Home VDI system (Virtual Desktop Infrastructure),

jimbo45 · Jan 9, 2024

Hi there

Has anybody got experience of setting up for a HOME LAN a VDI (virtual desk top infrastructure) type of system. I'd like the client machines to be able to logon and be presented with a Windows desktop. If this means running a server edition of Windows I've the 180 day 2022 LTSC server (extendable via /slmgr -rearm 5 times so you could in theory run this for 6 X 180 days / 3 years) .

I'd have a max of 4 client machines at any one time -- I'd like to use this for teaching small groups about VM's and a few other things. My local Internet infrastructure is more than sufficient to carry that extra traffic easily enough.

Setting up a web server is the easy bit -- it's what comes next is where I get stuck.

Any help -- really would be appreciated.

Cheers
jimbo

PGHammer · Jan 9, 2024

jimbo45 said:
Hi there

Has anybody got experience of setting up for a HOME LAN a VDI (virtual desk top infrastructure) type of system. I'd like the client machines to be able to logon and be presented with a Windows desktop. If this means running a server edition of Windows I've the 180 day 2022 LTSC server (extendable via /slmgr -rearm 5 times so you could in theory run this for 6 X 180 days / 3 years) .

I'd have a max of 4 client machines at any one time -- I'd like to use this for teaching small groups about VM's and a few other things. My local Internet infrastructure is more than sufficient to carry that extra traffic easily enough.

if LTSC Server is your chosen option, Windows Server is your only choice due to license requirements. Otherwise 11 Pro for Workstations is an option.

jimbo45 · Jan 9, 2024

Hi there
but how do you set it up though -- either OS will do. (And please no suggestions from reddit)

My two dobermann dogs probably have more understanding of Windows than posts on that site.

(" Canus Lupis" - Beware of the Dog(s) "

Cheers
jimbo

pseymour · Jan 9, 2024

I maintain a decent-sized VDI for a college, but that's a Citrix environment.

You would need some kind of hypervisor to host the VMs, whether that be Xen, ESXi, Hyper-V, etc. There is a Hyper-V Server 2019, which is supported until 2029, but there will be no 2022 version, just FYI.

Then, you would need to create a desktop environment to which users connect. That could be individual, single-user VMs (e.g., Windows 10 or 11), or it could be multi-user hosts like Remote Desktop Services on a Windows Server OS. Which way you go there depends on what you're trying to show folks, what you want them to be able to do, etc. For example, if you run a multi-user OS, you probably don't want any one user to be able to reboot the server while others are on it. :)

And then you need some way for clients to connect. That's typically where your web server comes into play. For a home lab, something like Apache Guacamole might be of use here.

jimbo45 · Jan 10, 2024

pseymour said:
I maintain a decent-sized VDI for a college, but that's a Citrix environment.

You would need some kind of hypervisor to host the VMs, whether that be Xen, ESXi, Hyper-V, etc. There is a Hyper-V Server 2019, which is supported until 2029, but there will be no 2022 version, just FYI.

Then, you would need to create a desktop environment to which users connect. That could be individual, single-user VMs (e.g., Windows 10 or 11), or it could be multi-user hosts like Remote Desktop Services on a Windows Server OS. Which way you go there depends on what you're trying to show folks, what you want them to be able to do, etc. For example, if you run a multi-user OS, you probably don't want any one user to be able to reboot the server while others are on it. :)

And then you need some way for clients to connect. That's typically where your web server comes into play. For a home lab, something like Apache Guacamole might be of use here.

Thanks -- very helpful

Running Windows 2022 Server -- Apache web server -- Hyper V as the Virtualisation program -- with a number of W11 VM's (vhdx files) would seem to be the best way to go about this -- I only need enough for 4 clients (max). I looked at IIS but apache seems so much simpler !!!!

Cheers
jimbo