Microsoft Application Virtualization (App-V) ver 4.5 overview

Nguyen An QueMicrosoft VietnamEmail: Que.Nguyen@microsoft.comTech blog: blogs.technet.com/quenguyen

Download URL:http://blogs.technet.com/quenguyen/archive/2009/11/12/application-virtualization-app-v-version-4-5.aspx

What is MDOP?Microsoft Desktop Optimization Pack

MED-V = Microsoft Enterprise Desktop Virtualization

App-V = Microsoft Application Virtualization (formerly SoftGrid)

For desktop OS software assurance (SA)

Exception: App-V for RDS (Remote Desktop Services) can be bought as Open License

What the Desktop Optimization Pack provides

Microsoft VirtualizationFrom Data Center to Desktop

Server Presentation Application Desktop

VECD

Enterprise Challenges in the desktops

Deployment, Upgrading, Terminating of applications

Application-to-Application compatibility issues

Regression Testing

Application Patch Management issues

App/OS Model Comparison

Traditional App/OS Model

Microsoft Vision – App/OS Model (2007 + beyond)

Microsoft Application Virtualization (App-V)

Run applications without even installing it locally

Eliminate Application-to-Application Compatibility issues

Run same application with different versions on same PC/Terminal Server

Manage your applications centrally

Set the Application Permissions/Licenses

Upgrade applications centrally

…applies to custom applications as well

Office 2003 and 2007 running together…

Java 1.5 for Application 2…Java 1.6 for Application 1

Microsoft Application Virtualization (App-V)

Applications will still be published seamlessly…

Virtualized application icons will show in the desktop so users can run them (like what they’re used to).

But applications are never installed (no Client Footprint)!

A note on the application performance…

App-V enabled applications will have little difference with the performance (negligible) of a local installation

Remember the process will still run locally on the desktop…not on the server

Does not need to make any investment to upgrade existing desktops or laptops

Support Legal Executives Designers N+ Groups

The Application Management Problem…

Users

RemedyClarifyClearcaseClearquestOffice XPAccess 97Java 1.4.2_04

DocumentumAbacus LawWestlawOffice XPShepardsJava 1.3.1_02Java 1.4.2_04

RemedyClarifyDocumentumOffice XPSAPJava 1.4.2_04

AutoCAD 2004AutoCAD 2002PrometricDesignProVisio 2003Project 2003Java 1.4.2_04Java 1.3.1_02

As needed

Provide Desktop Sharing…

With App-V, users can now share the same desktop machine.

Users will only see their respective applications assigned to them.

Desktops will become more generic instead of user/group specific.

App-V Components

App-V Sequencer

App-V ServerApp-V Streaming Server (new in 4.5)

App-V Client

Sequencing Overview

Same steps as installing your desktop applicationImagine it is like a CD recorder…will just monitor the installation

High-Level View:Copy the application installer on the App-V sequencer

Start the sequencer

Start MonitoringInstall the application

Test the application

Configure any settings (if required)

Stop Monitoring

Test the virtual application

Save the package and upload to the App-V Server

Sequencing – 7 easy steps

Step 1: Provide Suite name (no spaces and dot).

Step 2a: Begin Monitoring. This would prompt you where to save temporary files. You should save this in Q:\<Folder>. Folder name should follow 8.3 standard.

Correct: Q:\AdRdr.007

Not Correct: Q:\Adobe Reader

Step 2b: After selecting the above folder, the Sequencer GUI will be minimized and you can now install the application. Install the application as you would normally do on a desktop (exactly the same steps).

Sequencing – 7 steps (cont)

Step 2c: After the installation, test the application to ensure that everything is fine.

Example: If you sequenced WinRAR, you may want to run and launch winrar.exe to ensure that everything is fine and no errors.

Step 2d: When you testing is finished, click Stop Monitoring.

Step 3: Add additional files not captured by the monitoring. Normally you would just click Next here.

Step 4: Specify application shortcuts. Remove unnecessary shortcuts created during the sequencing.

Step 5: Launch Virtual Application. After launching the applications and last minute testing, you can click Next.

Step 6: Just click Next

Sequencing – 7 steps (cont)

Step 7: Click the deployment tab and configure the following:The path should be equal to the Suite Name (from Step 1).

Provide the server name and change to RTSP. Ensure port is 554. You can only use RTSPS if you have configured the necessary certificates on the server.

Add the Operating Systems that the application is required to run by clicking the arrow toward the Selected Combo box.

Save package.Create a folder (same as Suite Name and the Path).

Save the package inside the created folder.

Save sprj file same name as Suite Name.

App-V Sequencing Limitation

Not all applications can be sequenced. First of all it is only meant for desktop applications. It cannot be used to sequence server applications.

Supported: Sequence SAP front end, Oracle Client, SQL Client, etc.

Not supported: SQL Server, Oracle Server, MSDE, etc.

Which applications that can be sequenced or cannot be sequenced???

70% of desktop applications can easily be virtualized

20% may require advanced sequencing in order for it to be virtualized (i.e. by using “recipes”, running some scripts, etc)

10% maybe impossible to “virtualized” such as anti-virus, VPN client (i.e. applications that uses system specific drivers)

You are not expected to sequence all your desktop applicationsRemember not all applications can be virtualized!

Use the 60/40 ruleExample: 60% are locally installed, while 40% are virtualized

Example: 40% are locally installed, while 60% are virtualized

If you already has ConfigMgr in place, strongly consider using ConfigMgr infrastructure to manage App-V.

There’s no “one size fits-for-all” kind of thing…it really depends on environment and requirement.

App-V Sequencing Limitation

Which OS to sequence the application…

If application can work in both XP and Windows 7, sequence it to the lowest OS (XP)

In some cases, you may need create package…one sequenced in Windows 7 and the other sequenced for XP.

Note that 4.5 does not support Windows 2000

Active Upgrade feature in App-V

Upgrade application patches seamlessly

LAB: Create upgrade file for Adobe 7.0 (using patch 7.1)Step 1: Copy Adobe folder (from content) to the Sequencer machine.

Step 2: Open Sequencer-> New Package Upgrade.

Step 3: Open the sprj file

Step 4: Extract the package to Q:\. No need to create folder.

Step 5: Begin Monitoring. Install the patch. Stop monitoring.

Step 6: Launch virtual application to test it.

Step 7: Save package.

Copy PKG_NAME_X.sft to the content Adobe folder in the server.

Under Adobe package (Packages), right click and Add Version.

Scripting within App-V

Run Scripts before or after launching the applicationsExample: Open cmd prompt or run task kill command.

Example: Abort launching the virtual application if certain conditions are not met (i.e. can only use the application during office hours).