VERDE VDI Optimization for Windows 10

VERDE VDI Optimization for Windows 10

Product Line:  VERDE

 

Introduction

 

A basic Windows 10 ISO is not configured by default for VDI implementation.  If not configured correctly, a Windows 10 guest will consume a a large amount of CPU, Memory and network resources per desktop.

The Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) is to apply updates to the gold image(s) once a month.  Microsoft releases updates on the second Tuesday of each month.  One Wednesday, check out the gold image, apply updates, check the gold image back in.  This will prevent the guest images from trying to update every time users access their images.  

There are many Microsoft features which we never use. To get a better End User Experience in Windows 10 below are some tweaks you may wish to implement. Some are Services, Some are Regedits.

Use at your own discretion.

 

Services

 

A lot of services are started when using windows 10. Some services we don’t need and some have to be disabled like windows update because in a VDI system the update will be done on the Golden Image. All these services need to be disabled even if they are manual.


Service     
Status
Elevated PowerShell Command
Background Intelligent Transfer Service
Manual
set-service BITS -startuptype Manual
Diagnostic Policy Services     
Disable

Connected User Experiences and Telemetry     
Disable
set-service DiagTrack -startuptype disabled
Diagnostic Service Host
Disable
set-service wdiservicehost -startuptype disabled
Diagnostic System Host      
Disable
set-service WdiSystemHost -startuptype disabled
Diagnostic Tracking Service
Disable

Function Discovery Provider Host
Disable
set-service fdPHost -startuptype disabled
Function Discovery Resource Publication
Disable
set-service FDResPub -startuptype disabled
Home Group Provider
Disable
set-service HomeGroupProvider -startuptype disabled
Security Center
Disable
set-service wscsvc -startuptype disabled
Shell Hardware Detection Service
Disable
set-service ShellHWDetection -startuptype disabled
SSDP Discovery Service
Disable
set-service SSDPSRV -startuptype disabled
SuperFetch
Disable
set-service SysMain -startuptype disabled
Themes
Disable
set-service Themes -startuptype disabled
Windows Connect Now - Config Registrar Service
Disable
set-service wcncsvc -startuptype disabled
Windows Module Installer
Disable
set-service TrustedInstaller -startuptype disabled
Windows Search Service
Disable
set-service WSearch -startuptype disabled
Windows Update
Disable
set-service wuauserv -startuptype disabled


Second, these services are not running, but they are set to Manual or Manual (Trigger Start). Although they are not running, disabling them will prevent their accidental execution in a VDI environment. (Caution: Disabling these services can result in applications not working appropriately and will increase troubleshooting time).

Service Name

Default State

Default Status

Notes

AllJoyn Router

Manual (Trigger Start)

Stopped

 

Application Layer Gateway Service

Manual

Stopped

Not needed for VDI environments.

BitLocker Drive Encryption Service

Manual (Trigger Start)

Stopped

Not needed for VDI environments.

Block Level Backup Engine Service

Manual

Stopped

Not needed for VDI environments.

Bluetooth Hands free Service

Manual (Trigger Start)

Stopped

Not needed for VDI environments.

Bluetooth Support Service

Manual (Trigger Start)

Stopped

 

BranchCache Service

Manual

Stopped

Used for network savings to a WAN and not typically needed in VDI

Computer Browser Service

Manual (Trigger Start)

Stopped

 

Encrypting File System Service

Manual (Trigger Start)

Stopped

 

Fax Service

Manual

Stopped

 

Home Group Listener

Manual

Stopped

Not used within corporate environments.

Internet Connection Sharing (ICS)

Manual

Stopped

Not used within VDI environments.

Offline Files

Manual (Trigger Start)

Stopped

 

Optimize Drives

Manual

Stopped

Should only optimize in the master image

Retail Demo

Manual

Stopped

 

Sensor Monitoring Service

Manual (Trigger Start)

Stopped

 

UPnP Device Host Service

Manual

Stopped

 

Windows Error Reporting Service

Manual (Trigger Start)

Stopped

Disable if logs are not being gathered and analyzed

Windows Media Player Network Sharing

Manual

Stopped

Not typically used in VDI environments.

Windows Update

Manual (Trigger Start)

Stopped

Only update the master image.

WLAN AutoConfig

Manual

Stopped

Not typically used in VDI environments.

WWAN AutoConfig

Manual

Stopped

Not typically used in VDI environments.

Xbox Live Auth Manager

Manual

Stopped

Not typically used in VDI environments.

Xbox Live Game Save

Manual

Stopped

Not typically used in VDI environments.

Xbox Live Networking Service

Manual

Stopped

Not typically used in VDI environments.

 

More settings (as above)are on the internet.

