Microsoft Application Virtualization
Microsoft App-V 4.6 is now available PDF 
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Microsoft App-V 4.6 is now publicly available via MDOP 2010.

In the update to the App-V Resource Kit, we are announcing two new tools for you to include in your bag of tricks.

Application Virtualization SFT View Tool

Use the SFT View Tool to provide scanners and automated tools with read-only access to .sft files. For example, you can install SFT View on App-V Management Servers to allow vulnerability scanners and file-based asset inventory tools to scan .sft files. You can also use App-V SFT View to interactively inspect .sft file contents by using any shell interface, for example, Windows Explorer or the command line.

Application Virtualization MSI Compat Transform

Unpack and use this to upgrade an .msi from 4.5 RTM or earlier packages, on the 4.6 client. We will explain more about this transform in an upcoming blog entry so watch this space.

The App-V Resource Kit is a set of free tools and resources aimed at enabling IT administrators to unlock the full potential of App-V 4.5 and 4.6. The full list of Resource Tools is listed below"

Application Virtualization Dynamic Suite Composition Tool

Use the Dynamic Suite Composition tool to edit the Open Software Descriptor (.osd) file associated with a virtual application package to create the inter-package dependencies.

Application Virtualzation Application Listing Tool

Use the Application Listing Tool to display a list of virtualized applications that are currently running.

Application Virtualization SFT Parser Tool

Use the SFT Parser Tool to extract the following information from SFT files:

  • Validation of SFT files
  • XML export of contents of SFT
  • Listing of all of the files in the SFT
  • Statistics about properties of the SFT metadata
  • Get relevant information on a file in the package
  • Ability to skip processing of file data if using functionality that requires only the metadata

Application Virtualization Client Log Parser Utility

Use the Client Log Parser utility to extract log entries from one or more application virtualization client logs.

Application Virtualization Cache Resizing Tool

Use the Cache Configuration Tool to configure settings associated with App-V client cache.

Application Virtualization SFT View Tool

Application Virtualization MSI Compat Transform

 
How to publish an App-V-enabled application in Citrix XenApp PDF 
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Here is a guide on how to publish an App-V-enabled application in a Citrix XenApp environment.

To publish an App-V-enabled application in Citrix XenApp, follow these steps:

  1. Publish Sfttray.exe or publish Sftrun.exe.
  2. Publish the .OSD file.
  3. Publish the application name followed by a percent sign and then an asterisk (%*) or publish the application name and version followed by a percent sign and then an asterisk.

    Note A percent sign and then an asterisk are required in order to pass parameters to the executable that is specified in the FILENAME attribute of the .OSD file.

To hide the App-V Client from the notification area, use one of the following options.

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Version  
Option Description
Sfttray.exe Version 4 and later versions /hide The /hide command-line option was added in Sfttray.exe Version 4 and later versions. The Sftrun.exe executable was removed in Sfttray.exe Version 4 and later versions.
Sftrun.exe Version 3 and later versions
The Sftrun.exe executable does not display the App-V Client in the notification area.


In XenApp XP FR-2, you can publish the .OSD file instead of Sfttray.exe or Sftrun.exe. When the .OSD file runs, the .OSD file uses Sfttray.exe or Sftrun.exe, based on the executable that the .OSD file is configured to use.

Note By default, .OSD files are configured to use Sftrun.exe.

The following table describes several examples of how to publish App-V-enabled applications.

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Example Description
PATH\sfttray.exe /hide /launch "Default App-V Application" [%*] The SOFTPKG NAME from the .OSD file. The name is case sensitive.
PATH\sftrun.exe "Default App-V Application 1.0" [%*] The SOFTPKG NAME and VERSION from the .OSD file. The name and version are case sensitive.
PATH\sftrun.exe "M:\App-V\DefaultApp.osd" [%*] The local or mapped drive to the .OSD file.
PATH\sftrun.exe "\\SERVER NAME\SHARE NAME\DefaultApp.osd" [%*] The Universal Naming Convention (UNC) path of the .OSD file.
PATH\sftrun.exe "http://SERVER NAME/SHARE NAME/DefaultApp.osd" [%*] HTTP path of the .OSD file.


Use the SOFTPKG NAME XML attribute and the VERSION XML attribute from the .OSD file. SOFTPKG NAME and VERSION are case sensitive. If you do not use the correct case, you will receive error code 04-00000A09.

For more information, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

930631 (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/930631/ ) SoftGrid Client "Error code: xxxxxx-xxxxxx04-00000A09"

If the .OSD file exists in the M:\App-V directory on the App-V Client system when you publish the App-V-enabled application, the .OSD file is copied to the following folder:

%AllUsersProfile%\Documents\App-V Client\OSD Cache

Note M:\App-V is an example. M:\App-V is not an actual path that the product uses.

The .OSD file is used to publish the App-V-enabled application.

If the App-V Client is configured to update when you log on, the .OSD file that the App-V Management Console publishes is copied to the following folder:

%AllUsersProfile%\Documents\App-V Client\OSD Cache

When the .OSD file is copied to this folder, it overwrites the earlier version of the .OSD file. If the new .OSD file differs from the earlier version of the .OSD file, the App-V-enabled application may not be published.

