View source for Microsoft App-V

[http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/jj680850.aspx Microsoft App-V] is an application-virtualization product available to Software Assurance customers as part of the Desktop Optimization Pack.

While App-V is technically [http://stealthpuppy.com/app-v-faq-7-is-app-v-an-application-compatibility-solution/ not an application compatibility solution], it can be helpful in getting old or poorly-designed software to work on Windows 7 or Windows 8. Applications packaged for App-V are isolated from each other, so two applications that conflict with each other can run on the same computer. App-V is also very good for deploying software that has a messy or complicated installation or removal process, so long as the software doesn't require DCOM, shell extensions, special drivers or machine-specific customization.

=Client=

==App-V Client 5.0 SP3==

The 5.0 SP3 client requires the [[Microsoft .NET Framework]] 4.5 and [[Microsoft Windows Management Framework]] 3.0. These are [http://blogs.msdn.com/b/astebner/archive/2013/08/27/10444688.aspx included with Windows 8 and Server 2012]. Although [http://blogs.msdn.com/b/oldnewthing/archive/2011/04/04/10149346.aspx Windows is not a .NET Framework delivery channel], App-V is so tightly bound to the operating system that a new App-V may be needed with future Windows releases anyway.

<source lang="xml">
<package id="appv_client" name="Microsoft App-V 5.0 SP3 Client" revision="%PKG_VERSION%%PKG_VERSION_APPEND%" reboot="false" priority="2">

        <variable name="PKG_VERSION" value="5.0_SP3"/>
        <variable name="PKG_VERSION_INTERNAL" value="5.0.10107.0"/>
        <variable name="PKG_VERSION_APPEND" value="-3"/>
        <variable name="PKG_NAME" value="appv_client_setup.exe" os="7.+(enterprise|ultimate|professional|premium).+6\.1\.\d{4}" />
        <variable name="PKG_NAME" value="appv_client_setup.exe" os="windows +8.+6\.[23]\.\d{4}" />
        <variable name="PKG_NAME" value="appv_client_setup_rds.exe" os="windows.+server" />  

        <depends package-id="dotnetfx45" os=".+6\.[0-1]\.\d{4} "/>
        <depends package-id="wmf3" os=".+6\.[0-1]\.\d{4}" />

        <check type="uninstall" condition="versiongreaterorequal" path="Microsoft Application Virtualization (App-V) Client" value="%PKG_VERSION_INTERNAL%"/>

        <!-- This is a workaround for a defect in KB2984972 -->
        <check type="registry" condition="equals" path="HKLM\Software\Microsoft\AppV\Subsystem\ObjExclusions\93" value="TermSrvReadyEvent" />

        <!-- Edit this as required in your environment. See
             http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/jj713460.aspx
             for details-->
        <install cmd="&quot;%SOFTWARE%\AppV\%PKG_VERSION%\Client\appv_client_setup.exe&quot; /ACCEPTEULA /MUOPTIN /NORESTART /q">
          <exit code="0" />
          <exit code="1638" />
          <exit code="3010" restart="true" />
        </install>
        <install cmd="&quot;%WINDIR%\system32\reg.exe&quot; add HKLM\Software\Microsoft\AppV\Subsystem\ObjExclusions /v 93 /t REG_SZ /d TermSrvReadyEvent /f" />



        <!-- This looks like a good place to do configuration with 
             set-appvclientconfiguration, but without a check condition
             to verify your configuration is in place, it won't actually
             work because App-V isn't ready for you to do this until
             after a restart. -->

        <upgrade include="install"/>
<!--
        <upgrade cmd="&quot;%WINDIR%\system32\reg.exe&quot; add HKLM\Software\Microsoft\AppV\Subsystem\ObjExclusions /v 93 /t REG_SZ /d TermSrvReadyEvent /f" />
-->


        <remove cmd="&quot;%SOFTWARE%\AppV\%PKG_VERSION%\Client\%PKG_NAME%&quot; /UNINSTALL /q"/>

</package>
</source>

=Deploying App-V Packages=

Once the client is installed, it can operate with an App-V server or in [http://blogs.technet.com/b/virtualvibes/archive/2013/03/12/app-v-5-0-standalone-mode-adding-and-publishing-a-package.aspx stand-alone mode]. With a server, there is no WPKG involvement once the client has been installed and configured. Without an App-V server, WPKG either delivers MSI packages or executes PowerShell scripts to inform the client of new App-V packages. Don't mix MSI and PowerShell deployment: pick one for your environment and stick with it.

PowerShell deployment works well with WPKG.

== Deployment with PowerShell ==

Deployment with PowerShell uses two steps: first, the package is added with <code>Add-AppvClientPackage</code>, and then it is published with <code>Publish-AppvClientPackage</code>. Typically you'll use the <code>-Global</code> flag to publish a package to all users, but you could use a login script or a script dropped into the Start menu to publish packages to only the logged-in user instead.

You may want to use <code>Mount-AppvClientPackage</code> to cache the package to local disk so that it will work even if the network is disconnected the first time the user tries to run the program. This is not necessary if you specify a PKG_PATH that will be available the first time the user tries to run the program.

