Marius Sandbu

Application virtualization vs Application layering

Bio

Agenda:• Where we are today

• Application Virtualization

• ThinApp, App-V

• Application Layering

• Unidesk, AppVolumes, AppDisks

• Demo

• Summary

Where we are today

Application 1 Application 2

Group Policy System Center Script Deployment

tools Base image

Shared OS Resources

MSVCRT.DLLRegistry File explorer

Server

VM Template VM Service PXE Boot MDT/System

Center

Some issues:• Patch management• Application Compability• Application Security• Software dependency• Application testing• Software rot & dll-hell• The big bad image• Application lifecycle

management

Fixes?• Status Quo• App virtualization• App layering

Application Virtualization

Isolated Application 1

Isolated Application 2 Microsoft

App-V Vmware

ThinApp

MSVCRT.DLL Registry

File explorer

Server

VM Template VM Service PXE Boot MDT/System

Center

MSVCRT.DLL Registry

File explorer

Shared Resources

Some common properties:• Virtual file tree and registry• Includes its own software

dependency• Can if allowed in the

package read/write to the underlaying OS

• Each application is isolated• Can be grouped together• Streaming/Cached

Application Virtualization

Advantages• No install required• Fix application conflicts• No registry and system

bloat• Multiple runtime

enviroments• Easier update

management• Versioning• Improved Security• Easier to do app

customization

Disadvantages• Bandwidth

Requirements• I/O Requirements• More Infrastructure• Cost / Training• Sequencing / Capturing

Apps that cannot be virtualized• Device drivers• Boot services• Applications part of the OS• COM+• Antivirus/firewalls• VPN clients

Microsoft App-V 5

App-V Sequencing machine

App-V Management

Publishing Reporting Server

App-V Database

\\Share

Non-persistent

SCS

CachePersistent ( RSDH)

Testing

Pros• Infrastructure or

PowerShell• Large support and

integration options• App-V license included in

RDS CAL!• Large Community• Simple with Office• Many recipies

Cons• No support for Internet

Explorer sequencing• Requires a client installed

on each host• Consumes more disk I/O

Vmware ThinApp

ThinApp Capturing

File RepositoryAppSync

Script/ESD

Testing

Pros• Does not require any agent• Deployed as reguler exe or

MSI• Integrates into existing

deployment using MSI• Can virtualize Internet

Explorer• Autoupdates within

configuration

Cons• No central management

unless you have Horizon• No PowerShell support• No built-in application

usage tracking

Application Layering

Some common properties:• Multiple virtual disks

merged• May contain read/write

layers• May seperated into

application/personal/os layers

• Applications behave like normal

• Mulitple applications can be placed within the same layer

• Write filters and seperatingI/O traffic Windows (OS)

Application 2

Application 1 (R)

Application 3

Personalization (R/W)

Layers

Machine

NTFS/File System Drivers

Mini filter driver

Application Layering

Advantages• Simpler application

«capture»• Delivery application

updates• One image!• Works with

drivers/services• Can manage personal

data*

Disadvantages• Some specific

hypervisor requirement• No appliation isolation• Yet another solution?

Things Apps that cannot be layered• Depending on the

vendor..

Unidesk

Windows (OS)

Application 2

Application 1 (R)

Application 3

Personalization (R/W)

Layers

Terminal Servers/VDI

Hypervisor

Unidesk Management Applicance

Unidesk Cachepoint

Windows (OS)

Application 2

Application 1 (R)

Application 3

Personalization (R/W)

Layers

Copy layers to the host

Collection

Installation Machine

Advantages• Can layer pretty much

everything• Integrated within the

Hypervisor• Support for Hyper-V, Azure

and ESX• Support for RSDH, XenApp

and Horizon

Disadvantages• Silverlight based console

• No instant app deliverymethod

• Only on virtual machines

Citrix AppDisks*

Application 2

Application 1

Application 3

AppDisksTerminal Servers/VDI

HypervisorDesktop Delivery

Controller

Orchestrate updates

Machine Catalog - MCS

OS

MCS Master Image

Personalization layer

PVD

Preparation Machine

Advantages• Integrated into Citrix

Studio• Simple management• Can be setup using Citrix

MCS or PVS• Can be integrated with

either XenServer or ESX

Disadvantages• Requires a Citrix

enviroment• Virtual Machines only• No Instant-app delivery• Only layering for the

applications

Vmware AppVolumes

Non-persistent Constant network

connection VHD-In-guest mode

AppStack

AppStack

Writeable Volume

AppVolumesTerminal Servers/VDI

Hypervisor AppVolumes Manager

Assign resources

Provisioning Machine

AppVolumes Agent

AppVolumes Agent

AppVolumes Agent

Advantages• HTML5 based management• Instant-app delivery*• Physical and virtual

delivery• Simple to setup• Writeable layers

Disadvantages• Only ESX hypervisor

support• Wierd requirements for

physical devices

Demo-time!

Summary (When to use what)

Application virtualization:Pros:• Isolated applications• Flexible delivery methods• Application Compability

fixes• Multiple runtime

applications

Application layering:Pros:• Simple capturing process• Can include profile

management• Makes application lifecycle

simpler

Moving forward• Project Centennial• App-Containers

Q?

Thank you!