Can I use Deployment Solution to manage Software Virtualization Solution? How do I deploy .vsa files to computers using Deployment Solution?

Answer

Yes, Deployment Solution can install Software Virtualization Solution and manage layers on client computers. Deployment Server will be coming out with a version that has a Software Virtualization Solution UI in it, but until then you can control Software Virtualization Solution using "Run Script" tasks from the console. The following are a few examples of how to use Software Virtualization Solution in Deployment Solution:

Install SVS Agent via Deployment Solution 6.5

Objective: To install Software Virtualization Solution support, along with the Software Virtualization Solution Admin tool, onto an existing Windows workstation managed by AClient.

1. Create an Software Virtualization Solution folder in the eXpress share on your Deployment Server computer, with subfolders called “Agent” and “VSAs” In the VSAs folder create a subfolder named “<LayerName>”.
2. Copy the Software_Virtualization_Agent.msi file into the Agent folder that was just created.
3. Open the Deployment Solution console and create a new job. Name it “Install SVS w/ Admin and Reboot”
4. Add a “Distribute Software” task to the job.
5. In the task, browse to the Software_Virtualization_Agent.msi file and select that as the file to deploy.
6. Check the box “Run in quiet mode”.
7. Under the Additional command-line switches, add the following (case sensitive):
   
   INSTALL_ADMIN=1 PRODUCT_KEY=<your 20 digit key>
8. Click Finish.
9. After completing the job, drag the job to the clean client and production client computers and click OK.
10. Watch the client computers and make sure they reboot.
11. Log onto the client computers and ensure that the “Software Virtualization Admin” icon is on the desktop.

Create a Job in Deployment Server to Import the Layer and Set it to Activate on Start

Objective: To understand how to use the Deployment Solution to control SVS layers on a client computer.

1. From the Deployment Solution Console, create a new job folder and name it after your application.
2. Under that folder, create a new job named “<LayerName>: Import and Set Activate on Start”.
3. Add a “Run Script” task to the job.
4. Select the radio button for Run this script and add the following:
   
   SVSCMD.exe I –P “<location of your vsa file”
   SVSCMD.exe “<LayerName>” AUTO –Y
   
   
5. Select Windows as the script operating system.
6. Click Next.
7. In the Script Window option choose Hidden.
8. Click Finish.
9. Now the job is ready to be deployed, so drag and drop the clean and production computers on the job.
10. Once the job has completed, reboot the client computers (via DS power controls) and log back on.

Objective: To understand how to deactivate and delete Software Virtualization Solution layers using Deployment Solution.

1. From the Deployment Solution Console, create a new job called “<LayerName>: Deactivate and Delete” under the job folder named after your application.
2. Create a new Run Script task inside of the job with the following script:
   
   SVSCMD.exe “<LayerName>” D DEL –F
3. Choose Windows as the script operating system.
4. Click Next.
5. In the Script Window option choose Hidden.
6. Click Finish.
7. Drag and drop the client computers onto the job, start it immediately, and watch the layer disappear.