VMware ThinApp 4.7.1 released

May 7, 2012

A few days ago VMware released ThinApp 4.7.1. It’s a little late to inform you now but nevertheless good to know! ThinApp 4.7.1. is a minor bug fix release and includes some very useful features to better manage and maintain your ThinApp virtual applications.

RemoveSandboxOnStart=
This new package.ini parameter will keep the Sandbox (value 0) or will delete the Sandbox (value 1) on each package start. Before you could only remove the sandbox on package exit using RemoveSandboxOnExit=

Fix to deploy a virtualized Office 2010 to an OS with native Office 2010 installed
A virtualized Office 2010 family product using KMS or MAK licensing activation will terminate with an error if launched on an operating system where another virtualized Office 2010 family product is already running. ThinApp 4.7.1 includes a fix to support multiple services named the same. To address this, install ThinApp 4.7.1. and have a look at KB: http://kb.vmware.com/kb/1022287

Capture.ini and LogFilter.ini
Capture.ini and LogFilter.ini are two new files that can be found in the ThinApp Utilities folder. These files can be used to filter the Log Monitor trace files. This will absolutely simplify ThinApps troubleshooting process.

You can download ThinApp 4.7.1 here

Topics: VMware | No Comments »

Unidesk 1.6 – desktop layering software for VDI available today

April 19, 2012

Today Unidesk released version 1.6 of it’s desktop layering software for VDI. The key new features in this latest release of Unidesk are:

Integrated Citrix XenDesktop Support

Desktop Build Performance Improvements

Additional Maintenance Schedule Capability

VMware View 5 Agent Support for Windows XP

VMware vShield Support

Topics: Unidesk, VMware | 1 Comment »

VMware vExpert 2012

April 17, 2012

I am very honored and very pleased to be awarded the VMware vExpert Award for the fourth time! Thanks to VMware for continuing this award. Also congratulations to all new vExperts 2012 and again welcome to earlier vExperts!

vExpert 2012

The VMware vExpert Award is given to individuals who have significantly contributed to the community of VMware users over the past year. vExperts are book authors, bloggers, VMUG leaders, tool builders, and other IT professionals who share their knowledge and passion with others. These vExperts have gone above and beyond their day jobs to share their technical expertise and communicate the value of VMware and virtualization to their colleagues and community.

Check out the official announcement and have a look at the complete list on VMTN Blog

Topics: VMware | 1 Comment »

VMware ThinApp – ThinDirect Support for other Web Browsers than only Microsoft IE

April 4, 2012

First of all I want to let you know that VMware ThinDirect, as part of the VMware ThinApp Suite, is such a cool thing that you must have seen!

Since there are many more web applications which all depends on a different web browser we have to consider that choosing the right application virtualization solution, a tool that really can virtualize multiple web browsers, becomes very important.

Besides we have to think about how end-users are getting access to that web browser they really need to. That is exactly what ThinDirect does! Help end-users starting the best web browser based on URL.

So far, a very cool solution, agree?

The biggest disadvantage for me is that ThinDirect will not support other web browsers than Microsoft Internet Explorer. You can today ThinDirect from a Microsoft Internet Explorer to any virtualized browser, e.g. Mozilla Firefox or Google Chrome. But you cannot ThinDirect back from these browsers to any other. At the moment ThinDirect is only supported from IE6, 7, 8 and 9.

I would like to know if you are using ThinDirect and if you are also waiting till ThinDirect support other web browsers than only Microsoft IE?

Please let me know!

Topics: VMware | No Comments »

PowerShell Script to retrieve disk size (GB) & free disk space (GB) from multiple servers

February 23, 2012

Monitoring disk usage becomes increasingly important with the huge growth of data. Current monitoring tools are often too extensive and sometimes even very difficult to use.

Using PowerShell it is easily to retrieve a nice overview of disk size (GB) and free disk space (GB) from multiple servers. With such a script it is possible to analyze trends in disk usage over a specified period.

Step 1

Create a directory (for example “C:\Log”) with a file called “Servers.txt” in it.
List all servers within the text file where you want to retrieve the disk usage from.

Servers

Step 2

Start PowerShell and run the PowerShell command as specified below.

