Description

This curriculum spans the equivalent of a multi-workshop technical engagement, addressing the full lifecycle of VDI deployment and operations as seen in large-scale virtual desktop programs, from architecture and image management to security, performance tuning, and business continuity.

Module 1: Architecture Design and Sizing

Selecting between persistent and non-persistent desktop pools based on user workload profiles and data retention requirements.
Determining host-to-VM density ratios while accounting for CPU overcommitment, memory ballooning, and storage IOPS constraints.
Designing network segmentation for management, vMotion, storage, and user traffic to avoid congestion and enforce security boundaries.
Choosing hypervisor-specific features such as VMware vSphere HA, DRS, or Hyper-V Failover Clustering for resilience.
Planning for peak concurrency during login storms by modeling boot and logon times across thousands of virtual desktops.
Integrating GPU passthrough or vGPU profiles for users requiring CAD, video editing, or 3D rendering capabilities.

Module 2: Image Management and Golden Image Lifecycle

Establishing a change control process for golden image updates to prevent configuration drift across desktop pools.
Deciding between full clone and linked clone strategies based on storage efficiency and patching frequency.
Implementing automated image builds using tools like Microsoft MDT, SCCM, or third-party solutions to reduce manual errors.
Managing driver injection for diverse endpoint devices while maintaining image compatibility across hardware types.
Scheduling and testing monthly OS and application patching cycles within a non-production validation environment.
Version-controlling golden images using naming conventions and metadata to support rollback and audit requirements.

Module 3: Storage Optimization and Performance Tuning

Allocating storage tiers (SSD, SAS, SATA) based on I/O patterns of knowledge workers versus power users.
Configuring storage replication and deduplication settings to balance performance and capacity utilization.
Monitoring and adjusting read/write IOPS during peak usage to prevent storage bottlenecks in shared datastores.
Implementing profile disk separation for user data to isolate performance impact from OS and application layers.
Choosing between NFS, iSCSI, or SMB 3.0 based on hypervisor support, latency tolerance, and administrative expertise.
Tuning storage queue depths and multipathing policies to maximize throughput and failover responsiveness.

Module 4: User Profile and Personalization Management

Selecting profile solution (FSLogix, UE-V, or legacy roaming profiles) based on application compatibility and login performance.
Configuring profile container size limits and growth policies to prevent uncontrolled storage consumption.
Handling profile corruption by implementing automated backup and restore procedures during logoff events.
Excluding application-specific registry hives from profile capture to avoid conflicts with software updates.
Managing offline profile synchronization for remote workers with intermittent connectivity.
Integrating profile solutions with multi-session environments such as RDS or Citrix Shared Desktops.

Module 5: Security, Compliance, and Access Control

Enforcing multi-factor authentication for client access brokers and administrative consoles.
Applying least-privilege principles to service accounts used by connection brokers and provisioning services.
Encrypting desktop VMs at rest using hypervisor-level encryption or guest OS BitLocker policies.
Implementing network-level isolation for desktop pools handling sensitive data (e.g., PCI, HIPAA).
Configuring antivirus and EDR solutions with exclusions to prevent performance degradation during scans.
Auditing user access and administrative actions via SIEM integration for compliance reporting.

Module 6: Monitoring, Logging, and Incident Response

Deploying synthetic transactions to simulate user logins and detect performance degradation proactively.
Configuring centralized logging for VDI components (connection brokers, agents, hypervisors) using syslog or agents.
Setting threshold-based alerts for latency, login duration, and resource saturation across the stack.
Correlating desktop performance issues with underlying infrastructure metrics (storage latency, CPU ready time).
Developing runbooks for common incidents such as broker service outages or image provisioning failures.
Conducting root cause analysis on recurring user complaints using session recording and telemetry data.

Module 7: Business Continuity and Disaster Recovery

Defining RPO and RTO for desktop workloads and aligning replication frequency with business requirements.
Replicating VMs and connection brokers across sites using synchronous or asynchronous methods based on distance and bandwidth.
Testing failover procedures for desktop pools without disrupting production users.
Storing golden images and profile backups in geographically separate locations for recovery readiness.
Documenting manual connection broker redirection steps in case automated DNS or load balancing fails.
Validating user access to desktops from alternate locations during site outages using cached credentials or cloud brokers.

Module 8: Client Connectivity and Endpoint Management

Selecting client protocols (Blast, PCoIP, HDX, RDP) based on network conditions and multimedia requirements.
Configuring firewall rules to allow client-to-broker and broker-to-VM traffic on required ports.
Managing client software distribution and updates across Windows, macOS, iOS, and Linux endpoints.
Optimizing bandwidth usage through display settings, codec selection, and peripheral redirection policies.
Handling USB device redirection securely while preventing data exfiltration risks.
Supporting zero clients versus repurposed PCs by managing firmware updates and connection resilience.