VMware ThinApp

Overview:

VMware ThinApp™, a 100% agent-less application virtualization solution, eliminates application conflicts by packaging the entire application and its settings into an executable file that is isolated from the OS. ThinApp simplifies application deployment and updates and fits into any existing infrastructure.

Watch VMware ThinApp Demo

Benefits

• Eliminate application conflicts.
• Reduce enterprise application deployment costs. Improve delivery time.
• Accelerate and simplify application deployment, updates and patches without disrupting end users.
• Leverage existing infrastructure and desktop management tools.
• Lock down endpoint PCs without restricting the use of critical applications.
• Get started quickly with 100% agent-less application virtualization in your desktop environment.

Eliminate Installation Conflicts with Application Virtualization

Application virtualization encapsulates the applications from the OS and each other; eliminating costly regression testing and conflicts from badly behaving applications. Just plug in an .MSI or .EXE file to deploy a virtual system environment, including registry keys, DLLs, third-party libraries, and frameworks without requiring any installation of agents or applications on the underlying operating system.

Package Once, Deploy Everywhere—Network, USB, Physical or Virtual Desktops

Deploy virtualized applications in user mode, without administrative rights. No device drivers are installed and no registry changes are made because the entire application and its virtual OS are delivered as a single EXE file. Transparently stream large applications from a shared network drive with no server or client software to install. Upgrade or roll-back applications while they’re running. The new version will execute the next time the user starts the application.

Cater to Your Mobile Workforce

Let your users run applications on virtually any computer they have access to, including kiosk and hotel PCs. They won’t need to install software or device drivers and won’t need admin rights. Applications run directly from portable storage devices, including Flash drives.

Improve Your Software Distribution Process

Deliver software that protects the local OS from modifications that might cause instability or breach security using your existing configuration management tools. Even restricted user accounts can safely run virtualized applications without requiring a local installation, making it much more appetizing for IT staff concerned about security.

Ease OS and Application Migrations

ThinApp agentless application virtualization eases OS migrations by enabling applications to run side by side on the same operating system. Users can continue with business as usual without disruption from problematic applications. Furthermore, if an application needs to be removed from the endpoint—it is a simple file-remove with no mess left to clean up in the system registry.

How is VMware ThinApp Used in the Enterprise?

Easy to deploy and use, VMware ThinApp helps organizations create a virtual desktop environment that streamlines and simplifies application deployment and updates. ThinApp eliminates application conflicts by encapsulating applications and their run-time settings into encrypted executables that are isolated from the underlying operating system. ThinApp plugs into any desktop management solution and fits into an organization’s existing infrastructure.

• Streamline software and OS migrations. Migrate to new operating systems without upgrading or replacing legacy applications. Run newer applications on legacy operating systems, and support multiple versions of the same application on the same PC.
• Eliminate Java runtime and component conflicts: Run different versions of Java JRE runtime needed in Web-based applications as well as different components (e.g. Java, .NET, service packs) on the same machine, without conflict.
• Simplify application packaging and reduce testing time. Provides application deployment flexibility by packaging applications into both standard EXE and MSI files.
• Enhance virtual desktop deployments. Broaden the range of applications with VMware View Composer, simplify application management and provide flexibility to end users to pick and choose the applications that reside in their virtual hosted desktop. ThinApp also reduces the storage needed for desktops because applications are hosted separately and streamed to users on demand, all with personal settings preserved.
• Improve terminal services environments. Consolidate servers by virtualizing applications that conflict and eliminate the need for dedicated infrastructure.
• Augment security policies. Lock down corporate endpoints by running applications in user mode without locking out users, and create policies that travel with the application wherever it is deployed or used.
• Improve workforce mobility. Run applications directly from USB smart drives without installation, host OS modifications, or the need for administrator rights.

How Does VMware ThinApp Work?

VMware ThinApp uses application virtualization to decouple applications from the underlying OS. ThinApp links the application, Virtual Operating System (VOS), and a compressed embedded file system and registry into a single EXE file, and provides process loading, DLL loading and thread and process management. ThinApp files can be copied to any hardware device or operating system, without conflict.

With ThinApp, administrators can build new applications much more quickly. ThinApp applications run on a wide variety of Windows platforms without the need for repackaging or retesting.

When used in conjunction with VMware View™ Premier, ThinApp works with VMware View Composer to reduce the management and storage burden of enterprise applications and images. ThinApp captures locally saved data and settings from legacy applications and natively redirects them to a user data disk, thus preserving user data across View Composer desktop refreshes. View Composer can restore desktop images back to their original size as they grow over time, without affecting the applications.

