There are many types of Application Delivery options in the virtualization world. I combined the different types of application delivery systems, listed the use cases along with their limitations.
What is Citrix XenApp?
XenApp enables secure, remote access to Windows applications and server desktops from any device, over any network (I personally like working out of Starbucks). Applications are secured in the datacenter to protect sensitive information and enhance corporate security.
Citrix XenApp Published Applications Use Cases:
• Maximum IT control and lowest cost
• Empower employee productivity by working anywhere.
• Decrease risk of data loss while securing corporate access
• Reduce cost and complexity of application and desktop management
• Secure Remote Access - Ensures a secure connection and protecting sensitive, corporate data.
• Control Costs
• Mobilize Apps
• Simplify Migrations
What is Microsoft RD Session Host and how it is used in Horizon View?
Microsoft RD Session Hosts Windows-based programs. Users have the ability to connect to an RD Session Host Server to run programs, to save files, and to use network resources on that server. Multiple end users connect to the RDSH server via Remote Desktop Connection Broker to access published applications.
The RDSH-hosting option in Horizon with View provides the essentials for publishing applications. You can install one instance of an application on an RDSH host instead of on multiple individual desktops, and make it available to many end users
Vmware Horizon View Use Cases:
• Providing greater security
• Managing frequent upgrades and multiple versions
• Delivering applications without virtualization
• Supporting BYOD users
• Securely supporting distributed users
• Reducing storage costs
• Delivering Windows applications to non-Windows devices
What is Microsoft Azure RemoteApp?
Microsoft Azure RemoteApp uses the Microsoft Remote Desktop Protocol to deliver the applications, which appear as if they are native to the end user's computing device. RemoteApp can be deployed two ways: as a cloud deployment that stores all program data in an Azure cloud and is hosted there as well -- or as a hybrid deployment that is hosted in Azure but let's end users access data that's stored on their local network.
Microsoft Azure RemoteApp Use Cases:
• Azure RemoteApp enables users to access corporate applications and be productive using any device without the risk of combining personal and corporate data.
• You can provide app access to anyone without paying for new servers and expensive infrastructure. You can scale down again when business needs change.
• You are not required to purchase new, more powerful servers every couple of years.
• The familiar Microsoft Office 365 experience on any device.
Microsoft Azure Remote App integrates with:
• Citrix XenApp
• Microsoft Remote Desktop Session Hosting
What is Microsoft App-V?
Microsoft Application Virtualization (App-V) can make applications available to end user computers without having to install the applications directly on those computers. This is made possible through a process known as sequencing the application , which enables each application to run in its own self-contained virtual environment on the client computer. The sequenced applications are isolated from each other. This eliminates application conflicts, but the applications can still interact with the client computer.
Microsoft App-V Use Cases:
• Centralized Management, Scalable Infrastructure
• Readily Accessible Applications
• Simplify Application Deployment, Reduce End User Interruptions
• Dynamic Application Virtualization
• Reduce Application Management Costs
• Consolidate Terminal Servers
• Eliminate Application Conflicts
• Consolidate, Standardize and Stabilize Images
• Increasing security applications
Microsoft App-V Limitations:
• Applications that start services at boot
• Applications that require device drivers
• Applications that are required by several applications for information or access
• Applications that are part of the OS
• Applications that use COM+
• COM DLL surrogate virtualization
What is App Volumes?
VMware App Volumes provides real-time application delivery with lifecycle management. IT can use App Volumes to instantly deliver applications and data to users without compromising user experience. Infrastructure and management costs are reduced by utilizing managed volumes. Unlike traditional application management solutions, App Volumes allows IT to deliver a desktop with no trade-off between user experience and costs.
App Volumes Use Cases:
• Deliver or upgrade applications at scale and in seconds
• Dynamically deliver applications without interrupting users even if they are logged in
• Complete application lifecycle management (provisioning, delivery, maintenance, retirement)
• Optimized application delivery drives down compute, network, and storage costs
• Reduces VDI storage costs by 30%
• Works with existing infrastructure with flexible delivery to users, groups, or devices
• Support fully customizable desktops, with the freedom for end-users to install applications
• Persistent user experience with non-persistent economics
Vmware App Volumes Limitations:
• No more than 15 individual volumes be used per virtual desktop
• Since the AppStacks are not loaded until the user logs on, then Applications that rely on services will not work properly.
• If delivering Office applications, all Office applications must be in a single AppStack
• Since AppStacks are applied in sequence, multiple AppStacks can conflict
• If an application needs direct access to the kernel, it cannot be done (example, disk encryption software)
App Volumes Integrates with the following:
• Citrix XenApp
• Vmware Horizon View
What is ThinApp?
ThinApp is an agentless application virtualization solution that decouples applications from their underlying operating systems to eliminate application conflict and streamline application delivery and management.
Thin App Packages Use Cases:
• Simplify Windows 7 migrations
• Eliminate application version conflicts
• Support Browser and plugin virtualization
• Streamline application management
• Reduce IT support and help desk costs
• Strengthen endpoint security
• Increase workforce mobility
ThinApp Limitations:
• Kernel Mode Drivers
• Anti-Virus
• Firewall Software
• Disk Management
• Scanner & Printer Drivers
• Device Drivers
• Shell Integration
• Using DCOM Services that are network-visible
• Implementing libraries that use global hooks
ThinApp integrates with the following:
• Citrix XenApp
• Horizon View
• Horizon Workspace
Labels: App Volumes, App-V, Azure RemoteApp, Citrix, Horizon, Thinapp, Vmware, XenApp