Punching Clouds

Ok Folks, I’m finally back! I been kind a busy lately, and haven’t been able to get post some new material and for some time even the site was down due to some database issues. Now for those of you that are system administrators, application administrators, and/or solutions architects with interest in the VDI,  and application virtualization environments with VMware View, and ThinApp, VMware just release training to satisfy your hunger. The new class Application Virtualization with ThinApp is a one day instructor led training with over 60% of the class focus on hands on labs. The course is targeted for administrators with the skills to virtualize Windows applications with VMware ThinApp application.

The Course objectives are to get the attendees to understand the operations major components, and architecture of ThinApp. This will provide knowledge on how to modify Package.ini parameters to increase the variety and complexity of virtualized applications. Make use of the Application Link to dynamically link application components such as Microsoft.NET to multiple applications, and Application Sync to update applications deployed from centralized servers. The class is not targeted for total rookies as there is a certain level of knowledge required on VMware View, and ThinApp. Take a look at the VMware Education site for more detain information.

Application Virtualization with ThinApp Course Outline

VMware ThinApp Architecture

• Architecture that supports a virtualized application
• Relationships between the ThinApp runtime, the virtual file system and the virtual registry

Packaging Applications

• Capturing and virtualizing an application

Modify Package.ini Parameters

• entry point, access control, and isolation parameters
• the sandbox folder and the sbmerge.exe utility

Building Applications with Application Link

• Application Link features
• Application Link parameters in the Package.ini file

Deploying and Updating Applications

• EXE files versus MSI files for local application deployment
• Streaming applications from servers
• Using the versioning model to update applications
• Using Application Sync to update applications

Performance and Troubleshooting

• Performance considerations
• Troubleshooting ThinApp packages

I can tell you all that there is a great deal of focus on VDI, and application virtualization and getting it done right will drive the use and stability of your deployments. If you use VMware View and ThinApp or were considering them as a possible or future solution,  one day of training on the material wont hurt.

Today VMware released the new version of their application virtualization platform. The new version ThinApp 4.5  is said to speed up the migration process to Windows 7  as much as 40 % for customers who are planning upgrading to Microsoft latest desktop operating system.

The new version of ThinApp includes new technologies and features such as:

• Support for new operating systems: Windows 7, and Windows Server 2008 R2
• New Relink utility for upgrading applications without the need to repackage or rebuilding them
• Improve support for MSI packages larger than 2 GB
• I/O performance improvement for Virtual Desktop Infrastructure
• Memory  sharing improvements for suites of applications and Terminal Server
• Startup time improvements
• Bandwidth consumption improvements
• New packages.ini parameter: OptimizedFor
• Support for capturing on partially non-clean PC
• Quality Reporting 1.0
• Journaling of Virtual file system meta data and virtual registry
• Improved support for application white listing (AppLocker for Windows 7)
• User interface improvements
• Quality improvements & Wine test
• ThinApp Community Portal for Applications

There is a great deal of information in regards to the features and improvements on the VMware ThinApp blog site so you should head there and get more details about them.

Today VMware released a new maintenance upgrade for View 4.0. The new release specifically addresses a number of bugs and known issues found in original release. The issues addressed with the release are focused around enhancing the PCoIP feature, and localization of the View client:

• Single sign-on support using PCoIP for third party providers such as Sentillion and Imprivata

• Virtual Printing (ThinPrint) support with PCoIP

• Localization of the View clients and documentation in French, German, Japanese and Simplified Chinese languages

• Support for international keyboards

For more detailed information go to the VMware View documentation site

Hey Folks, for those of you that have VDI environments with VMware View or not, a new version was just released. VMware View 3.1 is now available for download at the VMware site. I have to say that this release is not the version that is 100 % compatible with the vSphere platform yet, that will be VMware View 4, but this release does pack a great deal of improvements that range from performance, USB, Multimedia Redirection, logging, and more. Here are is a brief list of enhancements, but visit the VMware View Manager 3.1 release notes site for more in depth details:

