You've used SVS as a point solution on a local machine and seen the tremendous value, but how do you get this goodness out to all the users in your environment? The answer is Software Delivery Solution in conjunction with the SVS Solution available for the Notification Server infrastructure. Spread the joy quickly and easily to all Altiris managed systems.

Benefits and Functionality

There are many benefits for using Software Virtualization within the Notification Server Infrastructure.

• Single point of management for all managed systems — The Altiris Console
• Touch-less deployment of SVS Layers
• Remote troubleshooting capabilities
• Cross-functionality with other Altiris Solutions (Inventory, Software Delivery, etc)
• Invisible to the end-users (if so desired)
• Activate and deactivate layers remotely
• Software on demand via the Software Portal
• Save desk-side visits to troubleshooting software application issues
• Provide data for reporting on managed systems and SVS in-use applications

To discuss these benefits and the associated functionality, the following topics will be discussed in this article series.

Software Virtualization Solution — Part 1 This section will cover the basics of using the Solution, with added best practices and tips for the standard functionality.

Layer Management via CMDB — Part 2 How does the Altiris CMDB interact with Software Virtualization Solution? Understanding the database will help understand what occurs in the background as the Solution is being configured and used.

Software Delivery Extends Functionality — Part 3 Software Delivery Solution adds a function set not available for standard software delivery in the Notification Server Infrastructure. Though in the future SVS will inherit all Software Management functionality, in version 6.0 Software Delivery Solution can be used to extend SVS functionality.

Sequential Tasks — Part 4 Sequential Tasks available in Software Delivery Solution can help create large management jobs that allow a sequencing of tasks. With this functionalty new versions can be rolled out with a single Sequenced Task to ensure the different tasks execute in the correct order.

On Demand via Software Portal — Part 5 The Software Portal can empower users to choose which SVS-powered applications to activate on their systems. This feature allows On-Demand access, but also provides a system where approval must first be granted for those applications that require it.

Inventory Solution — Part 6 How does Inventory Solution interact with SVS? It interacts fully, with the ability to read all data contained within a layer. Using Inventory can help provide data on managing and reporting on the SVS environment.

SVS Inventory Reporting — Part 7 In conjunction with Inventory and the Notificatoin Server Event capability, reports are available and can be created to give administrators a clear picture of what is being used in the environment, and who had what installed and activated in their environment.

Collection Management — Part 8 Collection Management is especially powerful when managing the SVS layers. This article explores how the captured data from Inventory Solution, events, and other solutions in relation to SVS can be used to create dynamic collections that automate the install and updating processes.

Task Server and SVS Solution — Part 9 What can be accomplished using Task Server jobs and tasks? Explore what can be accomplished, building on items learned in previous parts of this series.

Notification Server Infrastructure

This section provides a quick look at the Notification Server Infrastructure with a heavy emphasis on the mechanisms that will be used by Software Virtualization Solution. For an existing Altiris environment the integration is simple, but for new installs it is recommended to learn the basics of the Notification Server. Two prime solutions to also learn about are Software Delivery and Inventory Solution.

Preparing the environment

The following items are required to use Software Virtualization Solution with Notification Server and Software Delivery. On the server side:

• Windows Server 2000 or 2003
• Internet Information Services
• .NET (1.1 for NS 6.0, 3.0 for NS 7)
• Microsoft SQL Server 2000 or 2005
• Notification Server
• Task Server and components

The following items are required on the client side:

• Windows 2000 SP4 Pro, Xp, Vista (NOTE: The Altiris Agent supports previous OS such as Windows 95 and 98, however the SVS Client supports the provided list)
• Internet Explorer 5.1 or later
• Altiris Agent 6.0
• Software Virtualization Agent (The NS version, stand-alone versions will not work)

The following diagram gives a breakdown of the required components:

Click to view.

For installation instructions on installing Notification Server and other prerequisites, check the Notification Server Reference Guide here: http://www.altiris.com/support/documentation, or check the documentation for the specific component you are installing.

New Installs

The following items must be completed before the actual rollout of the Software Virtualization Solution and Agent can be accomplished. This section covers a straight-forward basic view of preparing the environment for the SVS install and rollout.

1. Prepare a server and install Notification Server (as previous indicated).
2. Once installation has completed and you are in the Altiris Console, go to the Configuration tab and click on the 'Install/upgrade additional solutions' node on the left-hand side (This requires an internet connection).
3. Under 'Available Solutions', click on the Segments button.
4. Expand the category 'Notification Server Upgrades and Updates.
5. Click on 'Altiris Console 6.5' (we will be using this console through this article series).
6. On the subsequent window, click the Start button.
7. When complete, go to the URL http://<server_name>/altiris/console (or close the current console and use the link in the Start menu for the 6.5 console).
8. Go to Configure and click on Resource Discovery.
9. Type in the domain name in the 'Add Domain' field and click the blue + symbol.
10. Add in your Domain details.
11. Highlight the newly added domain and click the pencil icon. Specify credentials for that Domain if required. Note: if the account you used to install NS has rights on your domain, you do not need to specify alternate credentials:
    
    

    Click to view.

12. Check the boxes for:
    • Domain Browse List
    • Domain Membership
13. Click the 'Discover Now' button.
14. When complete, in the Altiris Console go under Configure > Agents > Agent Push.
15. At the bottom of the page a schedule is enabled against a collection. The above discovery should have filled this collection with systems that require installation. You can use the top section to conduct the push manually.
16. Click the Installation Settings button and fill out the resulting page as appropriate for your environment.
17. When complete click the 'Install Altiris Agent' and confirm OK on the following screen.
18. The push will commence in the background.
19. The Altiris Agent will now be installed. The target systems are now managed systems.

SVS Rollout

Once the Notification Server (including all prerequisites) is ready and installed, the following process walks through both installing the Software Virtualization Solution and pushing out the Software Virtualization Agent.

1. In the Altiris Console, go to Configure > and select Solution Center.
2. Under the Available Solutions tab, click the A to Z Solutions icon.
3. Find the link for 'Altiris Software Virtualization Solution' and click on it.
4. A window will appear with installation details. A large number of required components will show in the list. These include Task Server and its requisite components, Reports, and Documentation installs.
5. Click 'Start' to initiate the silent installation. This process may take considerable time if most or all of the components have not been installed previously and require installation.
6. Once installation has completed, in the Altiris Console go to View > Solutions > and click on Software Virtualization.
7. Browse under Configuration > Windows > Software Virtualization Agent Rollout > and select Software Virtualization Agent Install as shown:
   
   

   Click to view.

8. By default the collection this policy applies to includes all potential SVS —managed systems in the Altiris environment. This can be changed if desired.
9. Check the 'Enable' box to activate the policy.
10. Click the 'Apply' button.
11. The Agent will roll out over time as the systems in the collection update their configuration and receive the newly enabled policy.
12. The systems are now ready to receive and activate layers.

Conclusion

Though ambitious, this series of articles can supply administrators both the basics and the advanced uses of the Notification Server in conjunction with Software Virtualization Solution. Even for small environments Notification Server and select Solutions can create a powerful tool for managing software in a network environment. Comments and suggestions are welcome. I expect this to be a work in progress and edits and changes will be submitted as needed while this work is in progress.

SVS Integration with Notification Server - Index of Articles

SVS Integration with Notification Server - Part 1: Software Virtualization Solution