Architecture Planning

Table Of Contents
After you create a virtualized application with VMware ThinApp, you can choose to either stream the
application from a shared file server or install the application on the virtual desktops. If you configure the
virtualized application for streaming, you must address the following architectural considerations:
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Access for specific user groups to specific application repositories, where the application package is
stored
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Storage configuration for the application repository
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Network traffic generated by streaming, which depends largely on the type of application
For streamed applications, users launch the applications by using a desktop shortcut.
If you assign a ThinApp package so that it is installed on a virtual desktop, the architectural considerations
are similar to those that you address when you use traditional MSI-based software provisioning. Storage
configuration for the application repository is a consideration both for streamed applications and for
ThinApp packages installed in remote desktops.
Using Existing Processes or VMware Mirage for Application Provisioning
With View, you can continue to use the application provisioning techniques that your company currently
uses, and you can use Mirage. Two additional considerations include managing server CPU usage and
storage I/O and determining whether users are permitted to install applications.
If you push applications out to large numbers of remote desktops at exactly the same time, you might see
significant spikes in CPU usage and storage I/O. These peak workloads can have noticeable effects on
desktop performance. As a best practice, schedule application updates to occur during off-peak hours and
stagger updates to desktops if possible. You must also verify that your storage solution is designed to
support such workloads.
If your company allows users to install applications, you can continue your current policies, but you cannot
take advantage of View Composer features such as refreshing and recomposing the desktop. With View
Composer, if an application is not virtualized or otherwise included in the user's profile or data settings, that
application is discarded whenever a View Composer refresh, recompose, or rebalance operation occurs. In
many cases, this ability to tightly control which applications are installed is a benefit. View Composer
desktops are easy to support because they are kept close to a known good configuration.
If users have firm requirements for installing their own applications and having those applications persist
for the lifetime of the remote desktop, instead of using View Composer for application provisioning,
VMware recommends that you create full-clone dedicated desktops, allow users to install applications, and
then use Mirage to manage and update the desktops without overwriting user-installed applications.
IMPORTANT Also use Mirage to manage locally installed offline desktops and their applications. For more
information, see the Mirage Documentation page.
Using Active Directory GPOs to Manage Users and Desktops
View includes many Group Policy administrative (ADM) templates for centralizing the management and
configuration of View components and remote desktops.
After you import these templates into Active Directory, you can use them to set policies that apply to the
following groups and components:
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All systems regardless of which user logs in
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All users regardless of the system they log in to
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View Connection Server configuration
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Horizon Client configuration
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View Agent configuration
View Architecture Planning
38 VMware, Inc.