Centralized Management & Scalable Infrastructure
Publish, deploy, and manage your virtual applications while leveraging your existing technology investments and software distribution processes.
Microsoft Application Virtualization (App-V) employs an innovative system for centrally deploying applications. Rather than "pushing" down and installing entire applications, the first time end users request an application, the App-V client rapidly responds and "pulls" only the code necessary to start the program from a central Virtual Application Server—typically 20 to 40 percent of the total application.
When the session terminates, the application and its user preferences are saved in a file-based cache location. Subsequent application launches are loaded from this local cache, resulting in faster launches with little impact on network bandwidth while ensuring that the user’s applications are also preserved, even in the case of unexpected computer shutdown.
The core of App-V's intelligent management is the App-V Management Web Service, which provides a central service for administering App-V servers and applications. Administrators communicate with the Management Web Service via the App-V Management Console. Using this console, you can publish and remove applications, control server settings, configure metering, and more.
We realize that easy and flexible infrastructure options are required to support the differing requirements of businesses. Microsoft Application Virtualization can meet the needs of your IT Administrators, business, and end users by delivering virtual applications using a variety of different methods, including:
App-V Full Infrastructure
This option includes the Microsoft System Center Application Virtualization Management Server (MSCAV), which includes full streaming capabilities, Desktop Configuration service, Package/Active Upgrade, basic licensing, and metering. This infrastructure requires Active Directory and SQL Server and is an update to the existing Softgrid Virtual Application Server that Microsoft Softgrid 4.2 customers are familiar with using.
Full App-V Infrastructure demonstrating simple sequencing, publishing, and streaming to the client.
App-V Lightweight Infrastructure
The lightweight infrastructure consists of the Microsoft System Center Application Virtualization Streaming Server. This server has streaming capabilities, including active/package upgrade without the Active Directory or SQL Server requirements; however, it does not have a Desktop Configuration Service, licensing or metering capabilities. This service relies on the manual or scripted addition of a manifest file for virtual application configuration. The Desktop Configuration Service of the MSCAV Management Server may also be used in conjunction with the MSCAV Streaming Server, so the Management Server configures the application, but the Streaming Server delivers it.
This lightweight infrastructure provides two additional options:
| • | The RTSP Streaming Server is typically used to deploy a branch model, enabling you to scale too many locations and maintain the out-of-the-box Active Upgrade capabilities. This is useful when the customer does not want to deploy SQL servers at each location but still requires streaming capabilities. An App-V Management Server is deployed centrally, and streaming servers are deployed in each branch. This is recommended for customers who do not have an existing ESD solution and will leverage App-V management infrastructure. Use in branch office scenarios where the server will reside on the local area network and the data will not traverse the WAN or Internet. |
| • | The HTTP Streaming Server allows you to use an existing ESD infrastructure and add a new http server to stream applications. HTTP streaming is optimized for Internet/intranet delivery over wide area networks and is recommended for Internet-facing scenarios and businesses that require streaming capabilities across large, disperse networks. Active Upgrade is not available when using HTTP streaming. |
App-V Lightweight Infrastructure components can seamlessly integrate with existing ESD solutions by leveraging App-V streaming and the App-V client capabilities.
App-V Standalone Mode
The Sequencer now has an option to create an MSI file, which automates the addition of the virtual application. The MSI contains metadata so a distribution system can recognize it and control the virtualized applications. Standalone mode requires the client to go into standalone mode, which only allows MSI-based updates of the virtual applications. This mode is meant for those rarely connected users that need the power of virtualized applications but do not have access to a server.
App-V Standalone mode enables you to deploy MSI wrapped virtual applications seamlessly via CD, USB, or by integrating with your existing software delivery system.
