Publish remote applications to users
Users are often moved to a cloud environment because one application no longer runs locally. However, there are great cost savings to be had by simply running one or more applications remotely. This guide walks you through the how's and why’s of setting-up an AVD host Pool with remote applications.
You can use Nerdio Manager to easily publish applications (RemoteApps) within Azure Virtual Desktop. These applications may be restricted by application groups, if required, allowing administrators to publish different apps to different users from the same host pool.
What are Remote Applications?
Like the name suggests, RemoteApps are applications that are run remotely. However, despite what some people may think, remote apps require a multi-session AVD host to be able to utilize the application remotely. You install your applications just like you would with a traditional Remote Desktop solution. However, when you go to publish the application for remote users, you can choose which apps the user has access to. This is handled by Application Groups.
Note: If you have full-desktop experiences for users, instead of remote apps, you can limit the apps the users have access to with FSLogix App Masking.
Why RemoteApps?
RemoteApps are less resource-intensive than a full desktop experience, allowing you to have more users on a given host, thereby reducing costs.
What are Application Groups?
In Azure Virtual Desktop (AVD), application groups define what users can access, either a full desktop or specific apps, within a host pool. Users can be assigned to multiple application groups across different host pools for flexible access.
There are the following types:
Desktop: Gives access to a full Windows desktop (pooled or personal host pools).
RemoteApp: Provides access to selected apps (pooled host pools only).
You can assign both types to the same pooled host pool, but only one Desktop group per pool. Multiple RemoteApp groups can be assigned, and users see all apps from those groups.
If a user is assigned both Desktop and RemoteApp in the same pool, they’ll only see the preferred application group type, based on the pool's settings.
Configure your host pool
As mentioned previously, you need a multi-user host pool to utilize Remote Applications. Ideally, you should create a new host pool. However, if you already have an existing host pool, you can easily add a RemoteApp Group and/or switch to a RemoteApp group.
Provision your Desktop Image and Host(s)
Now that you have your host pool, you need to create or update your desktop image and then deploy it to your host pool. SeeDesktop images: set as image for details.
Add application groups to host pools
Application Groups allow the assignment of users and groups to desktops and RemoteApps. This helps simplify application management because applications can be managed by app groups instead of individual users.
Note: There must be at least one app group associated with a host pool.
To add an app group to a host pool:
Select the host pool you want to work with.
From the more options
menu, select Manage > App groups.
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Enter the following information:
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RemoteApp app groups: Type the name(s) of the app groups for RemoteApps.
Note: A host pool may have multiple RemoteApp app groups.
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Desktop app group: Type the name of the Desktop app group.
Note: A host pool may only have one Desktop app group.
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Once you have entered the desired information, select OK.
Publish RemoteApps to users
RemoteApps gives the user the ability to launch a single application without having to launch the full desktop experience. For example, the user can launch Excel without having to sign in to a desktop. This saves on session host resources because the users do not have to use a full desktop. So, in our Excel example, you might be able to have 10 users working with Excel as a RemoteApp, but had the users connected as a full desktop, the session host might have been able to handle fewer users. That means you would have to deploy additional session hosts to handle all the Excel users.
You can publish RemoteApps using the following methods:
Publish a remote application installed on a host to users
Nerdio Manager enables you to deliver applications installed on a host, to your users.
To publish a remote application installed on a host to users:
Select the host pool you want to work with. This is a host pool configured for the RemoteApp (Pooled) desktop experience.
From the more options
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Select New RemoteApp.
Notes:
When adding the RemoteApp, the host must be switched on and the applications that you want to publish must be already installed.
If the host pool has multiple RemoteApp app groups, a specific RemoteApp app group must be selected. By publishing different applications to different Application Groups, administrators can control access to these applications via group membership. This allows user groups to be served different applications from the same host pool.
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In the Select App Group dialog box, enter the following information:
From the drop-down list, select the app group.
Select OK.
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In the Publish Application dialog box, enter the following information:
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Application Source: From the drop-down list, select Installed on host.
Note: Note: You may select one of the following application source types:Installed on host: The apps are installed locally on the session host VM.App Attach Package: An MSIX App Attach package.File Path: You may select a specific file path to the target application. This can help in scenarios where the target application does not register itself with the Windows installer, or where portable applications are required.
Application: From the drop-down list, select the application.
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Name: Type the name of the RemoteApp.
Note: The Name is visible to the user unless overridden by the Friendly Name.
Friendly Name: Optionally, type the friendly name that is visible to the user.
Description: Type the description that is visible to the admin.
File Path: Type the path to the application executable on the session host.
Icon Path: Optionally, type the path to an icon file to be used for this RemoteApp when it appears in the user's Remote Desktop feed.
Icon Index: Optionally, type the numeric icon index in the icon file.
Command Line Setting: Select this option to require a command line setting.
Command Line: Type the command line to pass to the executable when launching the RemoteApp.
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Once you have entered the desired information, select OK.
The authorized host pool users now need to be assigned to the RemoteApp Group that contains the newly published RemoteApp.
Note:
Host pool users are not automatically assigned to that host pool's RemoteApp Groups. Each user must be individually assigned to the appropriate RemoteApp Group.
From the action menu, you can Edit or Delete published apps.
Publish a remote application from an App Attach package to users
Nerdio Manager enables you to deliver App Attach packaged applications to your users.
To publish a remote application from an App Attach package to users:
Select the host pool you want to work with. This is a host pool configured for the RemoteApp (Pooled) desktop experience.
From the more options
Select New RemoteApp.
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In the Select App Group dialog box, enter the following information:
From the drop-down list, select the app group.
Select OK.
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In the Publish Application dialog box, enter the following information:
Application Source: From the drop-down list, select App Attach Package.
App Attach Package: From the drop-down list, select the App Attach package.
MSIX Application: From the drop-down list, select the MSIX application.
Friendly Name: Optionally, type the friendly name that is visible to the user.
Description: Type the description that is visible to the admin.
- Icon Path: Optionally, type the path to an icon file to be used for this RemoteApp when it appears in the user's Remote Desktop feed.
Icon Index: Optionally, type the numeric icon index in the icon file.
Once you have entered the desired information, select OK.
Publish a remote application from a file path to users
Nerdio Manager enables you to deliver applications from a file path to your users.
To publish a remote application from a file path to users:
Select the host pool you want to work with. This is a host pool configured for the RemoteApp (Pooled) desktop experience.
From the more options
Select New RemoteApp.
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In the Select App Group dialog box, enter the following information:
From the drop-down list, select the app group.
Select OK.
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In the Publish Application dialog box, enter the following information:
Friendly Name: Optionally, type the friendly name that is visible to the user.
Description: Type the description that is visible to the admin.
File Path: Type the path to the application executable on the session host
- Icon Path: Optionally, type the path to an icon file to be used for this RemoteApp when it appears in the user's Remote Desktop feed.
Icon Index: Optionally, type the numeric icon index in the icon file.
Command Line Setting: Select this option to require a command line setting.
Command Line: Type the command line to pass to the executable when launching the RemoteApp
Once you have entered the desired information, select OK.
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