EUCCurrent ClassesEUC: Horizon Advanced Integrations 2024 Chapters13. Integration of ThinApp Packages with App Volumes and Dynamic Environment Manager

13. Integration of ThinApp Packages with App Volumes and 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 successful 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 Pa$$w0rd

 Virtual Machine roles

  1. On the ControlCenter server,
    • Open your Chrome Browser and select the vCenter Icon.
  2. For ThinApp
    • ProjectVM-02a. This the VM we save our ThinApp Projects
    • CaptureVM-02a. This the VM we refer to as a Clean VM. We perform our ThinApp captures on this VM
    • W11Master-01a. This VM will be our TEST best for validating the package Capture.
    • ControlCenter
    • Location of the Configuration and Profile shares
    • Domain Controller configured AD templates on the Corp OU
  3. For App Volumes
    • AppVol-01a.techseals.co.
      • App Volumes Manager Sever
    • AppVolProv-01a
      • App Volumes Provisioning Machine 
  4. Dynamic Environment Manager -
    • Demprofiler-02a
      • DEM Profiler captures on this machine
  5. Ensure that your W11Master-01a and AppVolProv-01a have been reverted to Snapshot
    • After revert to current snapshot has completed, Power on both your VM's
Part 1. Capturing a ThinApp Package
  1. On your ControlCenter Desktop
    • open your Remote desktops \ Site 2 folder
      • launch the CaptureVM-02a.RDP shortcut
        • login with the username techseals\administrator
          • In the password area
            • enter Pa$$w0rd
          • select OK
  1. On the CaptureVM-02a Desktop
    • double-click the SetupCapture shortcut
      • on the Setup Capture - Welcome window
        • select Next
  1. On the Setup Capture - Ready to Prescan
    • select Prescan
  • wait for Pre-Scan to complete
    • This is very slow, it could take up to 15 minutes
  • When you reach the  Setup Capture - Install Application window
    • Do Not select Postscan
  1. On the CaptureVM-02a desktop
    • open the Software shortcut
      • open the Applications folder
  1. In the Applications folder
    • select the latest version of the Notepad++ installer
      • right click
        • Open
          • select Run
            • select OK > Next > I Agree > Next > Next >
              • on the Choose Components window
                • next to Create Shortcut on Desktop
                  • select the checkbox
            • select Install
            • select Finish
  1. On the Notepad++ update window
    • select Yes
      • to close the existing session of Notepad++
    • select Yes,
  1. On your CaptureVM-02a
    • on the Installer Language window,
      • select OK
    • on the Welcome to Notepad++ v8.x.x Setup,
      • select Next > I Agree > Next > Next > Install > Finish
    • with the exception of the Setup Capture - Installation window.
      • Close all Windows including the Notepad++ window.
  1. On the CaptureVM-02a
    • right-click  the START button >
      • select Run
        • in the Run window
          • next to Open:
            • type %Temp%
              • select OK
        • select the   npp.8.6.x.x.Installer.x64 installer
          • right click
            • select Show more Options
              • select Delete
        • Empty the Recycle Bin
  1. On the CaptureVM-02a
    • on the Setup Capture - Installation window.
      • select Postscan
        • select OK
  • The Postscan will take approximately 10 minutes
  1. On the Setup Capture - Entry Points window
    • next to Show entry points used for debugging
      • select the checkbox,
        • next to cmd.exe
          • select the checkbox,
        • next to regedit.exe
          • select the checkbox,
    • select Next
  1. On the Setup Capture - VMware Workspace ONE Access window
    • select Next
  1. On the  Setup Capture - Groups window
    • select Next
  1. On the Setup Capture - Isolation window
    • select Next
  1. On the Setup Capture - Sandbox  window
    • select Next
  1. On the Setup Capture - Customer Experience Improvement Program window
    • next to Join the VMware Customer Experience Improvement
      • select the checkbox ,
    • select Next
  1. On the Setup Capture - Project Settings window
    • select Next
  1. On the Setup Capture - Package Settings window
    • in front of  Generate MSI package
      • select the check box
        • select Save