See:

https://www.citrix.com/blogs/2015/12/17/windows-10-optimization-for-xendesktop/

https://virtualfeller.com/2015/11/03/windows-10-optimization-part-1/

https://virtualfeller.com/2015/11/09/windows-10-optimization-part-2/

https://virtualfeller.com/2015/11/16/windows-10-optimization-part-3-scheduled-tasks/

https://virtualfeller.com/2015/11/19/windows-10-optimization-part-4-user-interface/

https://virtualfeller.com/2015/12/01/windows-10-optimization-part-5-runtime/

 

 

Disable NLA for RDP sessions.

Even if you set the uncommand the NLA, still RDP does not want to connect.

To disable NLA, edit the registry:

 

To disable NLA :

 Open regedit on another computer on the same network.

Under the File menu click “Connect Network Registry…”

Enter your computer name and click Ok. If this fails to connect you may be out of luck.

Scroll down in the left pane to find the newly added server. Navigate to this Key:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Terminal Server\WinStations\RDP-Tcp

Find the value “SecurityLayer” and change the data to 0 (that is a zero).

 

2  Windows Defender

Windows defender is using a lot of resources (CPU and MEM). It is nice to have but not necessary on a VDI system. So go in the group policy

Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Windows Defender


And enable Turn off Windows Defender.

 

Uninstall windows build-in apps.

Windows 10 comes with a lot of stuff we don’t use in a VDI environment. Uninstall these items because they use space and some cpu/mem and never being used in a VDI session.

 

To do this you need to open powershell as administrator. You can remove each app with the following command (some can but some can’t):

Uninstall 3D Builder:

 

Get-AppxPackage *3dbuilder* | Remove-AppxPackage

Uninstall Alarms and Clock:

Get-AppxPackage *windowsalarms* | Remove-AppxPackage

Uninstall Calculator:

Get-AppxPackage *windowscalculator* | Remove-AppxPackage

Uninstall Calendar and Mail:

Get-AppxPackage *windowscommunicationsapps* | Remove-AppxPackage

Uninstall Camera:

Get-AppxPackage *windowscamera* | Remove-AppxPackage

 

Uninstall Contact Support:

This app can’t be removed.

Uninstall Cortana:

This app can’t be removed.

Uninstall Get Office:

Get-AppxPackage *officehub* | Remove-AppxPackage

Uninstall Get Skype:

Get-AppxPackage *skypeapp* | Remove-AppxPackage

Uninstall Get Started:

Get-AppxPackage *getstarted* | Remove-AppxPackage

Uninstall Groove Music:

Get-AppxPackage *zunemusic* | Remove-AppxPackage

Uninstall Maps:

Get-AppxPackage *windowsmaps* | Remove-AppxPackage

Uninstall Microsoft Edge:

This app can’t be removed.

Uninstall Microsoft Solitaire Collection:

Get-AppxPackage *solitairecollection* | Remove-AppxPackage

Uninstall Money:

Get-AppxPackage *bingfinance* | Remove-AppxPackage

Uninstall Movies & TV:

Get-AppxPackage *zunevideo* | Remove-AppxPackage

Uninstall News:

Get-AppxPackage *bingnews* | Remove-AppxPackage

Uninstall OneNote:

Get-AppxPackage *onenote* | Remove-AppxPackage

Uninstall People:

Get-AppxPackage *people* | Remove-AppxPackage

 

Uninstall Phone Companion:

Get-AppxPackage *windowsphone* | Remove-AppxPackage

Uninstall Photos:

Get-AppxPackage *photos* | Remove-AppxPackage

Uninstall Store:

Get-AppxPackage *windowsstore* | Remove-AppxPackage

Uninstall Sports:

Get-AppxPackage *bingsports* | Remove-AppxPackage

Uninstall Voice Recorder:

Get-AppxPackage *soundrecorder* | Remove-AppxPackage

Uninstall Weather:

Get-AppxPackage *bingweather* | Remove-AppxPackage

Uninstall Windows Feedback:

This app can’t be removed.

Uninstall Xbox:

Get-AppxPackage *xboxapp* | Remove-AppxPackage

 

I have done it the easy way, get rid of all the stuff by typing:

Get-AppxPackage ** | Remove-AppxPackage

 

If you want to reinstall all the package you can do so in the powershell with the following command:

Get-AppxPackage -AllUsers| Foreach {Add-AppxPackage -DisableDevelopmentMode -Register “$($_.InstallLocation)\AppXManifest.xml”}

 

4  Conclusion

After these settings has be done, Windows 10 will run with less CPU, memory and network use. If windows 10 is not used, the consumption of CPU will be 0 to 2%. This is nice. RDP sessions are fast and no wait times.

 


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