Microsoft SoftGrid Application Virtualization Labs

Posted on February 3rd, 2008 by Anthony Clendenen.
Categories: Application Virtualization, Blogroll, ConfigMgr, How-To, Microsoft, SoftGrid, Softricity, Virtual Lab, Virtualization.

J.C. over on the SoftGrid Team blog posed a list of SoftGrid virtual labs. If you are new to the technology, need a refresher or just want to pick up on some stuff you might not already know this list covers quite a few different areas of the entire SoftGrid process from sequencing to troubleshooting.

I would also recommend subscribing to their RSS feed if you don’t currently.

Are you new to Microsoft Application Virtualization (aka SoftGrid) and looking for a quick and easy way to ramp up your skills? If so then these virtual labs are a great place to start. In as little as an hour or two you can use these to evaluate and test many of the features and concepts through a series of guided, hands-on exercises. Sure you can read the guides and manuals and all that stuff (you do read all those, right?) but if you’re anything like me there’s no substitute for getting your hands dirty. Plus a little practice now using these labs can save you a ton of time troubleshooting mistakes down the road. Check them out:

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TechNet Virtual Lab: SoftGrid Application Virtualization- Sequencing (basics)

After completing this lab, you will be better able to publish an application in the SoftGrid environment, stream and test the application, and perform an active upgrade of the application.

For more information see http://msevents.microsoft.com/CUI/EventDetail.aspx?EventID=1032366074&culture=en-US

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TechNet Virtual Lab: Microsoft SoftGrid Virtual Application Advanced Sequencing

In this lab, you will walk-through performing a Virtual File System (VFS) installation of an application as well as a sequencing of a web-based plug-in. Before working on this lab, you should be familiar with the basic concepts of the SoftGrid environment.

For more information see http://msevents.microsoft.com/CUI/EventDetail.aspx?EventID=1032345999&culture=en-US

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TechNet Virtual Lab: Using Microsoft SoftGrid Sequencer to Package and Install an Application and Implement an Updated Package using Active Upgrade

After completion of this lab, you will be more familiar with performing a standard sequence of an application, publishing the application to test in the SoftGrid system, and also performing an active upgrade to the application. Before working on this lab, you should be familiar with the basic concepts of the SoftGrid environment.

For more information see http://msevents.microsoft.com/CUI/EventDetail.aspx?EventID=1032346000&culture=en-US

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TechNet Virtual Lab: SoftGrid Application Virtualization- Publishing

After completing this lab, you will be better able to publish an application in the SoftGrid environment, stream and test the application, and perform an active upgrade of the application.

For more information see http://msevents.microsoft.com/CUI/EventDetail.aspx?EventID=1032366076&culture=en-US

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TechNet Virtual Lab: Microsoft SoftGrid General Troubleshooting

In this lab, you will learn how to troubleshoot sequenced applications using common utilities. After completing this lab you will be able to create a package troubleshooting environment, use File Monitor to repair a package that is missing file(s), and use Process Monitor to add registry keys.

For more information see http://msevents.microsoft.com/CUI/EventDetail.aspx?EventID=1032367800&culture=en-US

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J.C. Hornbeck | Manageability Knowledge Engineer

Regards,
Anthony

Anthony Clendenen | Solutions Engineer | 1E

http://configmgr.com

© Anthony Clendenen

Technorati Tags: SoftGrid,Application Virtualization,Microsoft Softgrid Application Virtualization,Microsoft Application Virtualization,Virtual Lab,Training,Virtualization,Softricity,Sequencing

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MSI Utility for Microsoft Application Virtualization SoftGrid

Posted on December 21st, 2007 by Anthony Clendenen.
Categories: Config Manager, ConfigMgr, Downloads, Microsoft, Packaging, SoftGrid, Softricity, Tools, Virtualization.

Seasons Greetings Everyone!