The Save operation will take about 3 minutes

  1. On the  Setup Capture  - Save Warnings window
    • select Next
  1. Setup Capture - Ready to Build window
    • select Build

The build operation will take about 40 seconds

  1. On the Setup Capture - Build Project window
    • select Finish
  1. In the File Explorer window
    • Copy the Notepad++  (.msi), (.exe) and (.exe.alt) files
      • on the Capture VM Desktop
        • open the software folder shortcut
          • in the ThinApp folder
            • on the Capture VM Desktop
  • Observe where the  .msi and .exe have been saved
  • Notice that the UNC path points to the BIN folder on your ProjectVM machine
  1. On the ControlCenter server
    • on your Site 2 Chrome browser,
      • vCenter server session.
        • In the Hosts and Clusters Inventory
          • select your CaptureVM-02a
            • Right-Click
              • select Snapshots > Revert to Latest Snapshot
          • in the Revert to Latest Snapshot window
            • select REVERT
  1. In the vSphere client.
    • In the Hosts and Clusters Inventory
      • select your CaptureVM-02a
        • Right-Click
          • select Power > Power On
Part 2. Integration of Horizon with ThinApp and App Volumes
  1. On your ControlCenter desktop
    • open the site 1 Chrome browser
      • in the Favourites bar,
        • select the App Vol shortcut,  
      • in the App Volumes Manager console
        • in the username area
          • enter Administrator
        • in the password area
          • enter Pa$$w0rd
        • select Login
  1. in the App Volumes Manager console
    • select INVENTORY > Applications
      • select Create
  1. On the Create Application page,
    • In the Name section
      • type NotePad++  ,
        • select Create
      • In the Confirm Create Application window,
        • select Create
  1. in the App Volumes Manager console
    • Packages tab
      • in the Name: field
        • enter Notepad ++
      • in the Description: field
        • enter this is a Thin App version of Notepad++
      • select Create
        • on the Confirm Create package
          • select Create
  1. In the App Volumes Manager console
    • select the Packages Tab
      • next to Notepad++
        • expand the +
          • select Package
  1. On the Package for Notepad++ window
    • next to Find Packaging Computer:
      • select Search
  1. On the Package for Notepad++ window
    • in line with TECHSEALS\AppVolProv-01a
      • select radio button
        • In the bottom right-corner of the window
          • select Package
      • on the Confirm Start Packaging, window
        • select Start Packaging
  1. On your ControlCenter Desktop
    • open the Remote Desktops > Site 1 folder
      • launch the AppVolProv-01a.RDP shortcut
  1. On the AppVolProv-01a desktop
    • on the Taskbar,
      • notice you have a prompt,   
        • App Volumes - Packaging in Progress
    • select the Software shortcut
      • within Software
        • open the ThinApp folder.
      • within the ThinApp folder
        • double-click  the Notepad++ .msi
    • when the installer is complete
      • from the desktop
        • using the shortcut
          • launch Notepad++ ,
          • Close Notepad++
    • Close the File Explorer window
  1. On the AppVolProv-01a machine
    • on the App Volumes- Packaging in progress window  
      • select OK
    • on Installation Complete?
      • select Yes
    • on the Finalize Package window
      • select Finalize
    • on the Restart Required window
      • select OK
  1. On the ControlCenter server
    • from the Remote Desktops > Site 1 folder
      • launch the AppVolProv-01a.RDP  shortcut
        • login as [email protected]
          • in the password area
            • enter Pa$$w0rd
        • on the Packaging successful window
          • select OK
    • switch to the Site 1 vCenter server
      • select  AppVolProv-01a
        • right-click
          • select Snapshots > Revert to Latest Snapshot
          • select REVERT
  1. From the ControlCenter server
    • switch to  your App Volumes Manager Admin console session
      • In the INVENTORY > Applications
        • expand Notepad++
          • select Assign
  1. On the Assign Application: Notepad++ window
    • Next to Search Active Directory type Developers
      • select Search
        • next to for TechSEALs\Developers
          • select the Check box
        • select Assign
  1. On the Assign Application: Notepad++ wizard
    • On Confirm Assign window
      • select Assign

