Integration of ThinApp Packages with VMware App Volumes and VMware Dynamic Environment Manager
Overview.
- The following are tasks you will have to complete to ensure you understand the base platform and requirements to be in place to perform succesful ThinAPP captures.
Pre-lab tasks (to validate)
Accounts for all resources are administrator for local access and [email protected] for domain access
Password for ALL accounts is VMware1!
Virtual Machine roles
-
For VMware ThinAPP\
- PackagingVM . This the VM we use to do our install VMware Thinapp
- CaptureVM. This the VM we refer to as a Clean VM. We perform our ThinApp captures on this VM
- W10Parent01a. This VM will be our TEST best for validating the package Capture. We also use this virtual machine to perform App Volumes Packaging in this session
- For VMware Dynamic Environment Manager
-
ControlCenter2
- Location of the Configuration and Profile shares
- Domain Controller configured AD templates on the Corp OU
- DEMprofiler - We will do Application Profiler captures on this machine
-
ControlCenter2
- For VMware App Volumes
- AppVol.euc-livefire.com. App Volumes Manager
-
Login to your vSphere Web Client client .
-
Ensure that your W10Parent-01a has been reverted to Snapshot
- After revert to current snapshot has completed, Power on your W10Parent-01a
- Go to your Corp Lun.
- Find the PackagingVM and the CaptureVM folders, add the VM's to the inventory by selecting the .vmx file in each folder.
- When you revert the PackagingVM, in the vSphere web client edit the vm settings and reconnect the VM to the VM Network
- Do Not delete any drive mappings or Desktop shortcuts on the CAPTUREVM
- Statically configure the CaptureVM with an ip address of
- IP : 192.168.100.218
- Subnet mask : 255.255.255.0
- Default Gateway :192.168.100.1
- DNS: 192.168.110.10
- Edit the Software shortcut and change the short-cut from \\cs1-pd1.corp.local\software to \\cs1-pd1.euc-livefire.com\software
- Statically configure the PackagingVM with the following Ip address configuration
- IP : 192.168.100.218
- Subnet mask : 255.255.255.0
- Default Gateway :192.168.100.1
- DNS 192.168.110.10
- Edit the Software shortcut and change the short-cut from \\cs1-pd1.corp.local\software to \\cs1-pd1.euc-livefire.com\software
- Configure the DNS configuration in the Advanced settings based on the below screenshot
- REJOIN both virtual machines to the EUC-livefire domain.
- Take a Virtual machine snapshot of both virtual machines and call it Horizon Uplift baseline
-
On your ControlCenter2 server open a browser and download the following installer
- https://notepad-plus-plus.org/downloads/v7.8.3/
- Once downloaded save the file to the following location:
- \\cs1-pd1.euc-livefire.com\software\Applications
- On the Desktop. Open the Remote desktops folder create an RDP shortcut to CaptureVM.euc-livefire.com the name as CaptureVM.RDP
-
Ensure that your W10Parent-01a has been reverted to Snapshot
- VMware ThinAPP Trial key for this session is for Internal only use JH02J-QT386-W8G63-0CAHK-34A64

Part1. Deploying VMware ThinApp
Please NOTE: The following lab assumes the Pre-lab tasks have been completed successfully. Please. do not proceed with the following until you have validated that all Pre-lab tasks are completed
- On your ControlCenter2 server open your Remote Desktop folder and using your PackagingVM.RDP connect and log in to your Packaging virtual machine.
- Open the Software shortcut on your Desktop

- Open the ThinApp folder
- Select and launch the VMware-ThinApp-Enterprise-5.2.6-14449759 installer

- Select the following
- Run >
- Install >
- Select the checkbox next to I agree the terms in the license agreement > Install

- In Enter license key window enter the following
- Enter your trial key provided for this session
- Under License Display name enter EUC-Livefire
- Select Install

- Select Finish, select Close

- Go to the C:\ drive of your PackagingVM
- Browse to C:\Program Files (x86)\VMware
- Select and right-click VMware ThinAPP
- Select the Sharing tab and then select Advanced Sharing
- Select the Share this folder checkbox , select Permissions
- Ensure Everyone has Full Control , select OK
- Select Ok select Close

- Open your VMware ThinApp folder and observe you have a SetupCapture.exe launcher
- We execute SetupCapture.exe over the network on the CaptureVM

- On your ControlCenter desktop .
- Open your vSphere Web client. In host & Clusters inventory select your packaging vm select Snapshots > Take Snapshot > In the name area type ThinAPP installed. Select OK
- In the Remote Desktops folder, launch your CaptureVM.RDP shortcut

- On the CaptureVM Desktop double-click the short-cut to SetupCapture.exe
- Select Run
- On the Setup Capture - Welcome select Next

- On the Setup Capture - Ready to Prescan select Prescan
- On the Setup Capture - Install Application window
- Select the Software shortcut on your Desktop and go to Applications
- On the Setup Capture - Install Application window