PowerShell

Get-WmiObject Win32_LogicalDisk -filter "DriveType=3" -computer (Get-Content .\Servers.txt) | Select SystemName,DeviceID,VolumeName,@{Name="Size(GB)";Expression={"{0:N1}" -f($_.size/1gb)}},@{Name="FreeSpace(GB)";Expression={"{0:N1}" -f($_.freespace/1gb)}} | Out-GridView

Step 3

You will get an overview of disk usage from all listed servers. From this grid you can cut and paste all the information into a spreadsheet to make alternate calculations and graphs.

Disk size overview

Topics: Microsoft | 1 Comment »

Cannot install IE9 Czech Language Pack (KB982861) on Windows Server 2008 R2

January 17, 2012

Currently I am setting up a Citrix XenApp 6.5 farm, English Operating System, with multiple Language Packs included. To clarify: Dutch, Spanish, German, Czech, Chinese (simplified), French and Portuguese (Brazilian). This whole environment is automatically build up through Microsoft Deployment Toolkit 2010 update 1.

During deployment all MUI packs for Windows, Office2010 and IE9 are installed just fine except Czech Language Pack for Internet Explorer 9. Czech Language Pack for Windows and Office2010 are no problem at all.

Microsoft Deployment Toolkit summarizes an unexpected return code: 1603 as shown below.

MDT_2010_KB982861
Afterwards installing by hand results in the same error message and even generates an error event ID 20 in Event Viewer with message: “Installation Failure: Windows failed to install the following update with error 0×80070643: Update for Windows (KB982861)”

KB982861

Who is familiar with this issue and can help me to solve this problem?

Topics: Citrix, Microsoft | No Comments »

Scense Live Profiles – a completely new and innovative solution for your profile issues

January 14, 2012

This month Scense Live Profiles will be launched as part of Scense version 7.6. Scense is a user focused desktop management and application delivery solution for Microsoft Windows based environments.

Scense-logo[7]

Scense

Scense delivers workspace management in both physical and virtual environments. Scense eliminates all complexity within mixed environments by managing and delivering physical and virtual applications and desktops in the same transparent and elegant way. End users can work anywhere, anytime.

Scense Live Profiles

One of the most promising new features of Scense 7.6 is Scense Live Profiles. An innovative and completely new profile solution that we did not see before. Below is a short description of what Scense Live Profiles meant to be. After the official launch I will take some time to test this new profile solution and keep you updated on my blog.

Scense Live Profiles is a fire and forget solution for user profile virtualization. Workspace and application related user settings are separately and centrally stored but transparently available regardless of the version of the Microsoft Windows operating system and accessible throughout the entire landscape of physical and virtual desktops, laptops, terminal server sessions and unmanaged PC’s. Scense Live Profiles will deliver consistent and familiar behaviour across all types of applications, natively installed, streamed or virtualized, across all desktop types and across all Windows versions.

Scense Live Profiles is also network independent. When Internet is available, Scense Live Profiles is available. By using Scense Live Profiles, the users will always have their applications ready for use and personalized to fit their needs, in real time, wherever they happen to be.

Topics: Scense | No Comments »

What are your biggest IT challenges in 2012?

January 12, 2012

Information Technology is changing very fast from technical driven solutions into a more business to business use case in which the end-user requires the most important focus for a successful implementation.

Right now it is time to deliver freedom to task workers to excite them and to stimulate their brain for new innovation. Not only freedom in possibilities from where they work but also capabilities in how they work! How will those people get access to business critical information and how will they communicate with each other.

I do really think that leading software vendors such as Microsoft, Citrix and VMware have build top solutions to make things happen this year! Especially frontend solutions to provide better performance and high availability to applications and information but also to build scalable, secure, maintainable and extensible desktop solutions.

Nowadays there are many cool solutions who can help with “the new ways of working”. Solutions such as VDI using VMware View and Citrix XenDesktop. Optimized platforms like Microsoft Windows 7 and the upcoming Windows 8 and multiple User Workspace Management solutions.

We also must not forget all new client devices to access data from. Tablet computers such as the iPad and maybe the more discussed Cisco CIUS, a multi-functional and excellent device to expand Unified Communication integration.

