Multimedia Redirection and WebRTC Redirector plug-in updates for Windows 365 & Azure Virtual Desktop

Automating plug-in maintenance with GitHub Scripts

Keeping your Windows 365 and Azure Virtual Desktop environment up to date is crucial for optimal performance and security. Two essential plug-ins, Multimedia Redirection service and WebRTC (Web Real-Time Communication) redirector service, require periodic updates. However, these plug-ins do not update automatically, which can lead to compatibility or performance issues if left unattended.

Understanding the Challenge

Unlike most of the components of Windows 365 and Azure Virtual Desktop, both the Multimedia Redirection and WebRTC plug-ins must be updated manually. This manual process can be time-consuming for IT administrators and disruptive if not managed properly, especially in enterprise environments where user experience and uptime are top priorities.

Cloud PCs that are provisioned or reprovisioned with Gallery images do have the latest plug-ins installed and Azure Virtual Desktop session hosts deployed with Azure Marketplace images have the latest WebRTC plug-in installed. But as these Cloud PCs and Session Hosts age, these plug-ins will become outdated over time.

Note: Windows 365 Gallery images that include the latest Multimedia Redirection and WebRTC plug-ins are only the Windows Enterprise + Microsoft 365 Apps images. For Azure Marketplace images, only the Windows multi-session + Microsoft 365 Apps images include the latest WebRTC plug-in.

Features dependent on WebRTC and Multimedia Redirection

WebRTC: Microsoft Teams media optimizations

• Users connect from non-Windows physical endpoints
• Users connect from Windows endpoints and SlimCore fails

Multimedia Redirection: Video playback and call redirection on Edge or Chrome browsers

• Users who visit websites with embedded videos
• Users who use Contact Center as a Service (CCaaS) solutions

Manually Updating

Administrators can update these binaries by deploying their respective MSI installers to users’ Cloud PCs and personal Session Hosts either through Intune or their management engine of choice. This may be the simplest way of upgrading endpoints, but there is a chance that end users would be disrupted during their work because WebRTC installer will forcefully stop Teams processes while installing, and Multimedia Redirection could break video streams or calls while the binaries are upgraded. If choosing this method, administrators should leverage maintenance windows to minimize disruptions. The MSI installers can be manually downloaded from the links below:

• WebRTC redirector installer MSI
• Multimedia redirector installer MSI

Automating Updates with GitHub Scripts

To address this challenge, our team has developed a series of PowerShell scripts available in our GitHub repository. These scripts automate the update process for both Multimedia Redirection and WebRTC plug-ins, ensuring that the latest versions are installed without the need for direct user intervention. The benefits of these scripts are:

• No End User Impact: The scripts are designed to run silently in the background, so end users experience no downtime or interruptions.
• Consistent Plugin Versions: Automated updates help maintain consistency across all Windows 365 instances, reducing troubleshooting time and compatibility issues.
• Easy Integration: The scripts can be deployed with Intune via Remediations, or as a standalone script. Remediations provides the best admin experience as it will report back on compliance and any errors encountered during deployment.

Getting Started

To begin using the automated update scripts:

• Visit our GitHub repository and download the latest versions of the update scripts.
• • WebRTC Updater
  • Multimedia Redirector Updater
• Review the step-by-step setup and configuration instructions.
• Deploy the scripts to your Windows 365 or Azure Virtual Desktop environment, either in standalone mode or with Remediations.

IMPORTANT: The scripts currently do not support Windows Multi-Session hosts.

Updating Azure Virtual Desktop Multi-Session Hosts

Updating these plugins should be done during the build process of the golden image or the Session Hosts. This can be achieved by using an automated building solution, like Azure Image Builder, to install the latest versions. The URLs for these plugins are static, meaning that administrators can use the same URL without having to be concerned about the version that is being downloaded. For reference, the URLs are below:

• WebRTC - https://aka.ms/msrdcwebrtcsvc/msi
• Multimedia Redirection - https://aka.ms/avdmmr/msi
  
  

More information on WebRTC and Multimedia Redirection plug-ins

Microsoft updates these binaries periodically for functional and security enhancements. To stay current on the latest releases and what they contain, please visit the following links:

• What’s new for WebRTC Redirector Service
• What’s new for Multimedia redirection service

Conclusion

Regularly updating the Multimedia Redirection and WebRTC plugins is essential for a secure and efficient Windows 365 environment. By leveraging the automation scripts from our GitHub repository, IT administrators can ensure plugins remain current, all while eliminating manual effort and minimizing any impact on end users. For more details and to access the scripts, check out our GitHub page.