Client Management Suite

Fairly fresh install of CMS 7.1, but not finding any well-written information on using software virtualization in the suite. I have the plug-in installed on some test boxes, but now what? How do you virtualize an app? I see ther eis an option to virtualize an app during install through a managed software delivery and that seemed to actually work. No what? How do you manage the app, turn it off and back on, reset it, etc? Thanks for any help.

Hello,

You are right, there is an option to virtualize an application, Managed Software Delivery policy check box to deploy with a virtual layer.

About managing, I have found some info that will probably answer your question:

Altiris™ Software Management Solution 7.1 SP1 from Symantec™ User Guide                 http://www.symantec.com/docs/DOC3918  (Section 4, Chapter 16 - Managing virtual applications)

Please take a look at this section and let us know if this information helped you?

Regards

Andrey

Hi hamsalad00,

You could use Software Virtualization Command tasks to manage your virtual software environment. Using the Software Virtualization Comand task you´ll be able to:

• Activate: Activates a virtual software layer that was installed on a managed computer. When a layer is activated, its contents become visible to the user. If the layer contains an application, the application is fully functional
• Deactivate: Deactivates a virtual software layer that was installed on a managed computer. When a layer is deactivated, it is hidden from the user but is still on the computer.
• Reset: Resets a virtual software layer to its original installed state.
• Delete: Deletes a virtual software layer that was installed on a managed computer. This action removes the layer and all of its contents.
• Import: Imports (installs) a virtual software archive (VSA) file to a managed computer and creates a new virtual software layer. After you install the VSA file, you must activate the layer to make it functional.
• Deactivate and Delete: Deactivates and deletes a virtual software layer that was installed on a managed computer. Before you can delete some applications, you must first deactivate them. For example, you must deactivate Yahoo! Messenger before you can delete it. This action is not available with a Software Virtualization task.

Regards,

The folder is under Jobs and Tasks>Software>Software Virtualization Command, but the folder seems to be empty. I can make a new virtualization task, but it wants to refer to software that is already set to be virtualized...I think.

Andrey, thanks for the link, but I've already got that document. It just seems to be an overview and isn't all that technical on how to virtualize an app from start to finish. I would like more detail than it provides.

I discovered some other documentation and it seems Symantec's SV is terribly complicated for the benefit it ultimately provides. This link is an example: https://www-secure.symantec.com/connect/articles/virtualizing-internet-explorer-using-swv-layer-definition-tool

For one app? I wish I had the time to develop such things!

Anyhow, I think we will abandon this and just go with regular software deployment of non-virtual apps. That has always worked with very little overhead. Unfortunately, we are a small IT shop supporting a large environment and just don't have time for lengthy deployments like this.

Installing and virtualizing on the fly may work, however, with MSI-based software. I seem to have had some small success with activating and deactivating (as a test) some software that I rolled out.

Hi hamsalad00,

Using Software Virtualization Command task, you can manage software using the Layer Name. For example, if my desktop computer already have the .vsa imported, I could activate, reset or deactivate using the respective Layer Name.

1) Create Software Virtualization Command task, and choose the command and the Layer Name (for example IE 6)

2) Click OK, and configure the Apply to section.

If you want to import a .vsa, you can use the Import command, and after use the Activate command to become it contents visible to the user .

Witch software you need deploy in a virtual software layers? Do you have any virtual software layers in your computers?

Regards,

Luke, thanks for the reply. I have it partially working (via managed SW delivery on the fly) as in my last post to Andrey. I even managed to build a SW virtualization command that can control the app that was virtualized upon installation.

But, the part that seems a little convoluted is preparing an app for conversion into a virtual layer as in the link to make IE6 a virtual app. What is the easiest way to prepare an app not initially deliverd and converted to virtual on the fly?

I sound more frustrated than I actually am...I just have limited amounts of time is all :)

Thank you all for the help.

Hi it's not that difficult to virtualize an app

the way you have done it with the installation is basically how you Virtualize apps.

what we do is have a clean machine with SVA admin tool installed, from that you  choose "Create new layer" run through the wizard install the app make all the changes, shortcuts etc and then stop the capture with the admin tool.

you now have a virtual layer which you export with the admin tool to save as a VSA file which you can then copy to the target computers , Import  and Activate

the nice bit about vurtualizing is it allows you to have all the changes needed for your environment for the app captured and ready to deploy

so it's like installing and configuring the app only once for as many computers that you need to deploy it to.

some apps you don't need many changes but some have lots of changes in our environment.

HTH  C

I have already wrote in other topic the following:

"The thing is that just capturing MSI in to SVS layer will not make it work most of the cases. Application as simple as ORCA will work because there are just bunch of files which has to be captured, but other more complicated apps will not, because they can contain some custom actions (In MSI) which are registering DLLs, moving/removing files, handling certificated and so on... simple SVS capture cannot handle it and some SVS packaging has to be done to make it work."

I have packaged MSI and SVS for several years and can tell you that this is not that simple to make SVS out of MSI by just simple capturing it in to SVS layer. You will have to package it in a proper way and then deploy it.

So one option for you to virtualize some apps will be using those simple apps (just capture them and they will work) but more complicated apps (Microsoft office, Abode Apps and so on...) which will need some packaging attention (Sometimes they are not SVS packagable) you can deploy as MSIs or EXE's.

Another option is to learn SVS packaging or hire this packager

I've been looking for the SVA admin tool, but can't seem to find it.

Aside from deploying software and virtualizing on the fly, I would like to be able to deploy a pre-packaged, virtualized app.

Thanks.