=== Package template ===

This template will work for a typical App-V package. Change the ID, the name and the <code>PKG_SHORTNAME</code> and <code>PKG_PATH</code> variables.

<source lang="xml">
<package
     id="MyPackage"
     name="MyPackage via App-V"
     revision="4"
     reboot="false"
     priority="2">

    <depends package-id="appv_client" />

    <!-- If your package works on all architectures: -->
    <variable name="PKG_PATH" value="%SOFTWARE%\AppV\packages\MyPackage\MyPackage.appv" />

    <!-- If your package doesn't: -->
<!--
    <variable name="PKG_PATH" value="%SOFTWARE%\AppV\packages\MyPackage_32\MyPackage.appv" architecture="x86"/>
    <variable name="PKG_PATH" value="%SOFTWARE%\AppV\packages\MyPackage_64\MyPackage.appv" architecture="x64"/>
-->

    <variable name="PKG_SHORTNAME" value="MyPackage" />

    <check type="execute" path="powershell -executionpolicy bypass -noprofile -command &quot;&amp;Import-Module AppvClient; if (get-appvclientpackage -name $env:PKG_SHORTNAME ) { exit 0 } else { exit 1 }&quot;" condition="exitcodeequalto" value="0" />

    <!-- The mount-appvclientpackage command caches the package locally and can be removed if undesired -->

    <install cmd="powershell -executionpolicy bypass -noprofile -command &quot;&amp;Import-Module AppvClient; if (add-appvclientpackage -path $env:PKG_PATH | publish-appvclientpackage -Global | mount-appvclientpackage ) { exit 0 } else { exit 1 }&quot;" condition="exitcodeequalto" />

    <!-- Unpublishing may be overkill -->
    <upgrade cmd="powershell -executionpolicy bypass -noprofile -command &quot;&amp;Import-Module AppvClient; unpublish-appvclientpackage -Global $env:PKG_SHORTNAME; remove-appvclientpackage $env:PKG_SHORTNAME" >
      <exit code="any"/>
    </upgrade>
    <upgrade cmd="powershell -executionpolicy bypass -noprofile -command &quot;&amp;Import-Module AppvClient; if (add-appvclientpackage -path $env:PKG_PATH | publish-appvclientpackage -Global | mount-appvclientpackage ) { exit 0 } else { exit 1 }&quot;" condition="exitcodeequalto" />

    <remove cmd="powershell -executionpolicy bypass -noprofile -command &quot;&amp;Import-Module AppvClient; unpublish-appvclientpackage -Global $env:PKG_SHORTNAME; remove-appvclientpackage $env:PKG_SHORTNAME" >
      <exit code="any" />
    </remove>
</package>
</source>

=== Additional information ===

If you require additional features or if you're using connection groups (sets of AppV packages that share an environment), see:

* Microsoft documentation
** [http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/jj721446.aspx How to deploy App-V 5.0 Packages Using Electronic Software Distribution]
** [http://technet.microsoft.com/en-gb/library/dn508409.aspx How to Manage an App-V 5.0 Package Running on a Stand-Alone Computer Using PowerShell]
** [http://blogs.technet.com/b/appv/archive/2012/12/03/app-v-5-0-client-powershell-deep-dive.aspx App-V 5.0 Client PowerShell Deep Dive]
** [http://blogs.technet.com/b/virtualvibes/archive/2013/03/12/app-v-5-0-standalone-mode-adding-and-publishing-a-package.aspx App-V 5.0 Standalone Mode]
* Other resources
** [http://stealthpuppy.com/appvrecipes/ App-V Recipes & Tips]
** [http://www.softgridblog.com/?p=181 New! Powershell in App-V 5; some example scripts], especially valuable if you've used App-V 4
** [http://myitforum.com/myitforumwp/2013/10/21/powershell-script-to-test-app-v-5-0-packages/ PowerShell Script to test App-V 5.0 Packages]

= Sequencing =

To save time, sequencing a package should be performed on a virtual machine. Install and patch the base operating system, then install the sequencer and then take a snapshot. You'll revert to this snapshot every time you want to sequence a new package or edit an existing package. '''Do not install WPKG on the sequencing VM'''.

For further details:

* [http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/jj713438.aspx Creating and Managing App-V 5.0 Virtualized Applications]
* [http://www.virtualizationadmin.com/articles-tutorials/application-virtualization-articles/app-v-basics-part1.html App-V Basics: Installing and Using the App-V 5 sequencer]
* [http://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/ca8194b0-bdda-4175-a23b-39d9fc815380/how-to-choose-appv-5-sequencing-primary-virtual-application-directory?forum=mdopappv How to choose App-V 5 Sequencing "Primary Virtual Application Directory"?]
* [http://www.tmurgent.com/TmBlog/?p=1283 What I Do: App-V 5 and the "Primary Virtual Application Directory"]


[[Category:Silent Installers]]
[[Category:Microsoft software]]