-
Select your your Notepad++ installer download and Open
- Select Run
- Select Ok > Next > I Agree > Next > Next >
- Select the Create Shortcut on Desktop checkbox select Install
- Select Finish
- Close the Notepad++ application and File Explorer window

- Select Postscan select OK

- On the Setup Capture - Entry Points window select Next

- On the Setup Capture - Manage with Workspace window select Next

- On the Setup Capture - Groups window select Next

- On the Setup Capture - Installation window select Next

- On the Setup Capture - Sandbox window select Next

- On the Setup Capture - Quality Assurance Statistics window select Next

- On the Setup Capture - Project Settings window select Next

- On the Setup Capture - Package Settings window
- Select the Generate MSI package check box
- Select Save

- On the Setup Capture - Ready to Build window select Build

- On the Setup Capture - Build Project window select Finish

- Notice your .msi and .exe have been saved to the BIN folder on your Packaging machine
- Go to the inventory of your vSphere web client and select your CaptureVM and Revert to Latest Snapshot

Part 2. Integration of Horizon with ThinApp and App Volumes
- On your ControlCenter2 desktop open the Chrome browser in Favourites, select the App Vol shortcut,
- Login as Administrator with password VMware1!

- Select INVENTORY > Applications select Create

- On the Create Application page, in the Name section type NotePad++ , select Create
- In the Confirm Create Application window, accept the default and select Create

- On the Create Package for NotePad++ page next to Name type NotePad vs1.0
- In the Description type ThinAPP package
- Select Create

- Select the Packages tab and notice your Notepad vs 1.0 is Unpackaged.
- Expand Notepad vs 1.0
- Select Package

- Next to the Applications tab, select the Packages tab
- Select Search
- Select W10Parent-01a radio button
- Select Package
- On the Confirm Start Packaging, select Start Packaging

- On your ControlCenter2 Desktop open the Remote Desktops folder and launch the w10Parent-01a.RDP shortcut
- You should automatically be logged in as [email protected] with the password VMware1!
- On the W10Parent-01a desktop select the Start > Run type the following \\packagingvm\VMware ThinApp\Captures
- Select OK . Open your Notepad++ project and then open the bin folder
-
Select and right-click the Notepad++ .msi installer and select Install
- Select Start and right at the top of Application menu next to Recently added select Notepad++
- Launch Notepad++ , If you get an error window. Select Ignore. Close Notepad++ and reopen.
- Close Notepad++

- On the Packing window select OK
- On Installation Complete? select Yes
- On the Finalize Package window select Finalize
- On the Restart Required window select OK

- Log back in to your W10Parent-01a virtual machine
- On the Packaging succesful window select OK

- Revert back to your App Volumes Manager
- In the INVENTORY > Applications expand Notepad++
- Select Assign
- Select Assign

- On the Assign Application: Notepad++ window
- Next to Search Active Directory type Marketing
- Select Search
- Select the radio button for EUC-Livefire\Marketing
- Select Assign
- On Confirm Assign select Assign
- Review your Assignment for NotePad++
- Select the Packages tab
- Expand Notepad vs 1.0 and select Set Current

- On the ControlCenter2 server, open the Remote Desktop folder and launch the RDSH01a.RDP shortcut
- On the RDSH server desktop select Open the Software shortcut and open the Applications folder
- Install the native Notepad++ installer
- Select OK

- Launch Notepad++ to validate its functionality.
- Close the application when done
- Disconnect the RDSH RDP session

- On your ControlCenter2 server , launch Horizon Administrator Console from the Horizon Shortcut on the Favourites bar on your Chrome browser.
- Select LAUNCH the Horizon Administrator (Flex) Console .
- Select Log in as Administrator and password is VMware1!

- In the Horizon Inventory, expand Catalog and select Application Pools
- Select Add

- In Add Application Pools wizard scroll down in the native application area until you find Notepad++ and select the check box.
- Select Next

- In the Add Application Pools window select Finish

- In the Add Entitlements window select Add
- In the Find User or Group next Name/User name: Contains box type Marketing
- Select Find
- Under Name select Marketing and select OK
- Select OK

- On your Controlcenter server desktop launch your Horizon client with the following Credentials
- Username is User1
- Password is VMware1!
- Select Log in
- Launch Notepad++. (We will now configure VMware Dynamic Environment Manager to manage customizations.
- On the Notepad++ Plugin Manager window select Ignore Selected Updates and close Notepad++
- On the Horizon client select Log off

Part 3. Building a custom configuration for Dynamic Environment Manager to work with a ThinApp Application
-
Capturing a Notepad++ ThinApp configuration DEM Application Profiler
- On your ControlCenter2 Desktop, open your Chrome browser. Select the vSphere shortcut.
- Login as Administrator and the password VMware1!
- Select DEM-Profiler > right click, select Snapshots and Take Snapshot
- In the Take VM Snapshot for DEMProfiler window next to Name type Pre-App Capture
- Select OK

