Microsoft Volume Licensing customers that are using Microsoft Enterprise Desktop Virtualization as an integral part of the Microsoft Desktop Optimization Pack (MDOP) need to make sure that antivirus maskings are in place for MED-V file types in order to ensure optimal user experiences. According to the Redmond company, security solutions are capable of interfering with virtual desktops, hindering performance. In order to ensure antivirus products have no impact on virtual desktops, Microsoft advises its enterprise customers to leverage antivirus exclusions for Virtual Machine file formats.

The software giant indicated that the same was valid for backup solutions. Security and backup products running on the host operating system must be tweaked in order to ignore MED-V desktops. At the bottom of this article you will be able to find a list with the MED-V file types that need to be excluded from host software performing security or backup tasks. The list was provided by Steve Thomas, Microsoft senior support escalation engineer.

Microsoft Enterprise Desktop Virtualization is available through the MDOP package and is designed to streamline both the deployment and management of Virtual PC images running on top of Windows. The virtualization solution ensures that users can leverage Virtual PC environments, in scenarios requiring legacy application support for example, without the limitations of the host operating system or its configuration.

Here is the list that Thomas provided:

“*.VHD - These represent the Virtual Hard Disk Image files. These will appear on test workstations when test images are being used to finalize workspace policies.
*.VUD - These represent Virtual PC Undo Disk Files. These will appear on test workstations when test images are being used to finalize workspace policies.
*.VSV - These represent Virtual PC Saved State files. These will be on all MED-V clients running Workspaces.
*.CKM - This is the packed image format used by MED-V (Kidaro Compressed Machine.) These will be present on MED-V Servers, Image Distribution Servers, locally packed images on MED-V Administration workstations, and as pre-staged images on clients.
*.VMC - These represent the Base Virtual Machine Settings File. Will be found on all MED-V Clients and Test Workstations.
*.INDEX - These are index files used by the TrimTransfer Feature. These will be found on both clients and servers.
*.EVHD - These are the encrypted virtual hard disk files used on MED-V Clients running workspaces.”