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

  1. On the ControlCenter server,
    • Open your Chrome Browser and select the vCenter Icon.
  2. 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.
  3. For VMware Dynamic Environment Manager
  • ControlCenter
    • Location of the Configuration and Profile shares
    • Domain Controller configured AD templates on the Corp OU
    • DemProfiler -
      • Application Profiler captures on this machine
  1. For VMware App Volumes
    • AppVol.euc-livefire.com.
      • App Volumes Manager Sever
    • AppVolProv
      • App Volumes Provisioning Machine 
  2. Ensure that your W10Parent-01a and AppVolProv have been reverted to Snapshot
    • After revert to current snapshot has completed, Power on both your VM's

Note! When doing part1 of this lab you will be sitting around on 3 occasions for up to 45 minutes waiting for tasks to complete

To use your time efficiently start with the Integrating VMware Carbon Black with VMware Horizon (Beta) at the same time.

Part 1. Deploying VMware ThinApp

  1. On your ControlCenter Desktop
    • Open your Remote desktops folder
    • Launch the CaptureVM.RDP shortcut
    • When prompted login as capturevm\administrator
      • Enter the password VMware1!
  1. On the CaptureVM Desktop
    • Double-click the short-cut to SetupCapture.exe
    • Select Run
    • On the Setup Capture - Welcome select Next
  1. On the Setup Capture - Ready to Prescan
    • Select Prescan (wait for Pre-Scan to complete)
      • This is very slow and will take at least 10 minutes
    • When you reach the  Setup Capture - Install Application window (Do Not select Postscan)
      • From your Desktop, select the Software shortcut and go to Applications

 

  1. Select the latest version of the Notepad++ installer 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
  1. On the Notepad++ Update window
    • Select Yes
    • Select Yes, to close the existing session of Notepad++
  1. On your CaptureVM
    • Select the Frog icon on the Taskbar
    • On the Installer Langauge window, Select OK
    • On the Welcome to Notepad++ v7.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.
    • Select the Start button > Run
    • type %Temp% and select OK
    • Select and Right click the npp.8.1.9.3.Installer.x64 installer and Delete
    • Empty the Recycle Bin
  1. On the Setup Capture - Installation window.
    • Select Postscan
    • Select OK
      • The Postscan will take approximately 15 minutes
  1. On the Setup Capture - Entry Points window
    • Select the checkbox, next to Show entry points used for debugging
      • Select the checkbox, next to cmd.exe
      • Select the checkbox, next to regedit.exe
    • Select Next
  1. On the Setup Capture - Manage with Workspace 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
    • Uncheck the checkbox , next to Join the VMware Customer Experience Improvement
    • Select Next
  1. On the Setup Capture - Project Settings window
    • Select Next
  1. On the Setup Capture - Package Settings window
    • Select the Generate MSI package check box
    • Select Save
      • The Save operation will take about 20 minutes
  1. On the  Setup Capture  - Save Warnings
    • Select Next
    • Setup Capture - Ready to Build window
      • Select Build
  1. On the Setup Capture - Build Project window
    • Select Finish
  1. Notice your File Explorer window has automatically launched
    • Observe where the  .msi and .exe have been saved
    • Notice that the UNC path points to the BIN folder on your Packaging machine
    • Copy the Notepad++ msi, .exe and .exe.alt file
    • Select and open the software folder on the Capture VM Desktop
    • Save the Files to the ThinApp folder
  1. On the ControlCenter server Desktop
    • Revert to your Chrome browser, vCenter server session.
    • In the Hosts and Clusters Inventory
      • Select your CaptureVM
      • Right-Click the CaptureVM > select Snapshots > Revert to Latest Snapshot

 

