Virtualization.com

News and insights from the vibrant world of virtualization and cloud computing

application virtualization

Xenocode Pushes Major Update of Virtual Application Studio 2008

by Leave a Comment

Xenocode released its flagship application virtualization solution Virtual Application Studio 2008 last May, and has now pushed its first major update, dubbed Service Pack 1. Virtual Application Studio allows Windows, .NET and Java-based desktop applications to be deployed in standalone executables that run instantly, anywhere.

Virtual Application Studio 2008 with SP1 includes a bunch of feature enhancements and engine upgrades, including:

  • Auto-configuration of Microsoft Office 2007 and other popular applications: An industry first, Virtual Application Studio completely eliminates the need for any snapshotting or sequencing to configure Microsoft Office 2007 and other popular applications.  Studio automatically configures itself for popular applications given appropriate source media and license keys.
  • Ability to import external application configurations, including VMware ThinApp configurations: Customers who have already packaged applications using other technologies, including VMware ThinApp/Thinstall, can now import these configurations into Studio with a single click, without the need for any recapture.
  • Communication between virtualized applications: Virtual environment process controls and jukeboxing allow multiple applications to share virtual resources and “talk” with one another. For instance, users can embed live Excel spreadsheets into Word documents or run multiple applications within a shared virtual environment.
  • New site licensing programs: Educational institutions, government agencies, and ISVs can now license Xenocode technology with no per-device or per-application fees.

A detailed list of updates and patches is available on the Xenocode RSS feed.

[Source: MarketWatch]

Xenocode

Application Virtualization Comparison Chart

by 3 Comments

Sven Huisman and his coworker Matthijs Haverink were unable to find a good comparative list of application virtualization solutions, so they mocked up a useful chart of their own. The chart includes:

You can download the chart here, courtesy of the technical consultants.

[Source: ICT-Freak]

Microsoft Ships Application Virtualization 4.5 Release Candidate

by 2 Comments

Fresh after sharing the new short name for Microsoft Application Virtualization (SoftGrid became App-V), the MAV team has released the version 4.5 Release Candidate of the software.

So what’s new?

HTTP streaming. We now support streaming virtual applications from an IIS server (version 6 or 7). This will provide dramatic performance and scalability improvements for customers with large App-V deployments. In addition, the use of a more familiar protocol will make some deployments easier and more straight forward.

New Sequencer UI. We have greatly simplified the use of the Sequencer. There is now a single wizard for creating a new package and advanced settings have been put into an optional screen. In addition, enhancements have been made that will make editing packages even easier.

Dynamic Suite Composition (DSC) for MSI packages. We introduced two great features with our Beta release – Dynamic Suite Composition and the ability to create MSI packages directly from the Sequencer. DSC allows the flexibility to control virtual application interaction. Creating MSI packages directly from the sequencer eliminates the need for a server environment when deploying virtual applications. But, it was a little difficult to use both DSC and MSI together with the Beta release. With the RC release, you can now dynamically suite two MSI packages together by following a few simple steps.

Improved integration with SCCM 2007 R2. With the upcoming release of the Release Candidate version of SCCM 2007 R2, the ability to deploy virtual applications via SCCM will be seamless for SCCM administrators. Virtual applications can now be streamed via HTTP so that deployments can scale. Also, a new wizard will make the process of sending out package upgrades to users simple and straightforward.

Reporting. Application usage information is now recorded locally on each client and then sent to a App-V Management Server during Publishing Refresh. This means that offline usage of applications or usage of applications when streaming from different sources is now all accounted for properly in the App-V database. We are also providing new guidance so that customers can run their own customized reports.

New Manageability tools. We’ve added a OpsMgr 2007 Management Pack to improve the monitoring capabilities of your App-V servers. We’ve added a ADM template to make it simpler to manage common client configurations via group policy. Finally, we’ve created a VSS Writer so that backups of the App-V server can leverage the latest technology.

