Application Virtualization

What is Application Virtualization?

Application virtualization is an umbrella term that describes technologies that improve application compatibility and manageability by encapsulating applications from the underlying operating system on which they are executed. A virtualized application is not installed in the traditional sense, although it is still executed as if it is. Application virtualization differs from operating system virtualization in that in the latter case, the whole operating system is vitualized rather than only specific applications.

Technology categories that fall under application virtualization include:

Application Streaming. The application is delivered in a package, that may include a subset of OS files and configuration settings. Running the package requires the installation of a lightweight client application. Packages are usually delivered over a protocol such as HTTP or RTSP.

Desktop Virtualization/Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI). The application is hosted in a VM or blade PC that also includes the operating system (OS). These solutions include a management infrastructure for automating the creation of virtual desktops, and providing for access control to target virtual desktop. VDI solutions can usually fill the gaps where application streaming falls short.

Self-contained VM packages such as VMWare ACE. These packages are typically launched with a small runtime player (which may be bundled with the package), and can be launched from a portable USB flash drive.

When a virtualised application is launched, the virtualization layer intercepts and transparently redirects any operations such as file I/O by that application. This application believes it has direct access to the underlying operating system resources, although in effect it does not, as its operations are transparently redirected elsewhere.

Application virtualization is commonly paired with application streaming to deliver applications on demand.

Benefits

Allows applications to run in environments that do not suit the native application
May protect the operating system and other applications from poorly written or buggy code.
Uses fewer resources than a separate virtual machine.
Run applications that are not written correctly, for example applications that try to store user data in a read-only system-owned location.
Run incompatible applications side-by-side, at the same time.
Simplified operating system migrations.
Accelerated application deployment, through on-demand application streaming.
Improved security, by isolating applications from the operating system.

Click Manageware Virtualization Solution

The Click Manageware Virtualization Solution is a revolutionary approach to on demand software management. By placing applications and data into managed units called Virtual Software Packages, Click Manageware Virtualization Solution allows you to instantly activate, deactivate or reset applications and to completely avoid conflicts between applications, without altering the base Windows installation.

Application streaming provides the on-demand delivery mechanism that leverages the power of Software Virtualization to enable the real-time infrastructure.

On-Demand Streamed Virtualization

You can easily activate or deactivate applications without risk to customer environments or breaking pre existing applications by sending a single command to the client system. The Click Manageware Virtualization Solution can also register any services that the application installed with the Windows Service Control Manager, which then loads the service so the application is fully functional. Application availability is instantaneous.The user is not required to have system rights to run an installation, and you don’t need to worry about rebooting when you activate or deactivate an application.

The Click Manageware Virtualization Solution combines application virtualization and streaming to provide the greatest flexibility in secure and cost effective application delivery. Streaming allows on-demand Software distribution. It provides controlled, guaranteed access to necessary applications from any location at any time.

How Does It Work?

An application is virtualized using a capture process that creates a Virtual Software Package™ (VSP™). A VSP is delivered to the client computer by simply copying it to the target machine. At this point, the VSP is not active, meaning it is invisible to the end user. Once the VSP is activated, the application becomes visible along with its files.

Streaming Virtualized Benefits

Eliminate application conflicts
Instantly repair damaged applications
On-demand application delivery
Won’t break locally installed applications