However there is one major point to think about:

“How will your end-user make use of this Information Technology?”

Prepare yourself, your staff and your business processes for a more end-user focused IT in 2012. Keep it simple and stick to the project. Use modular building blocks and do not make IT more complex than necessary. And last but not least start implementing Self-Service support for the end-user.

So far my personal vision on challenges of IT in 2012!
What are your biggest IT challenges in 2012?

Topics: Citrix, Ictivity, Microsoft, RES Software, Scense, VMware | No Comments »

End-of-Maintenance (EOM) & End-of-Life (EOL) Dates for 2012 and early 2013

November 24, 2011

Below you will find an overview of End-of-Maintenance (EOM) and End-of-Life (EOL) dates for 2012 and early 2013. The products listed are related to application and desktop delivery. Of course there are many other products with their own product lifecycle, but these seem to be very important. The bold dates are critical!

Virtual Application Solutions

Product Released

End of Maintenance

End of Life
Microsoft App-V 4.5 14/01/2014 08/01/2019
Microsoft App-V 4.6 14/07/2015 14/07/2020
VMware ThinApp 4.0 - EOL
VMware ThinApp 4.5 - 17/03/2012
VMware ThinApp 4.6 /4.7 Unknown Unknown

Operating Systems

Product Released

End of Maintenance

End of Life
Windows XP Embedded 11/01/2011 12/01/2016
Windows XP 14/04/2009 08/04/2014
Windows Vista 10/04/2012 11/04/2017
Windows 7 13/01/2015 14/01/2020
Windows Server 2003 13/07/2010 14/07/2015
Windows Server 2008 09/07/2013 10/07/2018

Virtual Desktop Solutions

Product Released

End of Maintenance

End of Life
Citrix XenDesktop 3 EOM EOL
Citrix XenDesktop 4 16/11/2013 16/05/2014
Citrix XenDesktop 5 17/12/2014 17/06/2015
Citrix XenApp 4.5 on W2k3 30/09/2012 31/03/2013
Citrix XenApp 5.0 on W2k8 15/01/2013 15/07/2013
Citrix XenApp 6.0 15/01/2013 15/07/2013
Citrix XenApp 6.5 23/01/2015 24/07/2015
Citrix Provisioning Server 5.0 EOM EOL
Citrix Provisioning Server 5.1 EOM EOL
Citrix Provisioning Services 5.6 30/06/2012 31/03/2014
Citrix Provisioning Services 6.0 Unknown Unknown
VMware View 3.x - EOL
VMware View 4.x 16/11/2012 16/11/2014
VMware View 5.x 14/09/2014 14/09/2016

Hypervisors

Product Released

End of Maintenance

End of Life
Microsoft Hyper-V R2 14/01/2014 08/01/2019
Citirx XenServer 5.0 & 5.5 14/09/2011 14/09/2013
Citrix XenServer 5.6 30/06/2012 31/03/2014
Citrix XenServer 6.x 26/09/2014 26/09/2016
VMware ESX 3.0 10/12/2011 10/12/2013
VMware ESX(i) 3.5 21/05/2013 21/05/2015
VMware ESX(i) 4.0 21/05/2014 21/05/2016
VMware ESX(i) 5.0 24/08/2016 24/08/2018

Topics: Citrix, Microsoft, VMware | No Comments »

Group Policy Management Console (GPMC) Error–Windows cannot find the network path..

November 23, 2011

Sometimes Windows problems are very hard to troubleshoot. A few weeks ago I had the problem below at a customers site with two Domain Controllers within one single Active Directory domain. Both DC’s are working fine with no events and no replication issues.

However, if you try to open Microsoft Group Policy Management Console (GPMC) on one of two DC’s you get the following information box: “Windows cannot find the network path. Verify that the network path is correct and the destination computer is not busy or turned off. If Windows still cannot find the network path, contact your administrator”

Group Policy Management

Although you cannot use GPMC to have an overview of Group Policy Objects (GPOs) it is possible to edit them using gpedit.msc. To be sure GPMC works fine on the other DC. Therefore I first expected that the GPMC software was corrupted. But also after a reinstall of GPMC the problem still exists.

Read more »

Topics: Microsoft | 1 Comment »

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