Lars' System Center Blog

Creating and Distributing App-V packages

Yesterday I posted How you can integrate App-V and SCCM, today we’ll have al look at creating and advertising App-V packages. Before you can deploy you need an app-v package, you need to sequence one. You can find more info on sequencing here:

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc843764.aspxWhen

And a nice demo here:

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/ff420327

When You or in my case the packagers/sequencers have created a sequenced application you receive a folder location with the app. A app-v source folder will look like this:

Before you start creating you packages there is a small detail you will need to do… in the source folder of your app-v package you need to delete or rename the report.xml file. All explain later why.

Creating a Virtual Application Package in SCCM:

1. In the Configuration Manager console, navigate to System CenterConfiguration Manager / Site Database / Computer Management / Software Distribution / Packages.
   
   
   

2. To open the New Virtual Application Package Wizard, right-click Packages and select New / Virtual Application Package.
   
   
   
   

3. On the Package Source page, specify the location of the virtual application that you want to import into Configuration Manager 2007 by clicking Browse.
   
   
   

4. The directory you select must contain the manifest.XML file for the virtual application.
   
   
   
   
   If you did not deleted/rename the second xml file you will get this:
   
   
   

5. Click Next.
   
   
   

6. On the General page, provide identifying information for the virtual application package. You can specify the Name, Version, Manufacturer, Language, and an optional Comment that will be associated with the virtual application package. Also specify if the virtual package should be removed from Configuration Manager 2007 clients when the associated advertisement has been deleted. Click Next.
   
   
   

7. On the Data Source page, specify the destination location that will be used as the Configuration Manager 2007 package source. This is the location where virtual application packages will be copied to distribution points from. The files for the sequenced application will be copied to the specified directory and the .sft file will be renamed and any associated .osd files will reference the new .sft file. The Destination directory cannot be the same location as the Source directory. After the virtual application package is created the destination directory cannot be changed. Click Next.
   
   
   

8. On the Security page, configure the security that will be associated with the virtual application package and click Next.
   
   
   

9. On the Summary page, verify the settings that have been configured with the virtual application package and click Next.
   
   
   
   I ran into a problem here… I don’t know why but the first time the package was never created and my console crashed, The second and third time the package creation was successful but I took a “really” long time (over 60m) to create. This could be a general problem or just in my environment, time will tell…. I’ll have to look into that.
   
   
   

10. On the Confirmation page, confirm that the virtual application package was successfully imported and click Close to exit the New Virtual Application Package Wizard.
    
    

After you have imported a virtual application package into Configuration Manager 2007, for Configuration Manager 2007 clients to run it you must add the virtual application package to  distribution points and advertise the virtual application package to a Configuration Manager 2007 collection. There is no difference with physical packages. We can do this with the distribute software wizard

Distributing and Advertising a virtual application package:

1. In the Configuration Manager console, navigate to System Center Configuration Manager / Site Database / Computer Management / Software Distribution / Packages
   
   
   

2. If necessary, expand the Packages node. To open the Distribute Software wizard right-click Your Virtual Package, select Distribute, and then click Software.
   
   
   

3. On the Welcome page, click Next
   
   
   

4. On the Distribution page, select your Distribution Points and click Next
   
   
   

5. On the Advertise Virtual Application Package page, select Yes and click Next
   
   
   

6. On the Select Program page, click Next
   

   
   
   Remark: You cannot create programs for Virtual applications:
   
   
   
   there are no programs for a Virtual application package…
   

7. On the Advertisement Target page, specify the collection for the advertisement and Click Next.
   
   
   

8. On the Advertisement Name page, specify the name for the advertisement and Click Next.
   
   
   
   
9. On the Advertisement Subcollection page, Click Next.
   
   
   
10. On the Advertisment Schedule page, specify the properties of the advertisement. Click Next.
    
    
    
    
If you want Configuration Manager 2007 clients to run the package from a distribution point, unselect Download Content from unprotected distribution points and run locally. UnSelecting this option will configure Configuration Manager 2007 clients to stream the virtual application across the network.


11. On the Assigne Program page, Click Next.
    
    
    
12. On the Summary page, verify the settings that have been configured with the virtual application package and click Next.

13. On the Wizard Complete page, Click Close.

More info on app-v here:

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc843848.aspx

We know can distribute/stream out App-V packages to our clients

Keep it Clean!

Lars Verbist
twitter:@LarsVerbist