- From your ControlCenter2 server open the Remote Desktops folder and launch the DEMProfiler.RDP to login as [email protected] with the password VMware1!
- From Start on the DEMProfiler desktop select RUN and in Open type %Appdata%\ and enter
- Delete the Notepad++ folder
- On the DEMProfiler Desktop, Open the software shortcut, open the Applications\ folder
- Install the native Notepad++ application you downloaded at the beginning of this lab by selecting the Notepad++.msi installer
- From Start on the DEMProfiler desktop select RUN and in Open type %Appdata%\ and enter

- Doing The DEMProfiler capture for ThinAPP applications
- From the Start Menu, open the DEM Application Profiler Console

- Select the Settings tab, enable the following
- Check box in front of Support HKLM
- Check box in front of Warn if Project Not Saved
- Check Box in front of Show Unsupported File Access
- Select the Program Analysis tab select Start Session

- In the Start Application to Analyze window under Program from Start Menu
- Expand the inventory under Programs expand Notepad++ and select the Notepad++ shortcut
- Select OK to Start New Analysis.
- You will notice Notepad++ launching in the Background,

- In Notepad++, select the Settings > Preferences,
- In the General area
- Change from Standard Icons radio button to Big Icons radio button
- Under the Tab Bar enable Multi-line and Vertical checkboxes
- Select the Close button to close Preferences. Close Notepad++
- Click Ok to close the Profiling Finished window
- In the General area

- To right of the page, make sure the Optimization level to for this exercise is 1,

- Select Save > Save Config File with Predefined Settings
- When prompted to save the configuration, enter Notepad++Marketing
- Select Save, select OK to close the Predefined Settings window
- Go to your vSphere client, select DEMProfiler, right click > select Snapshot > revert to current Snapshot

- On your ControlCenter2 Desktop, from the taskbar launch the UEM MMC, in the taskbar,
- Under General select Applications
- Select Download Config Template file

- In the Configuration Templates Repository, In the Inventory,
- Select Notepad++,
- Select Save
- Select Close

- In the Dynamic Environment Manager MMC,
- Select General,
- Select Create Folder
- In the Select name for new folder next to Folder name type ThinAPP, select OK

- On your ControlCenter2 Desktop, from the taskbar launch the UEM MMC, in the taskbar,
- Under General select ThinAPP
- Select Download Config Template file

- In the Configuration Templates Repository, In the Inventory,
- Select Notepad++,
- Select Save
- Select Close

- On your ControlCenter2 Desktop, from the taskbar launch the UEM MMC, in the taskbar,
- Select Refresh Tree

- In the Inventory Under Applications select Notepad++
- Select the Predefined Settings tab
-
Select Add
- Name: Notepad++ for Marketing on RDSH
- Type: Fully Enforced
- Under Fully Enforced Settings select Install
- Select Notepad++Marketing.zip, select Open
-
Select Add
- Select the Predefined Settings tab

- Select the Conditions Tab select Add select Operating System
- Next to Operating SystemEndpoint : select Windows Server 2012 R2
- Select OK > Select Save

- Select the Conditions tab
- Select Add
- Select Group Membership
- Add Marketing to the Group membership
- Select OK

- Select the DirectFlex tab,
- Select the Executables path and select Edit
- Under Application Virtualization select the Enable ThinApp 5.2 support Check box
- Remove the entire path with the exception of notepad++.exe
- Select OK
- In the menu bar select Save Config File

- Select the Notepad++ Template under the ThinAPP folder
- Select the Predefined Settings tab
-
Select Add
- Name: Notepad++ for Marketing (ThinAPP)
- Type: Fully Enforced
- Under Fully Enforced Settings select Install
- Select the Notepad++Marketing.zip, select Open
-
Select Add
- Select the Predefined Settings tab

- Select the Conditions Tab select Add select Operating System
- Next to Operating System: select Windows 10
- Select OK > Select Save

- Select the DirectFlex tab,
- Select and enable ThinApp 5.2 support checkbox
- Select the Executables path and select Edit
- Remove the entire path with the exception of notepad++.exe
- Select OK
- Select Save Config file

- Select the Conditions tab
- Select Add
- Select Group Membership
- Add Marketing to the Group membership
- Select Add
- Select Operating System
- Next to Operating System, select Windows10
- Select OK
- Select Add

- In the menu bar select Save Config File

Part 4. Testing our Notepad++ ThinApp / App Volumes / Dynamic Environment Manager Integration with Horizon Published Apps and Desktops
- On the Controlcenter2 desktop, launch your native Horizon client shortcut, login as user4 with the password VMware1!

- On the Windows 10 desktop launch the Notepad++ shortcut
- Notice your enforced configurations are being applied
- Revert back to your Horizon client, to observe your Entitlements
- Launch the Notepad++ entitlement
- Try changing your Big Icons to Small Icons and then close the session. Re-open the session. Notice that you have Big Icons again. This is because we created Pre-defined settings and these were enforced.
- Log off and disconnect from all sessions

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