Application Virtualization "MS App-V" overview

Application Virtualization: If you want to test a new application in a virtual environment, you must first deploy a virtual machine (VM) and install an OS before you can load the application. In the case of Windows OSs, you might also need to purchase an additional license.

Application virtualization started gaining ground with Microsoft’s 2006 purchase of SoftGrid from Softricity. SoftGrid has since been renamed Microsoft Application Virtualization (App-V) and is available as part of "Microsoft Desktop Optimization Pack" (MDOP).

Application virtualization lets software run in a virtualization layer, without the overhead associated with a VM. Microsoft’s App-V client, which comes in varieties for desktops and terminal servers, uses a technology called SystemGuard to sandbox changes that an application would usually make to the registry, file system, and other OS components, and intercepts requests between the application and the virtualized resources. In addition, SystemGuard also isolates virtualized applications from each other.

App-V includes an optional server component that allows the App-V client to stream virtual applications on demand from a server, and run the applications offline (i.e., when disconnected from the server) if necessary. IT departments can sequence programs once and stream them to desktops and terminal servers without having to test for application conflicts. When a program is updated on the App-V server, changes can be streamed automatically to clients. All these factors lead to reduced support, deployment, and patching costs.