Overview

The MSI Utility for Microsoft Application Virtualization is a new tool designed to extend virtual application deployment in certain key scenarios. In cases where a computer running Microsoft System Center Virtual Application Server is not available, the MSI Utility allows delivery of sequenced applications directly to Microsoft SoftGrid Application Virtualization for Desktops and Microsoft SoftGrid Application Virtualization for Terminal Services.
The MSI Utility enables the distribution of virtual applications without streaming. Instead, it uses Windows Installer to load and configure virtual applications. By leveraging this standard format, the MSI Utility achieves Microsoft Systems Management Server 2003 and Microsoft System Center Configuration Manager 2007 platform version-agnostic distribution of virtual applications if supported by organizational Electronic Software Distribution (ESD) systems. As such, the MSI Utility is a stepping stone to the richer deployment options available in Microsoft System Center Virtual Application Server 4.5.
The MSI Utility extends application deployment methods to a broad range of ESD systems, including Systems Management Server 2003 and System Center Configuration Manager, as well as other methods such as network shares, removable disks, and memory keys. By using an ESD system to deploy virtualized application packages to disconnected SoftGrid Application Virtualization Desktop Clients, users can run virtualized applications without connecting to a computer running Microsoft System Center Virtual Application Server.

Download details: MSI Utility for Microsoft Application Virtualization

Regards,
Anthony

Anthony Clendenen | Solutions Engineer | 1E

http://configmgr.com

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Systems Management Support WebCasts…And ConfigMgr Too

Posted on December 19th, 2007 by Anthony Clendenen.
Categories: Config Manager, ConfigMgr, Downloads, Microsoft, SMS 2003, SoftGrid, Softricity, System Center, TechNet, Tools.

Merry Christmas… Gift with a bow

This is a whole list of Systems Management WebCasts that go back as far as 2000 with some SMS 2.0 stuff, here is some newer SMS 2003 WebCasts, and here is a search string for ConfigMgr WebCasts, I couldn’t find a page that just listed all of them.

Past Support WebCasts

Regards,
Anthony

Anthony Clendenen | Solutions Engineer | 1E

http://configmgr.com

Technorati Tags: WebCasts,Configmgr,SMS 2003,SMS 2.0,TechNet

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SoftGrid SMS Connector Discontinued

Posted on September 12th, 2007 by Anthony Clendenen.
Categories: Config Manager, ConfigMgr, Microsoft, News, Packaging, SCCM, SoftGrid, Softricity, Virtualization.

The SoftGrid connector will be deprecated in the near future and replaced with Windows Installer Application Virtualization Extension or WIAV. The reasons they are moving away from the SMS Connector is due to future plans and interoperability with old and new products.

What is it?

Yes, you in the back, you have a question? Ah, yes what is it he asked. It is essentially a tool to take your sequenced applications and turn them into Windows Installer packages (MSI’s). Another question? Go ahead. Her question was why? The reasons given are so that you can now distribute the package on a file share, a CD, a USB key, through ConfigMgr, Group Policy by leveraging the Windows Installer service. It will be loaded into the SoftGrid cache in stand alone mode, not requiring a connection to the the SoftGrid server itself. This essentially moves away from the model of SoftGrid apps being streamed down to the SoftGrid client as a video file and replaces it with a locally executed installer package.

New Features

Here are some of the new features reported to be in WIAV:

Installing on a single computer by targeting the computer
Deploying SoftGrid sequenced apps to computers without a user being logged in via ConfigMgr
Compatibility with SoftGrid 4.2+
Works with ConfigMgr
New distribution models

Two things to note, first this is due out by the end of 2007, the second is that this only applies to stand alone SoftGrid clients, for those that are connected to SoftGrid app server they will continue to use streaming for application delivery, WIAV is intended for application delivery to stand alone clients. Which is why you still end up with the normal three files after you sequence an app and then use a MSI packager utility.

Source here and here.

In other news…Over on the SoftGrid Blog they have just started a multi-part series of articles titled “Inside The Grid” that is a supplement to their training and has some very good, in depth, information in it. You can check out part one here.

Regards,
Anthony

Anthony Clendenen | Solutions Engineer | 1E Inc.

Technorati Tags: ConfigMgr, SoftGrid, Softricity, SaaS, SCCM, Microsoft, WIAV, Application Virtualization

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SoftGrid Client Setup Kit Released

Posted on August 26th, 2007 by Anthony Clendenen.
Categories: BDD, ConfigMgr, Free!, SCCM, SMS 2003, Scripting, SoftGrid, Softricity, Tools, Virtualization.

Login has released another free SoftGrid tool, this one is for configuring the SoftGrid client install. At first mention this may not sound too exciting but they have added some dynamic programming into the client install that outputs a VBScript that you can make part of your BDD deployment solution to run and configure the SoftGrid client dynamically.

Registration is required to download.

Settings which can be configured by the SGCSK:

All the standard installation options
Dynamic Determination of SoftGrid Client Cache Size
SoftGrid Client Security Settings
Disconnect Operation Settings