Top Ten 2007: #2: Desktop Software Virtualization
Virtualization is hot these days in IT circles. Any engineer anywhere near a data center wants to be able to virtualize OS instances to maximize hardware utilization.
But something that has been generally overlooked is a specific category in virtualization: Desktop Software Virtualization. And the tool we recommend for the task is Altiris’ SVS (Software Virtualization Solution).
You install SVS on your desktop (or server) computer as if it were any other application. What it does is create an encapsulated (or isolated) environment that in turn encapsulates and software installations that you install within it. When you install software under SVS, everything written to disk, including Registry entries, is actually captured by SVS and maintained in SVS’ virtual mapping to the actual OS. Later, when you use the software you installed, it appears to the user that it’s a completely normal install: installation files are located where you would think they would go (for example, C:\Program Files), and you can create and save to any location on your hard drive.
But that is all virtualized. That is, the data doesn’t really reside where you see it. It remains encapsulated within SVS.
So Why Is This So Interesting?
It’s interesting on many levels, including:
- Registry and system file clashes between programs are generally eliminated, since registry and system files in SVS are actually separated from the core OS
- You can run different versions of the same product at the same time on the same machine (for example, you can run MS Office 2007 under SVS, and still run Office 2003 normally, with access to both).
- For software that you want to try before you buy, using SVS is ideal! Your registry stays clean, and you can remove the entire application with one swipe.
- Applications that are installed under SVS can be packaged and run on another machine with SVS installed. Vastly simplifies multiple installs, and allows the initiator to set all settings and configurations once, and roll the package out to other desktops. Altiris calls this desktop provisioning.
How Do I Use It?
Once you’ve downloaded it from
http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,1895,1941342,00.asp
and installed it, you’ll see a new icon on your desktop:
Double-click the icon to show the main program interface:
To install an application under SVS
Click File > Create New Layer > Install Application, and give the Layer a Name
Then, under Program Name, browse to the installation file , click Open, and then back on the Install Virtual Software dialog box, click Next.
Click Finish. The application will install. Once it’s installed, it will appear in the application list in the SVS interface (see above). If the name is bolded, that means its active.
Activate and Deactivate Layers
To activate a specific application, or “layer”, right click on the application in the list, and choose Activate Layer.
To deactivate a specific application, right click on the application in the list, and choose Deactivate Layer.
Many More Details
There’s a lot more to know about Altiris’ SVS. We strongly suggest reading the documentation (look for the Software Virtualization Solution section, down the list).
Cheers!