What are the differences between working with custom images and BYOL images in WorkSpaces?

Resolution

Standard WorkSpaces for Windows are based on Windows Server 2016, 2019 or 2022 with Desktop Experience. At the kernel level, a Windows Server operating system (OS) and a Windows 10 or Windows 11 OS are similar. However, you might need a desktop OS to perform certain tasks. To use a desktop OS, bring your own Windows desktop license (BYOL). BYOL WorkSpaces are available only for Windows.

BYOL WorkSpaces image management

To meet licensing requirements, BYOL WorkSpaces require dedicated resources for the underlying infrastructure. The images that you create from template WorkSpaces aren't much different from custom images that you create with Amazon provided resources and BYOL images.

To copy, share, or launch BYOL images, you must turn on BYOL:

• To copy a BYOL image across AWS Regions, turn on the destination Region for BYOL.
• To share BYOL images with AWS accounts that are part of your organization, turn on BYOL in each account.
• To launch a BYOL WorkSpace in a directory, turn on BYOL in the directory.

BYOL environment requirements

A BYOL WorkSpace environment must meet the following requirements to be successful.

Infrastructure requirements

Take the following actions:

• Confirm that your Microsoft licensing agreement allows Windows to run in a virtual hosted environment.
• You must run a minimum of 100 WorkSpaces that are non-GPU activated, 4 always-on GPU activated, or 20 auto-stop GPU activated.
• Make sure that your network doesn't overlap with the management network IP address ranges.
• Allow documented management network interface port traffic.

For more information, see Confirm that the Windows VM in Amazon WorkSpaces meets the requirements for Microsoft BYOL.

AWS service requirements

Take the following actions:

• Turn on BYOL for your account.
• Associate a directory service with WorkSpaces and BYOL.

VM import and OS configuration requirements

Take the following actions:

• Use a virtual machine (VM) that runs a supported 64-bit version of Windows and is included in supported OS versions.
• Import your VM to create an Amazon Machine Image (AMI) for your BYOL WorkSpace.
• Make sure that your VM meets OS configuration requirements and includes only software that's part of a typical Windows installation.
• Confirm that your key management server is accessible from WorkSpaces over the customer network.

Standard WorkSpaces requirements

Take the following actions:

• Make sure that your network doesn't overlap with the management network IP address ranges.
• Allow documented management interface port traffic.
• Associate a directory service with WorkSpaces.