Review your Assignment for NotePad++

  1. In the AppVolumes Manager Admin console
    • select the Packages tab
      • expand Notepad++
        • select Set CURRENT
Part 3 . Integrating and Configuring RDSH, with App Volumes in VMware Horizon

This approach is a new feature in App Volumes 4.1.x

Discretion needs to used on a per APP basis and in some cases, it might still be necessary to Provision an application with a similar platform to the platform being delivered on.

  1. On your App Volumes Manager Console
    • select the  Configuration tab
      • on the Settings tab, scroll down
        • expand Advanced Settings
  1. Under Advanced Settings
    • Take note (this should be already configured)
      • ensure the the Toggle next to:
        • Allow package delivery to any operating system : Toggle is turned ON
    • select Save
  1. From your App Volumes Manager Admin console session
    • select the INVENTORY > Applications tab
      • expand Notepad++
    • in line with Notepad++
      • select the check box
        • select Assign
  1. In the Assign Application: Notepad++ window
    • in line with Search Active Directory,
      • enter RDS
        • select Search
  1. In the Assign Application: Notepad++ window
    • in line with TechSEALs\RDSH1$ and TechSEALs\RDSH2$  
      • next to Available
        • select the checkboxes
          • select Assign
  1. In the Confirm Assign window
    • select Assign
  1. On the ControlCenter server,
    • switch to your vCenter Admin console
      • for both RDS-1-1 and RDS-1-2
        • right click
          • select Power > Restart Guest OS,
          • On the Confirm Guest Restart window, select YES
    • in the vSphere Client
      • for both RDS-1-1 and RDS-1-2
        • LAUNCH the WEB CONSOLE  
          • log in as
            • Username: Administrator
            • Password: Pa$$w0rd
  • After reboot give the application delivery about 2 minutes
  1. On the RDS server desktop
    • to validate its functionality.
      • Launch Notepad++
        • Close the application when done
          • Log off from the RDS servers
  1. On your ControlCenter server,
    • on your Site 1 Chrome browser.
      • on the Favourites bar
        • launch the Horizon Site 1 shortcut
    • in the Horizon admin login Console .
      • In the Username area
        • enter Administrator
      • In the Password area
        • enter Pa$$w0rd
      • select Sign In
  1. In the Horizon Admin Console,
    • expand Inventory  
      • select Applications
        • In the Application Pools area
          • select Add
            • select Add Manually
  1. In the Add Application Pool window
  1. In the Add Entitlements window
    • select Add
  1. In the Find User or Group window
    • next to Name/User name
      • enter Developers
        • select Find
          • Under Name
            • in front of Developers
              • select the checkbox
                • select OK
  1. In the Add Entitlements window
    • select OK
  1. On your Controlcenter server desktop
    • launch your Horizon client
      • In the Horizon Client
        • select horizon-01a.techseals.co
        • to log in use the following Credentials
        • select Login
  1. In the Horizon Client window
    • select Notepad++
  1. On the ControlCenter server
    • Note your ThinApp version of Notepad++ has just launched
    • sign out of all Horizon client sessions
Part 4. Building a custom configuration for Dynamic Environment Manager to work with a ThinApp Application
Section 1: Capturing a Notepad++ ThinApp configuration DEM Application Profiler
  1. On your ControlCenter Desktop,
    • open your Site 2 - Seattle Chrome browser shortcut.
      • In Bookmarks bar,
        • select the vCenter-02a shortcut.
          • in the VMware vSphere login
            • in the username area
              • enter Administrator
            • in the password area
              • enter Pa$$w0rd
  1. in the vCenter admin console
    • select DemProfiler-02a
      • right click,  
        • select Snapshots
          • Take Snapshot
    • In the Take VM Snapshot window
      • next to Name
        • enter Pre-App Capture
      • next to Include virtual machine's memory
        • select the checkbox
          • select CREATE
  1. From your ControlCenter server
    • open the Remote Desktops folder
      • launch the DEMProfiler-02a.RDP shortcut

