Configure and deploy virtual machines and services - Configuring and Deploying a Private Cloud - page 283

Understanding Server App-V packages
A Server App-V package contains the following files:
■ .SFT file The package payload file. This binary file is created by the Server App-V
sequencer and stores the deployed files, folders, registry settings, and any other pack-
age data.
■ .OSD files, Open Software Descriptor files. These XML-based files provide information
to the Server App-V agent on how to import the package.
■ .SPRJ file The sequencer project file. This XML-based file is used by the Server App-V
sequencer to modify or upgrade the package.
■ _Manifest.xml The Packagename_manifest.xml file stores information that describes
the package. The Server App-V agent uses this file, in conjunction with the .OSD files,
to import the package. The Packagename_manifest.xml file also includes information
on how to run the package.
■ DeploymentConfig.xml This file stores data used to customize package settings
that were specific to the environment in which the application was sequenced. For
example, database connection strings, server names, and passwords for a specific
deployment.
Sequencing applications
At a high level, sequencing an application involves performing the following steps:
1. Deploy the Server App-V sequencer to the computer that will host the application.
2. Start the Server App-V sequencer by running the New Virtual Application Package
Wizard.
3. Install the application that you want to virtualize to the Server App-V virtual drive (Q:\).
4. Run any other installers necessary to finalize application configuration.
5. Once installation completes, stop the Server App-V sequencer.
6. Save the virtualized application as a package to a location external to the server used
to perform the sequencing.
When preparing the server on which you will be sequencing the application, consider the
following best practices:
■ Prepare the computer that will host the Server App-V sequencer to have a configura-
tion as similar as possible to the computers that will host the sequenced application in
a production environment.
■ Verify that the default sequencing drive is available. Server App-V uses volume Q: by
default. If servers in your environment already map volume Q: for other purposes,
adjust the default sequencing drive prior to attempting to sequence the application.
■ Disable unused applications. The computer that hosts the sequencer should have no
anti-malware software active and no Windows Update activity pending.