Part 2. Integration of Horizon with ThinApp and App Volumes

  1. On your ControlCenter desktop
    • Open the Chrome browser in Favourites,
      • Select the App Vol shortcut,  
      • Login as Administrator with password VMware1!
  1. 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, accept the default and select Create
  1. The packages tab has automatically opened, for you to create a package for your application.
    • in the Name field type Notepad ++
    • Click Create
    • On the Confirm Create package click Create
  1. Select the Packages Tab
    • Expand the + next to Notepad++
    • Select Package
  1. On the Package for Notepad++ window
    • Next to Find Packaging Computer: type AppVolProv
    • Select Search
  1. On the Package for Notepad++ window
    • Select radio button next to EUC-Livefire\AppVolProv
    • Select Package
    • On the Confirm Start Packaging, select Start Packaging
  1. On your ControlCenter Desktop
    • Open the Remote Desktops folder and launch the AppVolprov.RDP shortcut
      • log in as
        • Username: euc-livefire\administrator
        • Password VMware1!
  1. On the AppVolProv desktop
    • Notice you have a prompt, on the Taskbar,  VMware App Volumes - Packaging in Progress
    • Select the Software folder,  Select open the ThinApp folder.
    • Select and right-click the Notepad++ .msi installer and select Run
    • Select Start and right at the top of Application menu next to Recently added select Notepad++
    • Launch Notepad++ , Close Notepad++
    • Reopen and Close Notepad++
    • Close the File Explorer window
  1. On the AppVolProv machine
    • On the VMware 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. From the ControlCenter server desktop
    • Launch your APPVolProv.RDP  virtual machine session
    • On the Packaging succesful window select OK
    • In vCenter Revert your AppVolProv virtual machine Snapshot
  1. From the ControlCenter server desktop
    • Go to your Chrome Browser, and select 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 Marketing
    • Select Search
    • Select the Check box next to for EUC-Livefire\Marketing
    • Next to Search Active Directory type Sales
    • Select the Check box next to EUC-Livefire\Sales and  CorpPriv\Sales
    • Select Assign
  1. On the Assign Application: Notepad++ window
    • On Confirm Assign 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
      • Ensure the the Toggle next to: Allow package delivery to any operating system : Toggle is turned ON
        • This is not a default configuration
    • Select Save
  1. From your App Volumes Manager Admin console session
    • Select INVENTORY > Applications tab
    • Expand Notepad++
    • Select the check box in line with Notepad++
    • Select Assign
  1. In the Assign Application: Notepad++ window
    • Next to Search Active Directory, Type RDSH
    • Select Search
  1. In the Assign Application: Notepad++ window
    • Next EUC-Livefire\RDSH1$ and EUC-Livefire\RDSH2$  select the checkboxes next to Available
    • Select Assign
  1. In the Confirm Assign window
    • Select Assign
  1. On the ControlCenter server,
    • Switch to your vCenter Admin console
      • Select the RDSH1 and RDSH2 servers
        • Select Power > Restart Guest OS,
        • On the Confirm Guest Restart window, select YES
          • Give the reboot about a minute
    • Open the Web Console  in the vSphere Client
      • log in as
        • Username: rdsh1\Administrator
        • Password: VMware1!
      • Restart your RDSH server
    • In the Web Console,  on the vSphere Web Client,
      • Select either RDSH1 or RDSH2
        • log in as
          • Username: rdsh1\Administrator
          • Password: VMware1!
          • Restart your RDSH server
  1. Launch Notepad++ to validate its functionality.
    • Close the application when done
    • If you get an error on first launch, close and re-open to validate the continuance of error messages.
    • Disconnect the RDSH RDP session
  1. On your ControlCenter server,
    • Launch Horizon Administrator Console from the Horizon Shortcut on the Favourites bar on your Chrome browser.
    • Select LAUNCH the Horizon Console (HTML) Console .
      • In the Username are type Administrator
      • In the Password area type VMware1!
      • Select Sign In
  1. In the Horizon Admin Console,
    • Expand Inventory  and select Applications
    • In the Application Pools area
      • Select Add
      • Select Add from Installed Applications
  1. In Add Application Pools wizard
    • Select the Notepad++ and select the check box.
    • Select Next
  1. In the Add Application Pools window
    • Under ID, change NotePad to NotePadPlusPlus
    • Select Submit
  1. 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 checkbox and select OK
    • Select OK
    • Repeat the process for euc-livefire\sales
  1. On your Controlcenter server desktop
    • Launch your Horizon client with the following Credentials
      • Username is Your custom account
      • Password is VMware1!
    • Select Log in
    • Launch Notepad++.
    • On the Notepad++ Plugin Manager window close Notepad++
    • On the Horizon client select Log off

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 Chrome browser.
      • In Bookmarks bar, select the vCenter shortcut.
    • Login as Administrator and the password VMware1!
    • Select DEM-Profiler > right click,  
      • Select Snapshots
      • Take Snapshot
    • In the Take VM Snapshot for DEMProfiler window
      • next to Name type Pre-App Capture
    • Select OK
  1. From your ControlCenter server
    • Open the Remote Desktops folder
      • Launch the DEMProfiler.RDP
        • Login as [email protected]
        • with the password VMware1! (this should happen automatically)

 

  1. 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 npp.7.9.3.installer.x64 ,
      • 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
    • 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
  1.  In the Start Application to Analyze window under Program from Start Menu
    • Expand the inventory under Programs expand and select the Notepad++ shortcut
    • Select OK to Start New Analysis.
    • You will notice Notepad++ launching in the Background,
  1. In Notepad++, select the Settings > Preferences,
    • In the General area
      • Change from Standard Icons small radio button to Fluent UI:large  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
  1. To right of the page, make sure the Optimization level for this exercise is 1,
  1. Select Save > Save Config File with Predefined Settings
    • When prompted to save the configuration, please make sure to save the file to this path \\controlcenter.euc-livefire.com\uemconfig\general\applications\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

Section 2. Performing DEM based configuration

  1. On your ControlCenter server
    • Launch your DEM mmc shortcut
    • Under General, select the Applications folder,
    • Select Refresh Tree in top left-corner
  1. On the Dynamic Environment Manager MMC
    • Under Applications,  select the Notepad++Marketing configuration
    • Select the Predefined Settings tab
      • Select Default Settings , select Edit
        • Enter and configuring the following:
          • Name: Notepad++ for Marketing (ThinApp)
          • Type: Fully Enforced
  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 and select Check Names
    • Select OK twice >
    • In the Tool bar at the top, select Save Config File
  1. 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

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,
    • login as Your Custom user with the password VMware1!
    • Select the W10INST desktop entitlement

 

  1. On the Windows 10 desktop session
    • Launch the Notepad++ shortcut
    • Notice your enforced configurations are being applied
  1. 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
  1. On the ControlCenter Desktop
    • Select your Notepad++ Virtual Application, in the Horizon Client
    • Notice your settings are still being enforced

Conclusion

In this session we covered the integration of VMware ThinAPP being an application Isolation solution and using VMware App Volumes as a Delivery solution to Horizon Desktop and Application Pools.

Finally we covered the management of the application settings using DEM Profiler and Dynamic Environment Manager

About the Author: Reinhart Nel

https://www.livefire.solutions/meet-the-team/reinhartnel/

Any questions related to this session, email Reinhart at RACE-Livefire-EUC <[email protected]>

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