Application Virtualization

Application virtualization keeps Microsoft Windows gold images "clean" by separating applications from the operating system, helps avoid version conflict, and enables application deployment without installation headaches. But traditional application virtualization tools:

• Cannot virtualize antivirus, printers, device and kernel mode drivers, shell-integrated applications, Microsoft Office plug-ins, and many other application types.

• Often require complex sequencing procedures that make patches and updates difficult.

• Rely on process isolation - an advantage when you want to avoid version conflict or run two different versions of the same app at the same time - but a disadvantage when your virtualized apps need to communicate.

• Force IT to spend time understanding how apps will be used by the business before they can be packaged, adding cost and complexity.

Unidesk improves application delivery in VDI environments by enabling you to:

• Package the "last 20%" of your applications. Unidesk can package and deliver all application types as independent layers, even plug-ins and complex applications with kernel mode drivers, device drivers, and DCOM services. You'll be able to keep your Microsoft Windows gold image clean so it can be used by all virtual desktops, and avoid gold image sprawl.

• Simplify the management experience. With Unidesk, you don't need a separate management console just to manage your applications. Unidesk desktop layering technology virtualizes the entire desktop - user, applications, and operating system - so you can create and deliver custom virtual desktops with ease. Packaging and updating applications are also easy - no complex sequencing or scripting required. And since Unidesk virtualized apps are not isolated, you won't have to spend time understanding whether specific apps need to communicate.

• Minimize the storage impact. Unidesk layering technology shares a single instance of each virtualized application across many virtual desktops, dramatically reducing the VDI storage footprint.

• Integrate with traditional application virtualization when isolation is needed. If you need the benefits of process isolation for a subset of your applications (e.g. users need to run Internet Explorer 6.0 and 7.0 or Microsoft Access 2003 and 2007 on the same desktop), Unidesk is perfectly compatible with VMware ThinApp, Microsoft App-V, and other traditional application virtualization tools. Simply package applications virtualized with these tools as a Unidesk application layer.

• Manage the full application life cycle. Unidesk offers version management, the ability to rollback applications to a previous version, automated assignment of applications based on directory attributes, and centralized reporting. These advanced life cycle management capabilities also apply to VMware ThinApp virtualized applications.