deployment scenarios I am going to outline below, along with the pros, cons, and considerations associated with each of them, as well as some tooling that can fill in the gaps. How would we direct users to the next one instead? 1: ODFC container overwrites the previous user setting with the GPO setting. we currently have seperate folders setup for different departments in our GPO we have the UPM path set to something like the below \\\\SERVER\\Profiles\\#l#\\%UserName% #l# being an AD attribute. I have tested this thoroughly, and the tool is sensational as far as consistently replicating mounted containers in a fast and flexible fashion. A lot of people will say why not just use Cloud Cache, but there are a number of reasons around this. These files contain a list of sectors that need to be written to the CCDLocations. We are primarily looking to make use of One Drive with roaming profiles, may it be a Non-Persistent Desktop or Terminal Server shared desktops. The path supports the use of the FSLogix custom variables or any environment variables that are available to the user during the sign in process.
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