 

  1. On the DEMProfiler desktop
    • open the software shortcut,
      • In Software
        • open the Applications folder
          • select the npp.8.2.1.Installer.x64 installer
            • right-click
              • select Open
                • Accept all the defaults
                  • select OK > Next > I agree > Next > Next > Install > Finish
      • When you are prompted to update, download and install the application update
    • once Notepad++ has been installed.
      • Close All windows
  1. From the DEMProfiler Desktop
    • open the DEM Application Profiler Console
  1. In The DEMProfiler Console
    • select the Settings tab,
      • enable the following
        • in front of Support HKLM
          • select the Check box
        • in front of Warn if Project Not Saved
          • select the Check box
        • in front of Show Unsupported File Access
          • select the Check box
    • select the Program Analysis tab
      • select Start Session
      • in the Current Flex Config file Contents ..... prompt window
        • select Yes
  1. In The DEMProfiler Console
    •  In the Start Application to Analyze window
      • under Program from Start Menu
        • expand Programs  
          • select the Notepad++ shortcut
        • to Start New Analysis.
          • select OK

You will notice Notepad++ launching

  1. In the Notepad++, session
    • select the Settings > Preferences,
    • In the General area
      • next to Fluent UI:large
        • select the  radio button
      • below the Tab Bar
        • in front of Multi-line and Vertical
          • select the checkboxes
    • to close Preferences.
      • select the Close button
    • close Notepad++
    • to close the Profiling Finished window
      • select Ok
  1. In the DEMProfiler Console
    • To center of the page,
      • make sure the Optimization level for this exercise is 1
  1. In the DEMProfiler Console
    • select Save > Save Config File with Predefined Settings
      • In the Save As window
        • open the Applications folder
          • next to File name
            • enter Notepad++Developers
          • select Save

 

  1. Switch to your vSphere client,
    • select DEMProfiler-02a,
      • right click >
        • select Snapshot >
          • revert to Latest Snapshot
        • In the Revert to latest snapshot window
          • select REVERT
Section 2. Performing DEM based configuration
  1. On your ControlCenter server
    • from the Taskbar
      • launch your DEM shortcut
    • under General,
      • select the Applications folder,
        • in top left-corner
          • select Refresh Tree
  1. On the Dynamic Environment Manager MMC
    • under Applications,  
      • select the Notepad++Developers configuration
  1. In the Notepad++Developers properties
    • select the Predefined Settings tab
      • select Default Settings ,
        • select Edit
          • In the Edit Predefined Settings window
            • next to Name:
              • enter Notepad++ for Developers (ThinApp)
            • next to Type:
              • select Fully Enforced Settings
  1. On Edit Predefined Setting window
    • select the Conditions Tab
      • select Add
        • select Group Membership
          • next to Member of Group
            • select Browse
      • In the Select Group window,
        • type Marketing
          • select Check Names
        • select OK twice >
    • In the Tool bar at the top,
      • select Save Config File
  1. In the Notepad++Developers properties
    • select the DirectFlex tab,
      • next to enable ThinApp 5.2 support
        • select the checkbox
      • below Executables
        • select %ProgramFiles%\Notepad++\notepad++.exe
          • select Edit
            • Remove the entire path with the exception of notepad++.exe
            • select OK
      • select Save Config file
Part 5. Testing our Notepad++ ThinApp / App Volumes / Dynamic Environment Manager Integration with Horizon Published Apps and Desktops
  1. On the ControlCenter desktop,
    • Launch your  Horizon client shortcut,
      • In the Horizon client login

 

  1. In the Horizon client
    • launch the Notepad++ entitlement
    • note your enforced Predefined settings

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