• Performance Improvements – Login times are significantly improved and server utilization is reduced.
• Automated LDAP Data and View Composer Database Backup – You can now configure automated backup of LDAP data and View Composer databases in View Administrator, enabling disaster recovery.
• Client Information – Information about the client device that the end user is connecting from is now provided for the desktop session as registry settings. This enables customers to use third party tools or create custom scripts to map local printers to devices. The information available includes the device name, IP address, and MAC address.
• Improved Logging – Debug logs are now enabled by default. Logging has been improved to provide more informational messages with minimal performance impact.
• Edit Desktop Wizard Navigation – Improved wizard navigation enables you to quickly modify existing desktop pools.
• USB Improvements – View 3.1 offers more reliable and broader device support with reduced bandwidth consumption. A separate TCP/IP stream is used.
• Multimedia Redirection (MMR) for Windows Vista – MMR is now supported in Windows Vista environments. MMR technology delivers the multimedia stream directly to the client using an RDP virtual channel instead of decoding and rendering it with RDP. This enables full fidelity playback in View Client.
• Adobe Flash Bandwidth Reduction – The Adobe Flash bandwidth reduction feature improves end-user productivity when browsing Adobe Flash content.
• Multi-Protocol Support – View Client can now use HP Remote Graphics Software (RGS) as the display protocol when connecting to HP Blade PCs, HP Workstations, and HP Blade Workstations. The connection is brokered by View Manager. HP RGS is a display protocol from HP that allows a user to access the desktop of a remote computer over a standard network. VMware View 3.1 supports HP RGS Version 5.2.5. VMware does not bundle or license HP RGS with View 3.1. Please contact HP to license a copy of HP RGS software version 5.2.5 to use with View 3.1. This release does not support HP RGS connections to virtual machines.

VMware has one of the most sought after training curriculums in the industry. Their current educational portfolio for VI3 is filled with classes and materials that cover a variety of products ranging from the host based platform products such as VMware Fusion, VMware Workstation, VMware Server, VMware ACE to their industry leading enterprise bare metal hypervizors and complementary products like VMware ESX/ESXi 3.5, VMware vCenter Server 2.5, VMware Lab Manager, VMware Site Recovery Manager, VMware View.

With every product release comes a new training curriculum.  Because the vSphere 4 platform has grown so much, there is going to be a variety of new classes and a new roadmap for education that will be amazingly well suited for this new platform. In order to go beyond the old schema, which focused training on products and VMware’s certification programs, VMware’s new curriculum will be centered around certain areas of expertise that include the following:

• Virtualization Generalist
• Security Specialist
• Performance Specialists
• Virtual Desktop Administrator
• Availability Specialist

vSphere 4 is no run of the mill product; it’s a robust platform that really pushes the envelope, so it will take a good deal of training to unlock its full potential.  The new classes will do just that by providing you with the skills and tools associated with these job roles.

Here’s a list of the classes that will be available this year:

Virtualization Generalist

• VMware vSphere: Install, Configure, Manage V4
• VMware vSphere: Script & Automate V4
• VMware vSphere: Manage Availability V4
• VMware vSphere: Troubleshooting V4
• VMware vSphere Design

Security Specialists

• VMware vSphere: Install, Configure, Manage V4
• VMware vSphere: Manage and Design for Security V4

Performance Specialists

• VMware vSphere: Install, Configure, Manage V4
• VMware vSphere: Manage and Design for Perfrmance V4

Virtual Desktop Administrators

• VMware vSphere: Install, Configure, Manage V4
• VMware View: Install, Configure, Manage V3
• VMware View: Design

Availability Specialists

• VMware vSphere: Install, Configure, Manage V4
• VMware vSphere: Manage Availability V4
• VMware Site Recovery Manager: Install, Configure, Test V1
• Business Continuity Data Recovery: Design

The  VMware vSphere: Fast Track V4 class is a five day course designed for accelerated learners that want to learn about a variety of expert topics. The class is based on a well balanced mix of of content from the Install, Configure, Manage, Scripting & Automate, Manage Scalability, Manage Availability and Troubleshooting classes. Classes range from two to five day classes and they will be available in two formats – Instructor Lead Training and Live on Line.

So, get those gears churning because there’s going to be some wonderful new tools to add to your ever-expanding virtual toolbox!