Application Layering with VMware App Volumes

Delivering applications within a virtual desktop environment has always proven to be a challenge given the stateless nature in which virtual desktops are deployed. How can organizations deliver applications each time an end user logs in to his or her desktop given that the desktop they just logged in to has been created as a brand-new machine and basically has nothing installed on it?

App Volumes delivers applications in real-time to virtual desktop machines, enabling VDI deployments to return even greater flexibility, agility and cost reduction. Enterprises can fully utilize the stateless virtual desktop model in all use VDI uses cases. For users such as developers who required a persistent, fully-stateful virtual desktop machine of their own, they too can take advantage of the advantages of a stateless virtual desktop model enabling better return on investment as well as centralised application delivery.

This book will guide you on a journey of how to deploy an App Volumes environment, with easy-to-follow step by step instructions with real-life screenshots based on a test lab environment that you can build as you go.

The book starts  with an overview of what App Volumes delivers and the challenges it resolves. From there, we will start to explore the architecture and components that make up the solution, concentrating on how to design and plan your own environment.

Once you have understood the technology and use cases, then it’s time to start installing and configuring the App Volumes software. Once installed we can then start to look more closely at the core components to the App Volumes solution and how to build your application layers. As part of this, we will also cover some of the more advanced management tasks for managing the environment.

Once you have built the core environment and created some examples of application layers, we will then look at how to integrate App Volumes with some of the other EUC technologies that are available in the market such as VMware ThinApp, Microsoft RDSH, Citrix XenApp (Citrix Virtual Apps), and Citrix XenDesktop (Citrix Virtual Desktop).

Throughout this book we will provide you with useful hints and tips, along with best practices, all based on experience of deploying App Volumes within the Enterprise.

At the end of the journey, you will have built a complete working App Volumes environment and will have acquired the skills and knowledge to deploy your own production environment.

Tagline
Step-by-step guide to designing, deploying and managing VMware App Volumes

Key Features

• Understanding the concept of application layering
• App Volumes architecture overview
• Installing App Volumes
• Working with App Volumes, App Stacks and Writeable Volumes
• Integration with VDI, app publishing, and desktop publishing solutions
• Advanced configuration and management

What will you learn

This book will enable you to learn about how to deliver real-time applications using VMware App Volumes. You will start by learning about the architecture of the solution, the use cases, and what benefits it delivers.

Following the introduction, you will learn how to install the App Volumes software, how to configure it and then how to create your application layers to ready them for delivery to end users.

Finally, you will learn how App Volumes integrate into not only other VMware EUC technologies, but also some of the market-leading third-party solutions from Citrix and Microsoft.

Who this book is for

This book is designed for virtual desktop administrators and architects who are looking to design and deploy a solution that can deliver applications on-demand to end users who are using virtual desktop machines. App Volumes enables them to move to a stateless VDI model which is both more cost effective and easier to manage.

To understand the concepts and technology used in this book you will need to have a good working knowledge of the Microsoft Windows operating systems for both desktops (namely virtual desktops) and servers (used for installing App Volumes and other functions such as AD, file sharing, and RDSH). You will also need experience in managing and administering a vSphere environment used to host the solution.

As App Volumes is all about delivering applications, you should have a good working knowledge of Windows app delivery methodologies as well as publishing apps using Microsoft RDSH.

This book will guide you through the complete process, step-by-step, in building an App Volumes environment.

1. Introduction to app layering & VMware App Volumes
2. Installing VMware App Volumes
3. Getting familiar with the Management Console
4. Creating & Configuring AppStacks
5. Creating & Configuring Writable Volumes
6. Advanced Configuration
7. App Volumes & JMP
8. Delivering AppStacks with Citrix XenDesktop
9. Delivering App Volumes with Microsoft RemoteApp
10. Delivering App Volumes with Citrix XenApp
11. Delivering AppStacks with Horizon Apps
12. Delivering ThinApp apps with App Volumes

Peter von Oven is an experienced technical consultant working closely with customers and partners designing technology solutions, to meet business needs. During his career, Peter has presented at key IT events such as VMworld, IP EXPO, and variousVMUGs and CCUG events. He has also worked in senior pre-sales roles and pre-sales management roles for Fujitsu, HP, Citrix, and VMware, and has been awarded VMware vExpert for the last four years in a row.

In 2016, Peter founded his own company, Droplet Computing, where he works today as the Founder and Chief Technology Officer, helping redefine the way applications are delivered today.

He is also an avid author, having now written 13 books and made videos about VMware end user computing solutions.

In his spare time, Peter volunteers as a STEM Ambassador, helping the next generation develop the skills and confidence in building careers in technology.