Here are the current Policies and Controls in place around the AVD Environment

 

 

  1. The AVDs for POOL A and POOL B are configured to have a maximum of 3 users per machine.
  2. During any period of the day machines will automatically turn on as they are required (ie someone trying to login)
  3. We can change any of these timings and settings easily, it is just what is currently configured.
  4. Scaling Plan - (M-F) 
    1. Starting at 6:30 am (ramp up period), minimal AVDs start on both Pool A(3) and Pool B(1). Using POOL A as the example. As users start logging in they are allocated a machine, Machine 1 will fill up (3 users), Machine 2 will fill up (3 users). Once Machine 3 has 2 users logged in, the 4th machine is actively turned on in anticipation of more staff logging on and having a machine ready for them. During this period users then log off and we are back down to only needing 3 machines the 4th, 5th, etc machine will turn off (instantly). 

 

 

    1. Starting at  8:00am (peak period) onwards, there is a slightly new rule in place where the machines will keep turning on as the machine before it gets to 60% threshold (2 users) This will keep happening as a 5th, 6th, 7th etc machine are required. If all users log off of a machine and it is empty AND across the fleet and the machines are not at that 60% mark, after a period of ~ 1 hour it will turn that machine off. (different to the 6:30am - 8:00am rule where as soon as the machine is not used it shuts off instantly). It anticipates that because it is during the peak period the machine is likely going to be needed shortly so it won't instantly shut down, it will shutdown if it has been inactive for about 1 hour. 

 

    1. Starting at 7:00pm (ramp down period) (we might need to change this to 11PM) the ramp down process begins, where it attempts to forcibly turn off machines where it can, getting it back to the minimum threshold (Pool A = 3 machines, Pool B = 1 machine).  Any machines that have nobody logged on will shutdown, however (and it depends on percentage across the entire fleet) if there are 5 machines turned on and 2 of them only have 1 user logged into it, because it is trying to rationalise down the machines aiming to get back to the 3 machines being on, it will send a 30 minute warning to one of the users telling them the machine will be shutting down. That user can log back on straight after being logged off and they will be put onto the other machine that only has 1 user on it. 

 

  1. Idle and Disconnected Sessions - We have policies in place for any idle session over 3 hours will be logged off, and any disconnected sessions will be logged off after 30 minutes. AN idle session is someone that is still logged on but hasn't actively done anything on the session, it is like they walked away from their PC.
  2. We also have a complete shutdown of all AVDs scheduled for 2:00 am every day; this is to ensure that no single machine is always left on and we rotate what AVDs are active, it also allows for any Windows updates to be installed.

 

  1. We have no scaling plans for the weekends, so all AVDs will be off due to the Shutdown at 2:00 am on a Saturday morning, but as mentioned above, users will be able to power up the AVDs to use them, and then they will be turned off again at 2:00 am.