Features:

100% Agent-less Application Virtualization

• Application isolation. Run isolated applications in restricted user accounts without requiring any host modification. Deploy otherwise incompatible applications such as Office 97, 2003, 2007, and .NET applications on the same OS without conflict.
• Zero-runtime execution. Run applications directly from a compressed state for better performance and data security.
• 100% User Mode execution. Run applications on locked down, unmanaged “kiosk” PCs without administration rights to execute applications.
• Block-by-block streaming. Execute ThinApp’d applications block-by-block instantly and improve launch time over native applications.
• Sandbox environments for terminal services. Provide sandboxing for applications running in a terminal services environment so that multiple users can run their own sandboxed application without affecting each other.
• 64-bit operating system support. Virtualizes and run 32-bit applications on 64-bit systems.
• Optimized storage infrastructure: Use with VMware View Premier to reduce the management and storage burden of enterprise applications and images.
• Execution on thin clients. Tested and certified to run virtualized applications on Windows XP-based thin clients.
• Compatibility with a broad range of applications. Proven deployments on simple-to-complex applications ranging from basic Microsoft Office to custom applications with Java or .NET.

Conflict-Free Application Delivery

• Active Directory integration. Eliminate distribution, streaming or activation servers or agents. ThinApp works with AD, ESD enforcement tools, and open protocols, requiring no additional hardware, software licenses or ongoing maintenance for backend infrastructure.
• Active Directory authentication: Add and remove users from AD groups from a central location. Because packages are tied to specific AD groups, unauthorized users cannot execute packages.
• Execution from USB key with portable profiles/user settings. Run critical applications from a USB key while maintaining corporate security requirements.
• Integration with third-party application management solutions. Plug .MSI and/or .EXE file into existing electronic software delivery systems (Inventory, Configuration Management Database, Definitive Software Library, Packagers) without additional integrations.
• Application Sync. Update applications for mobile users as well as third parties on the corporate extranet, and update virtual applications over the LAN or WAN.

Simplified Application Packaging

• Package once, deliver to many. Execute a packaged application on Windows NT, Windows 2000, Windows 2003, Vista, and Windows 2008 without retesting or repackaging the application for each operating system.
• System snapshots. Use a rapid three-step process for pre- and post-install system states for packaging simplicity and for supporting applications that require a reboot during the installation process.
• Application Link. Create separate packages of interdependent components such as Java or .NET runtimes and the applications that rely on them.
• Third-party Support. Deliver custom applications throughout the extranet

Using ThinApp:

For IT Directors

Upgrade operating systems without having to upgrade or replace legacy applications. Generate MSI files that can be registered with the underlying host OS to easily plug into your existing desktop management systems without painful integrations.

Key Benefits for IT Directors:

• Streamline application migration and upgrades
• Reduce regression testing costs with independent sandboxes
• Reduce the cost of maintaining secure locked-down desktops
• Consolidate Terminal Server and MetaFrame servers
• Enhance work-force mobility with the ability to run applications offline directly on any external media including USB Flash, CDROM, and unattached laptops
• Upgrade operating systems without having to upgrade or replace legacy applications
• Protect PCs against changes to the file systems and registry

For Developers

Don’t limit your development environment to end user environments. You can use the latest runtimes, frameworks, and components for faster development time with ThinApp, by linking virtual applications with key components like Java or .Net. Deploy the latest technologies to restricted user accounts with zero installation or impact on other applications. Deliver your application as a USB application.

Key Benefits for Developers:

• Package your applications in standard EXE and MSI files
• Deliver a zero-footprint application that doesn’t need an install
• Convert traditional applications to virtualized applications quickly and easily
• Streamline your regression testing with sandboxing and snapshot capabilities
• Package or link any runtime you want directly with your application
• Eliminate risks and conflicts with other applications on the endpoint

For Software Vendors (ISVs)

Deliver software that protects the local OS from modifications that might cause instability or breach security. Even restricted user accounts can safely run virtualized applications without requiring a local installation, making it much more appetizing for IT staff concerned about security. And with the ThinApp Virtual OS component a mere 400k on disk and occupying as little as 1 MB RAM at runtime, there is no noticeable impact on runtime performance.

Key Benefits for ISVs:

• Shorten your QA cycle by packaging your application, registry keys and DLLs, into an EXE file
• Deliver your application from any media, including USB drive or network to physical or virtual desktops
• Run in virtually any environment, including terminal servers, Citrix MetaFrame, locked-down desktops
• Reduce support costs by delivering an application that doesn't modify registry values or file systems

How to Buy:

VMware ThinApp is available in the following purchase options:

1. The VMware ThinApp Suite contains the ThinApp Packager, 1 license of Workstation for Windows for creating clean packages, plus 50 client licenses.
2. Additional client licenses can be purchased.

Documentation:

VMware ThinApp Data Sheet (.PDF)