Information Technology Reference
In-Depth Information
Users can use application virtualization to run applications locally even though those applica-
tions are not installed directly on the client computers. This works because App-V client soft-
ware is installed directly on the client computers and simulates a specially prepared operating
system environment. Virtualized applications run within that specially prepared simulated
environment.
Virtualized applications do not interact directly with the client operating system but
instead interact with the App-V client. The App-V client functions as a proxy through which
the application uses operating system resources.
App-V provides the following benefits over traditionally deployed, locally installed applica-
tions. With App-V, you can:
■
Run multiple versions of applications without conflict
You can use App-V to
run different versions of applications concurrently on the same client computer. For
example, it is possible to run Microsoft Word 2007, Word 2010, and Word 2013 concur-
rently if they are all set up as App-V applications; otherwise, you cannot run these
applications side by side on the same client computer. It also is possible to use App-V
in conjunction with Remote Desktop Services (RDS). This enables users to run applica-
tions side by side on Remote Desktop Session Host servers.
■
Minimize application conflict
Sometimes two or more applications cause conflicts
with each other because of dynamic-link library (DLL) or application programming
interface (API) conflicts. However, when you install these applications as App-V
applications, there is no conflict because each App-V application runs in its own iso-
lated environment.
Simplify application removal
App-V applications are not installed locally, so they
can be removed completely. Clean removal is not always possible with applications
that are installed directly on Windows-based clients, even if an application has been
designed to remove all files and settings when it is uninstalled. Virtualized applica-
tions are easily removed after the user signs out from the computer and can be purged
automatically from the App-V client cache.
■
Simplify application upgrades
Instead of upgrading a locally installed application
on all computers in your organization with a hotfix, service pack, or new versions, the
modular nature of virtualized applications enables you to replace one version of an
application with an updated version with less effort.
■
Minimize license compliance risks
App-V has license group functionality, so you
can ensure that only a specific number of users can run an application at any point in
time.
■
Scale infrastructure
Depending on the infrastructure model you use, you can add
publishing servers to an App-V deployment as necessary to ensure that service levels
are maintained as demand grows.
■
