Configuring and Operating Microsoft Azure Virtual Desktop: Recommended VM Size for Cost-Effective Host Pool Deployment

Best VM Size for Cost-Effective Azure Virtual Desktop Host Pool Deployment

Question

You have an AVD (Azure Virtual Desktop) deployment.

You plan to create a host pool with the following requirements: Pooled VMs for approximate 10 users Will run MS office 365 apps Will require meetings and calling feature in Microsoft Teams Must support premium storage Which virtual machine size would you prefer for the host pool (the solution must minimize the overall cost)?

Answers

Explanations

Click on the arrows to vote for the correct answer

A. B. C. D.

Correct Answer: B

The Dv4-series sizes provide a combination of vCPU, remote storage, and memory options for most production workloads.

These VMs feature Intel® Hyper-Threading Technology.

It is recommended to use the Dsv4 sizes for premium storage disks.

Dsv4 also supports Live migration.

Also, it is the most affordable solution to fulfill all the given requirements.

Option A is incorrect.

AV2- series does not support premium storage.

Option B is correct.

The Dv4-series sizes provide a combination of vCPU, remote storage, and memory options for most production workloads.

Dsv4 series sizes are the most cost-efficient option for premium storage disks.

Option C is incorrect.

NVv3 does not support Live migration.

Option D is incorrect.

NDv2- series VMs won't meet the requirements for the host pool.

References:

To know more about various VM sizes, please visit the below-given links:

When choosing a virtual machine size for an AVD host pool, several factors need to be considered, including the number of users, the applications that will run on the VMs, and the type of storage required.

Based on the requirements given in the question, the following options can be considered:

A. AV2-series: The AV2-series is a general-purpose virtual machine series that is suitable for a variety of workloads, including small and medium-sized databases, web servers, and development and test environments. However, it is not optimized for running resource-intensive applications such as Microsoft Office 365 or Microsoft Teams. Therefore, it may not be the best choice for this scenario.

B. Dsv4-series: The Dsv4-series is a high-performance virtual machine series that is designed for demanding workloads such as large databases, big data analytics, and other high-performance computing (HPC) applications. It features fast CPUs and premium storage, making it a good choice for running Microsoft Office 365 and Microsoft Teams. However, it may be more expensive than other options due to its high-performance capabilities.

C. NVv3-series: The NVv3-series is a virtual machine series that is optimized for graphics-intensive workloads such as virtual desktops and gaming. It features dedicated graphics processing units (GPUs) that can accelerate the rendering of graphics-intensive applications such as Microsoft Teams. However, it may be more expensive than other options due to the dedicated GPUs.

D. NDv2-series: The NDv2-series is a virtual machine series that is optimized for artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) workloads. It features dedicated GPUs that can accelerate the processing of data-intensive workloads such as ML models. However, it may be more expensive than other options due to the dedicated GPUs.

Based on the requirements given in the question, the Dsv4-series would be the best choice for the host pool. It features premium storage, which is required by the scenario, and it is optimized for running resource-intensive applications such as Microsoft Office 365 and Microsoft Teams. Additionally, it is cost-effective compared to other high-performance VM series such as the NVv3-series or NDv2-series.