Security & Management

April 2009 - Posts

Configuration Manager 2007 R2+App-V Compare App-V Only

Configuration Manager 2007 R2 with App-V   VS   App-V Only
  R2+App-V App-V Only Remarks
Virtual Package Preparation App-V Sequencer  App-V Sequencer  
Virtual Package Upgrade App-V Sequencer+R2 Console App-V Sequencer+App-V Console  
Virtual Package Management R2 Console App-V Console  
Virtual Package Storage R2 Distribution Point and Branch Distribution Point App-V Streaming Server with Scripting (Content Replication) R2+AppV is better for Branch Office and Large Deployment Scenarios
Virtual Package Assignment By Active Directory User or User Group or R2 Managed Computer or R2 Managed Computer Group By Active Directory User Group R2+App-V is better for Virtual Package Targeting and Management
Virtual Package Access Control R2 Console-Access Control for Streamed Applications for both Online and Offine. No Access Control for Pushed Applications, but it supports Workgroup Computers App-V Console-Access Control for Streamed Applications for both Online and Offline, But It doesn't support Workgroup Computers R2+App-V is better for Domain Joined and Workgroup joined Computers
Virtual Package Delivery Network Streaming or Schedule Based Pushing (Local Streaming) Network Streaming R2+App-V is better for Laptop Users through Pushing Delivery
Virtual Package Removal Remove from Computer Group or Specific Computer Remove from User Group or Specific User App-V Only is better for Dynamic User Based Virtual Package Removal

Posted: Mon, Apr 20 2009 0:56 by daniel | with 1 comment(s)
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Configuration Manager 2007 R2 with App-V Integration Clarification

-          Required Components

o   App-V Sequencer for Virtualize the Application and Package Upgrade

o   App-V Client

o   Configuration Manager 2007 R2 Infrastructure

o   No MSI Utility required

 

-          Preparation Tasks

o   In Configuration Manager, Create a new package from definition file-<Tools\VirtualApp\AppVirMgmtClient.sms> with the default option.

o   Rollout this App-V Client Package.

o   Enable Virtual Application Package Advertisement in Advertised Programs Client Agent.

o   Enable BITS Option in Distribution Point Properties, uncheck the anonymous option.

o   Enable the Virtual Application Streaming Option in Distribution Point Properties.

 

-          Operation Tasks

o   In Configuration Manager, Create a new “Virtual Application Package” and Browse to the Virtualized Application Package shared folder.

o   Specify the Destination shared folder for store the Virtualized Application Package.

o   Add the distribution point.

o   Control the User Access by the Access Accounts option. (Streaming Only)

o   For Upgrade the existing Virtual Application Package with the Patch or Service Pack, just follow the normal procedure to update the existing Virtual Application Package (and Update the Version for each Application) and Save it by using App-V Sequencer. And then copy all of the updated XML file, SFT file, SPRJ file, OSD files and Icon folder into a new folder under the Virtual Applications Source Shared Folder.

o   In Configuration Manager, Right click the existing Virtual Application Package and click “Update Package”, and Browse to the updated Virtual Application Package by UNC Path. The Delta Package Update will start automatically on the Virtual Application Package Destination Folder, Distribution Point.

o   Re-run the Advertisement to update the delta to Configuration Manager Client Cache (Pushing) and App-V Client Cache (Pushing and Streaming).

 

-          Scenarios

o   Streaming

§  Create a new Advertisement and choose the “Streaming from Distribution Point” Option

§  Target the Advertisement to the Collection

§  When the Advertisement execute, Configuration Manager client will call the App-V Client to register the Virtual Applications (Start Menu, File Association, Icons). And the Configuration Manager Client will use the “OverrideURL” Registry automatically for update the Virtual Application SFT File Location to the Distribution Point.

§  When the User Launch the Virtual Applications, App-V Client will use the Distribution Point for the Streaming Source. After the Feature Block 1 Streamed into the App-V Client Cache, the Application can be used. And the Feature Block 2 will be streamed into App-V Client Cache automatically in the background. Nothing will be stored in the Configuration Manager Client Cache.

§  If the User doesn’t have the “Read” Permission for this Virtualized Application Package, A Logon Window will appear and ask for the user name and password for access to the Virtual Application Package on the Distribution Point.

§  Once the Complete Virtualized Application Package streamed into the App-V Client Cache, the authorized user can use this Application in Offline mode. And the Unauthorized user cannot use this Application in Offline mode and the Application launch will fail.

§  To Remove the Virtual Application Cache, just delete the Advertisement in Configuration Manager.

 

o   Streaming-Conclusion

§  The Virtual Application Package will Stream into every client’s App-V Client cache when the authorized user try to launch the Virtual Application on their desktop.

§  Virtual Applications Usage can be assigned by Package Access Account in Configuration Manager.

§  Virtual Applications Usage control are enforced even offline (disconnected).

 

o   Pushing

§  Create a new Advertisement and choose the “Download from Distribution Point” Option

§  Target the Advertisement to the Collection

§  When the Advertisement execute, Configuration Manager client will download the Virtual Application Package and Store into the Configuration Manager Client Cache, and call the App-V Client to register the Virtual Applications (Start Menu, File Association, Icons). And the Configuration Manager Client will use the “OverrideURL” Registry automatically for update the Virtual Application SFT File Location to the Local Configuration Manager Client Cache.

§  When the User Launch the Virtual Applications, App-V Client will use the Local Configuration Manager Client Cache for the Streaming Source. After the Feature Block 1 Streamed into the App-V Client Cache, the Application can be used. And the Feature Block 2 will be streamed into App-V Client Cache automatically in the background.

§  Any users can use this Virtual Application on that computer online or offline.

§  To Remove the Virtual Application Cache, just delete the Advertisement in Configuration Manager.

 

o   Pushing-Conclusion

§  The Virtual Application Package will Push into every client’s Configuration Manager Client cache when the advertisement execute and  Stream into App-V Client cache locally when the user try to launch the Virtual Application on their desktop.

§  Virtual Applications Usage cannot be assigned by Package Access Account in Configuration Manager.

§  Virtual Applications Usage control cannot be enforced.

Posted: Thu, Apr 16 2009 12:06 by daniel | with no comments
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App-V 4.5 Active Upgrade for Office 2007 SP1

Finally, I spent about 2 weeks to finalize the "Real Steps" for Active Upgrade Office 2007 RTM Virtualized Package to Office 2007 SP1. Here are the Steps that I used.

You can download the Step by Step Instruction from this Blog.

 

Posted: Mon, Apr 6 2009 18:11 by daniel | with no comments
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