To continue reading and see all the details check out the Knowledge Base article below:

KB931576 - How to publish an App-V-enabled application in Citrix XenApp

 
Microsoft announces App-V 4.6 RC and integration with Office 2010 Beta PDF 
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Microsoft announces the availability of App-V 4.6 RC! In August they announced the App-V 4.6 Beta. Since then they have taken in lots of customer feedback and continue to refine the App-V 4.6 release so that they can deliver a great product!  they invite you to check out the RC release by registering and downloading the App-V 4.6 RC release via Microsoft Connect, where you can also submit feedback directly to the team.

they’re not done though, in addition they’d like to share some great news and also announce our integration with Office 2010 Beta:

Microsoft Office 2010 Beta, Ready to be Sequenced With the Microsoft Office 2010 Beta Deployment Kit for App-V

As you know the Office team just completed a major milestone Microsoft Office 2010 Beta, congrats to the team!  Throughout the process of building Office 2010 the App-V and Office teams have been working very closely to make sequencing Office 2010 Beta possible with App-V 4.6 RC!  they have taken the feedback and requests from post-Office 2007 and App-V 4.5 releases, and have been hard at work implementing a solid integration experience for Office when App-V 4.6 releases in H1 2010.

So what’s Different when using Microsoft Office 2010 Beta and App-V 4.6 RC together?

Office 2010 has introduced a new piracy protection initiative, the Software Protection Platform (SPP) service.  This service uses a machine’s hardware characteristics and product key to activate the installation, which is performed during the first Office application launch.

Since the Office 2010 product activation is linked to the hardware on which Office is originally installed, customers who wish to deploy Office 2010 using App-V must physically install the SPP service on the sequencer machine before beginning the sequencing process – and on any client machines that will stream and run Office 2010.

Our engineering teams have collaborated to address the top customer issues that people theyre running into when virtualizing past versions of Office.   As a result, Office 2010 has a much more integrated user experience.  The Office 2010 integration delivers key productivity enhancements and a seamless user experience by enabling the following::

· Microsoft SharePoint Integration - You can open, edit, and save Microsoft Office documents using Microsoft SharePoint.

· Microsoft Outlook Fast Search - You can use Microsoft Windows Desktop Search to find specific messages in your inbox.

· MAPI Proxy - You can connect to your inbox using Microsoft Outlook Send To functionality.

· Microsoft Office Document Indexing - You can index your documents so that you can use Microsoft Windows Search to locate files.

· Virtual Mail Control Panel icon - You can use the Email icon in Control Panel to perform advance mail configuration.

· URL protocol handler - You can configure links in the browser and specify the appropriate associated Microsoft Office application.

· Send to Microsoft OneNote Printer driver - You can print documents to Microsoft OneNote.

To help customers facilitate this process, they have created the Microsoft Office 2010 Deployment Kit for App-V (Beta). The Deployment Kit contains both the required SPP licensing component and Office 2010 integration features.

And what’s even more exciting, you can get your hands on it now.

How Do I Sequence Microsoft Office 2010 Beta for App-V 4.6 RC?

1. Download Office 2010 Beta here

2. Download the Microsoft Office 2010 Deployment Kit for App-V (Beta)

3. Download App-V 4.6 RC on Microsoft Connect

4. Read the App-V recipe for sequencing Office 2010 Beta on Microsoft Connect.

For detailed information on whether your environment meets the requirements of Office 2010 and App-V 4.6 RC, please refer to the App-V recipe.

Please note: they are providing a recipe to support the sequencing and testing of these pre-release products on Microsoft Connect.  Please provide feedback via Microsoft Connect, by choosing FEEDBACK once logged into the App-V 4.6 Program.

they look forward to hearing about your App-V 4.6 RC and Office 2010 experience!

 
Microsoft App-V 4.5 Service Pack 1 PDF 
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Microsoft Application Virtualization 4.5 Service Pack 1 (App-V 4.5 SP1) is now available. This service pack provides the latest updates to Microsoft Application Virtualization 4.5. Additionally, it contains the following improvements:

Support for Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2
App-V 4.5 SP1 provides support for Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2. This includes support for Windows 7 taskbar, for AppLocker, for BranchCache, and for BitLockerToGo. Windows Server 2008 R2 is supported for only the Application Virtualization Server.

Support for third-party Kerberos realms
App-V 4.5 SP1 provides support for environments that have a trust relationship and mapped user accounts between a Windows Domain and an MIT Kerberos realm. For more information about how to enable this support, visit the following Microsoft TechNet Web site:

http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=166004

Improved support for application publishing and streaming over the HTTP and HTTPS protocols

App-V 4.5 SP1 provides support for application publishing and streaming over the HTTP and HTTPS protocols for the following operating system editions:

  • Windows XP Home Edition
  • Windows Vista Home Basic
  • Windows Vista Home Premium
  • Windows 7 Home Basic
  • Windows 7 Home Premium

Customer feedback and hotfix rollup

App-V 4.5 SP1 also includes a rollup of fixes to address issues that have been found since the App-V 4.5 Cumulative Update 1 release. This rollup addresses known issues and feedback from partners and customers who are using App-V 4.5.

In addition to some stability improvements, this service pack addresses the following issues:

  • When a virtual application tries to delete a file on drive C, a "file not found" error occurs even though the file is deleted successfully.
  • When you create an MSI package by using the App-V Sequencer, third-party tools may be unable to validate the resulting MSI package.

This service pack also includes a hotfix that was previously released. For more information, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

973873 Hotfix Package 5 for Microsoft Application Virtualization 4.5 Cumulative Update 1: August 2009

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For all the details see KB976338 - Description of Microsoft Application Virtualization 4.5 Service Pack 1

 
Microsoft Application Virtualization 4.5 for Terminal Services white paper available for download PDF 
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Microsoft has released a  white paper for “Application Virtualization 4.5 for Terminal Services.”  This white paper discusses the benefits, configurations, and considerations when planning a Terminal Services (TS) solution with Microsoft Application Virtualization for TS (App-V for TS).

Click here to download

 
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