ConfigMgr 2012 Beta 2 with App-V integration

In ConfigMgr 2007 with R2 it was possible to import App-V packages and stream them to the end user. There was also the possibility to choose between streaming or local delivery for that. Have a look at this blog for more information about ConfigMgr 2007 with App-V integration: http://henkhoogendoorn.blogspot.com/2010/12/configmgr-2007-with-app-v-integration.html

Because of multiple reasons there was the choice between App-V integration in ConfigMgr 2007 or using the stand-alone App-V solution. I have selected a few websites with more information about that:

• App-V 4.6 and ConfigMgr 2007 SP2: even better together
• How to integrate App-V with SCCM without losing the features you care about
• Integration App-V and SCCM
• SCCM / App-V hybrid architecture
• App-V - Introduction, Components and SCCM Integration
• SCCM and App-V Integration Whitepaper

Personally I think that the combination of ConfigMgr 2007 and App-V is quite good, only it's better to keep them seperate. This because it's a bit slower in ConfigMgr and there's no publishing functionality in it. That way you must decide where to put the shortcuts in the App-V package, during sequencing. Also all shortcuts will be displayed on the desktop or in the start menu after publishing; no changes on that possible.

The advantage of putting App-V packages in ConfigMgr 2007, and using a Distribution Point (DP) for streaming is integration. No need for having App-V Management and/or Streaming servers that way. Just configure the (existing) ConfigMgr server and deploy all your applications from one platform! The only App-V installation needed is the Sequencer for creating App-V packages. Instead of multiple App-V servers, more Distribution Points are recommended then.

Now have a look at the combination of ConfigMgr 2012 Beta 2 and App-V. In ConfigMgr 2012 things are quite different. Open the ConfigMgr console, Select Application Management, rightclick on that and choose Create Application. There are four (4) choices now, with Microsoft Application Virtualization in here also. Just import a already sequenced application here.

When looking in the Applications screen there are no orange App-V icons anymore. On every application there are tabs for Deployment Types and Deployment (first known as advertisement). On deployment types there are new Content settings seen:

• Persist content in the client cache
• Enable peer-to-peer content distribution
• Load content into AppV cache before launch

Default settings for fast or slow/unreliable network boundary:

• Fast > Download content (changed to Stream content in my environment)
• Slow/unreliable > Do not download (changed to Download content in my environment)

On the Publishing tab, which is also new in ConfigMgr 2012, shortcuts can be selected. Keep in mind that the location (desktop and/or start menu) cannot be set, so still this must be decided during sequencing. The shortcuts that will be displayed on the desktop or in the start menu can be selected now!

For streaming App-V packages from Distribution Points no further configuration is needed in ConfigMgr 2012. Distribution Points have streaming functionality by default now. For App-V integration on the desktops an App-V 4.6 SP1 client is needed. No further configuration is needed on that also. Sometimes the Cache will be placed on another drive, and the Cache size will be enlarged. The file type extensions will be automatically associated to the new applications.

New applications available from ConfigMgr 2012

File type extensions are automatically associated

That's all you need to have for App-V integration in ConfigMgr 2012. Because off better user support in ConfigMgr 2012, App-V integration will be a more interesting choice now!

ConfigMgr 2007 with App-V integration

With ConfigMgr 2007 Release 2 (R2) it is possible to add App-V packages to the ConfigMgr console, and advertise them to ConfigMgr clients. With that functionality, no additional App-V Management or Streaming server is needed anymore. Now there is one solution for managing and publishing MSI-based & Virtual-based applications! I will explain in this blog what to configure in the ConfigMgr console, and how the App-V packages will be published to the ConfigMgr clients.

How it works?

ConfigMgr 2007 supports running sequenced applications created using the App-V Platform. App-V packages are running on ConfigMgr 2007 clients without having to install applications on the computer. Target computers must be running Windows XP (or above) to run virtual application packages. After you create a sequenced application using the App-V Sequencer, you must import the package into ConfigMgr 2007 and deploy the App-V package to ConfigMgr 2007 clients.

First you must make sure you are running ConfigMgr SP2 and R2 or R3 for having fast App-V package delivery. While Release 2 (R2) is needed for App-V functionality, Service Pack 2 (SP2) is needed for fast App-V package delivery. Because with ConfigMgr SP1 it could take up to 10 - 15 minutes for having the App-V packages available, while with SP2 there is almost no delivery delay! With ConfigMgr SP2, delivery can be as fast as with App-V streaming server, which is a great feature!

Client setup

On the computer there is a ConfigMgr client and a App-V client needed. There is no additional configuration on the App-V client needed. You need to enable Virtual Application Deployment in ConfigMgr, and ConfigMgr configures the App-V client for you. Any existing policies will be overruled. Best practice is to put the ConfigMgr client and App-V client in the Task sequence, which is used at deployment. Otherwise App-V delivery is not possible.

ConfigMgr 2007 setup

I will describe here which configuration is needed in the ConfigMgr console. These are all needed for having App-V functionality in ConfigMgr 2007.

Warning: this approach will affect every App-V client with the ConfigMgr client connected to the site. This because App-V management in ConfigMgr will overrule the existing App-V configuration.

In the ConfigMgr Distribution point properties (General) choose for "Allow clients to transfer content from this Distribution point using BITS, HTTP, and HTTPS"

In the ConfigMgr Distribution point properties (Virtuall Applications) choose for "Enable virtual application streaming"

At last, in the Advertised Programs Client Agent properties (General) enable "Allow virtual application package advertisement"

Because ConfigMgr supports two types of App-V delivery (streaming and local delivery), you need the above setting. Streaming delivery is simular to App-V streaming server and uses HTTP(S). Local delivery does "download and execute" the App-V package using BITS (same as MSI-based applications). With local delivery the App-V package will be saved on the computer, and is alltimes available (same as MSI-based (installed) applications)! Streaming is recommended on (VDI) desktops or fat clients.

App-V packages

In the ConfigMgr console you can add MSI-based & Virtual-based applications. I will describe the steps for adding App-V packages here.

Right-click on Software Distribution - Packages and choose for New > Virtual Application Package. Find the XML file, and add the App-V package.

Create an (sub)Collection for every application you want to advertise. Create a Active Directory group for every application, and add it to the collection.



Create an advertisement for every application you want to distribute, and add it to the collection with the same name. Choose for the following settings:

• Schedule: Mandatory assignments (occurs on current date/time)
• Distributing points: Stream virtual applications from Distribution point
• Interaction: Allow users to run the program independently of assignments

While sequencing choose for leaving icons in the Start menu and/or on the Desktop. This because no App-V Publishing server will be available, and users will see no icons to start the application.

Results on the computer

When all of the above steps has been set, App-V delivery will be available. On the ConfigMgr client there will be a policy refresh everytime you logon. At that point the App-V package will be available after 5 - 30 seconds. This will depends on sizing and configuration of the ConfigMgr server.

Again more functionality becomes available in the ConfigMgr console!