I can’t say enough about this product, if you have not seen the demos on this visit the site and look at them here.  If you have plans to package and send out and software this year with SMS I would encourage you to look at this as an alternative to the traditional ways of packaging and deploying with SMS.  The cost is ~$10 for SA members, yes that’s ten dollars.

 

Regards,

Anthony

 

Anthony Clendenen | Technical Consultant |Microsoft Practices | 909-379-8934 | Dimension Data

 

“Dimension Data is Microsoft’s 2006 Global Advanced Infrastructure Technology Innovation

Partner of the Year… for the Dynamic Desktop Deployment Solution”

 

 

Microsoft SoftGrid and Systems Management Server: Better Together

Microsoft Systems Management Server (SMS) is the most widely used tool for deploying and managing applications and operating systems on Windows® desktops and servers. When combined with Microsoft SoftGrid's SMS Connector, IT administrators can now gain all the benefits of SoftGrid – including application virtualization, on-demand streaming and self-provisioning (part of the SMS infrastructure using SoftGrid for Windows desktops from within the Microsoft Desktop Optimization Pack for Software Assurance).

The Microsoft SoftGrid SMS Connector allows for virtualized applications to be managed from within the SMS Console. IT can choose to push or stream ("dynamic") application packages. (click to enlarge)

The Microsoft SoftGrid SMS Connector has been designed to provide a single management interface for both locally installed and virtualized applications. The IT Administrator now has the option to push entire virtualized applications to client computers using SMS deployment delivery or pull them on-demand with SoftGrid's streaming technology – or both. By integrating application virtualization into SMS, enterprises can accelerate their deployments, and cut the costs of their application deployments. Virtual applications run exactly as locally installed applications, with full performance, functionality, and access to local services – including cut and paste, OLE, printing, network drives and attached devices. However, now they execute within an isolated "sandbox," protecting the underlying operating system and other applications from the new applications. This eliminates application collisions and the need for time-consuming compatibility testing, helps keep the operating system and client machine pristine, and enables "damaged" applications to be instantly refreshed without ever visiting the client. In addition, because virtual applications no longer have to be pre-installed in images, SoftGrid reduces the footprint and total inventory of images, saving time for desktop administrators.

With the addition of application streaming, IT organizations can also offer users access to all their applications, regardless of which machine on the network they use. SoftGrid's self-service capabilities further reduce the workload on the IT group by enabling business users to safely provision their own applications, while still adhering to license and other policies set by IT.

The combination of SMS and SoftGrid allows customers the flexibility to choose the best way to deploy applications while maintaining OS level patches, updates, inventory, asset tracking and much more from a single, integrated management point. The SMS Connector for SoftGrid ships with SoftGrid in the Microsoft Desktop Optimization Pack for Software Assurance.

Microsoft SoftGrid SMS Connector: Features and Benefits

• Use the SMS management console to deploy and manage virtualized applications
• Integrate application virtualization within SMS
  • Eliminate application conflicts and dramatically reduce compatibility testing
  • Run previously-conflicting applications and multiple versions of the same application on same computer at the same time
  • Quickly repair damaged applications with instant removal and reload features
  • Simplify OS and application migrations
• Push and stream virtualized applications with SMS
  • Use SMS software delivery to push entire virtualized applications to target computers. This is accomplished even if the user is not logged into the desktop or terminal server.
  • Streaming: send only the code needed to get virtualized applications up and running, typically 20-40%, without having to wait for the entire application to download and install – enabling instantaneous access to applications from any computer on the network, regardless of bandwidth.
• Windows desktop, laptop, and Terminal Services support
  • Package once, run anywhere: once an application is virtualized, it can be delivered via SMS to desktops, laptops and terminal servers without having to create multiple packages or use complex scripting.
• Centralized "single-image" software packaging
  • Once a virtualized application is upgraded, it is automatically updated throughout the network.
• Integrate asset discovery and metering
  • Virtualized applications are included in SMS asset discovery and metering reports, providing a complete picture of all application usage.
• Self-service and business-unit provisioning (requires SoftGrid ZeroTouch™ product)
• Virtualized applications can be provisioned on-demand by authorized users in real-time.

Microsoft SoftGrid SMS Connector and Microsoft SMS

The Microsoft SoftGrid SMS Connector enables all the functionality of the SoftGrid platform from within SMS (including on-demand streaming), with the additional capabilities of pushing entire virtualized applications using SMS delivery methods and using SMS asset discovery and metering to record virtualized applications.

Capability	SMS	SoftGrid
Bare Metal OS Deployment
OS Updates/Service Packs
OS Security Patches/Hotfixes
Deployment of Core (locally installed) applications
Patching/Upgrading of Core (locally installed) Applications
Administrator Provisioning of Applications
Remote Control of Clients
Distributed Branch Architecture
Intelligent Application Packaging (Sequencing)
SystemGuard™ Application Virtualization
On-Demand Application Streaming
Package/Active Upgrade
End-user Roaming/Hoteling
Self-Provisioning (requires additional ZeroTouch product)
Virtual Application Disaster Recovery
Asset Management of Hardware and Locally Installed and Virtual Applications

SoftGrid for Windows Desktops combines with three other tools to make the Microsoft Desktop Optimization Pack for Software Assurance, which delivers dynamic desktop solutions: Microsoft Asset Inventory Service, which translates software inventory into business intelligence; Microsoft Diagnostics and Recovery Toolset, powerful tools to accelerate desktop repair, recovery, and troubleshooting of unbootable Windows machines; and Microsoft Advanced Group Policy Management, which enhances group policy through change management tools.

To learn how Microsoft SoftGrid and the Microsoft Desktop Optimization Pack for Software Assurance can help you, go to www.windowsvista.com/optimizeddesktop.