Client cache improvements. The maximum size of the client cache has been increased to 1 TB. We also introduced a feature that allows for least recently used applications to be removed from cache should it become full and a user is trying to add a new application. Also, we’re created some perfmon counters to make it easier to monitor the state of the cache.

New MSI package capability. As mentioned above, the ability to create MSI packages directly from the Sequencer was introduced in our Beta release. However, the application was required to be used in an “offline” way, such that no connectivity to servers was needed. Customers told us they like the ability to do just the publishing of application shortcuts, icons and file type associations via the MSI, but they wanted the ability to still stream applications to their clients and to deliver package updates this way, too. With the RC release, this is now possible via a new command line parameter that does just this publishing activity.

Accessibility. The product is now Section 508 compliant, bringing App-V in line with other Microsoft products.

Documentation. As part of the RC, we have updated the online help that is included with the product. In addition, we are releasing a Planning and Deployment Guide and a FAQ for Upgrading to Microsoft Application Virtualization 4.5.

You can download App-V 4.5 from Microsoft Connect. You need a Windows Live ID.

App-V, The “Microsoft Application Virtualization” Formerly Known As “SoftGrid”

by 2 Comments

Microsoft Application Virtualization, the name the software giant has given the app virtualization solution it acquired when it bought Softricity back in 2006, got a new calling name today to match the Hyper-V branding: App-V (instead of SoftGrid).

From the SoftGrid App-V blog:

“Really it only matters to you because from now on we’re going to do our best to stop calling this product SoftGrid and start calling it App-V. Or Microsoft Application Virtualization if we’re feeling formal. This blog will eventually go from being the SoftGrid blog to the App-V blog, the SoftGrid forums will probably become the App-V forums, etc. and I want to make sure all of you are ahead of the curve just so there’s no confusion when you start seeing this name thrown around more and more over time.”

On a sidenote: looking for App-V references, we also found out a German snatched away the app-v.com domain name a few days ago.

[Source: ThinComputing.net]

Endeavors Formally Releases Application Jukebox, Includes Free Version

by 1 Comment

Endeavors Technologies partially released its application virtualization and delivery product Application Jukebox in early April of this year, and has now split the offer into 3 editions: Enterprise, SaaS and Lite.

Endeavors

The most notable is the Lite edition, a freely available version of Endeavors’ patented application streaming technology, designed to run all services on one server and allows administrators to publish and stream their own Windows-based applications or choose from a selection of already published applications to stream.

The Application Jukebox family of products contain three key components. Application Jukebox Player sits on the client to create the virtual application environment and provides user authentication and application license enforcement. Application Jukebox Server controls and delivers applications, provides usage monitoring and logging, plus group, user and application level administration. Application Jukebox Studio allows ISVs and IT administrators to create a streamable, virtualized “appset” from standard, Windows-based applications that is then published to the server.

Ceedo Debuts Enterprise-Class Application Virtualization Solution

by 1 Comment

Ceedo today launched Ceedo Enterprise, which allows IT administrators to create, deploy and remotely manage desktop workspace environments enabling a number of scenarios including: application portability, remote management, business continuity, and disaster recovery.

Ceedo

Ceedo’s technology, which the company claims has already been deployed on over four million devices worldwide, uses virtualization to generalize the installation process of standard Windows applications without requiring packaging. Ceedo Enterprise includes a Setup Virtualization Engine which uses the original standard setup files of an application to automatically perform the virtualization process.

Ceedo Enterprise

According to the company, deploying Ceedo to enterprise notebooks and desktops enables IT administrators to manage enterprise applications instantaneously and remotely — even install new software and update user files. Installing Ceedo to a USB device enables installed applications to work together and become portable for use on any Windows PC. Ceedo can be deployed from a Web server enabling a complete working application workspace to be delivered to employees or contractors in field.

Ceedo Enterprise Clients are $89 per seat perpetual license, although the company also announced that discounts are available for large volume purchases.

[Source: Marketwire]