● Covered by 1 source · 1 reportLow impact1 negative
Azure Virtual Desktop Hybrid Reaches GA, Licensing Details and Windows Server Support Unclear
Key points
- Azure Virtual Desktop Hybrid is now generally available.
- Session hosts run on customer hardware, connected via Azure Arc.
- Service licensing details are currently unpublished.
- Windows Server support requires Software Assurance for RDS CALs.
Azure Virtual Desktop Hybrid General Availability
Microsoft has announced the general availability of Azure Virtual Desktop Hybrid. This service allows organizations to host virtual desktop session hosts on their own on-premises hardware and hypervisors, including Hyper-V, Nutanix AHV, VMware vSphere, and physical Windows Servers. Azure Arc connects these on-premises machines to Azure, where session brokering and management functions are handled.
Architecture and Connectivity
The architecture for Azure Virtual Desktop Hybrid remains consistent with its preview phases. Session hosts operate within the customer's datacenter, and Azure Arc facilitates their connection to Azure. An extension configures these Arc-connected virtual machines as session hosts, enabling users to access desktops and applications through Windows App. All communication is outbound over HTTPS, eliminating the need for inbound connectivity.
Unpublished Licensing Information
A significant concern following the general availability announcement is the lack of published licensing details for the Azure Virtual Desktop Hybrid service. While OS user entitlement licensing is required, the separate Azure Virtual Desktop Hybrid service license details are still pending. This has led to questions from users and partners regarding how to calculate costs and compare them to existing Azure Virtual Desktop offerings.
Windows Server Software Assurance Requirement
Further complicating adoption, the documentation for Azure Virtual Desktop Hybrid specifies that Windows Server support is only available when RDS Client Access Licenses (CALs) include Software Assurance. This requirement is noted by partners as a significant barrier, potentially excluding a large percentage of their customer base who do not have Software Assurance on their RDS CALs.
✨ This summary was generated by AI from the outlets' reporting listed below. It is not independently verified and may contain errors — check the original sources. How BrevFeed works →
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Reporting from
Microsoft has made Azure Virtual Desktop Hybrid generally available, allowing session hosts to run on customer hardware connected via Azure Arc, while brokering remains in Azure. However, the required service licensing details are not yet published, and Windows Server support is limited to those with Software Assurance, which may restrict adoption.