Introduction to application management in Configuration Manager

Article
10/04/2022

Applies to: Configuration Manager (current branch)

In this article, you'll learn the basics before you start working with Configuration Manager applications.

Tip

If you're already familiar with how to manage applications in Configuration Manager, skip this article. Move on to creating a sample application: Create and deploy an application.

What is an application?

Although application or app is a widely used term in computing, in Configuration Manager, it means something specific. Think of an application like a box. This box contains one or more sets of installation files for a software package (known as a deployment type), plus instructions on how to deploy the software.

When you deploy the application to devices, requirements decide which deployment type Configuration Manager installs on the device.

You can do many more things with an application. You'll learn about these things as you read this guide. The following sections introduce some concepts you'll need to know before you start to dig deeper:

Deployment type

If the application is the box, then the deployment type is the set of contents in the box. An application needs at least one deployment type, as it determines how to install the app. Use more than one deployment type to configure different content and installation program for the same application.

For example, your company has a line-of-business application called Astoria. The application developers provide the following ways of installing the app:

Windows Installer package for full functionality on Windows 10 devices
An App-V package for use in the terminal server farm
An web app for mobile users

You create a single application for Astoria in Configuration Manager. The application defines the high-level metadata about the app that's common across all installation methods and platforms. You then create three deployment types for the available installation methods, and deploy the application to all users. Based on the requirements and other configurations on the deployment types, Configuration Manager determines the right method in each use case.

For more information, see Create deployment types for the application.

Requirements

In previous versions of Configuration Manager, you would create a collection of devices to deploy an application to. Although you can still create a collection, use requirements to specify more detailed criteria for an application deployment.

For example, specify that an application can only install on devices that run Windows 10. When you deploy the application to all of your devices, it only installs on devices that run Windows 10.

Configuration Manager evaluates requirements to determine whether it installs an application and any of its deployment types. Then it determines the correct deployment type by which to install an application. Every seven days, by default, the Configuration Manager client reevaluates requirement rules to determine compliance according to the client setting Schedule re-evaluation for deployments.

For more information, see Create and deploy an application and Deployment type Requirements.

Global conditions

While you use requirements with a specific deployment type in a single application, you can also create global conditions. These conditions are a library of predefined requirements that you can use with any application and deployment type. Configuration Manager includes a set of built-in global conditions, or you can create your own.

For more information, see Create global conditions.

Simulated deployment

A simulated deployment evaluates the requirements, detection method, and dependencies for an application. A client reports the results without actually installing the application.

For more information, see Simulate application deployments.

Deployment action

A deployment action specifies whether you want to install or uninstall the application you're deploying. Not all deployment types support the uninstall action.

For more information, see Deploy applications.

Deployment purpose

The deployment purpose specifies whether the deployment app is Required or Available:

The client automatically installs a required deployment according to the schedule that you set. If the application isn't hidden, a user can track its deployment status. They can also use Software Center to install the application before the deadline.
If you deploy the application to a user as available, they see it in Software Center, and can request it on demand.

For more information, see Deploy applications.

Revisions

When you make revisions to an application or a deployment type, Configuration Manager creates a new version of the application. Take the following actions in the Configuration Manager console:

Display the history of each application revision
View its properties
Restore a previous version of an application
Delete an old version

For more information, see Revise applications.

Detection method

Use detection methods to discover whether a device has already installed an application. If the detection method indicates the application is installed, Configuration Manager doesn't attempt to install it again.

For more information, see Deployment type Detection Method options.

Dependencies

Dependencies define one or more deployment types from another application that the client must install before it installs this deployment type.

For more information, see Deployment type Dependencies.

Supersedence

Configuration Manager lets you upgrade or replace existing applications by using a supersedence relationship. When you supersede an application, you specify a new deployment type to replace the deployment type of the superseded application. You can also decide whether to upgrade or uninstall the superseded application before the client installs the superseding application.

For more information, see Application supersedence.

User-centric management

Configuration Manager applications support user-centric management, which lets you associate specific users with specific devices. Instead of having to remember the name of a user's device, deploy apps to the user and to the device. This functionality helps you make sure the most important apps are always available on each of the user's devices. If a user acquires a new computer, Configuration Manager automatically installs their apps on the device before they sign in.

For more information, see Link users and devices with user device affinity.

Application group

Create a group of applications that you can send to a user or device collection as a single deployment. The metadata you specify about the app group is seen in Software Center as a single entity. You can order the apps in the group so that the client installs them in a specific order.

For more information, see Create application groups.

What application types can you deploy?

Configuration Manager lets you deploy the following app types:

Windows Installer (msi)
Windows app package and app bundles (appx, appxbundle, msix, msixbundle)
Windows app package in the Microsoft Store
Script installer for third-party installers and script wrappers
Microsoft App-V v4 and v5
macOS
A non-OS deployment task sequence for complex apps

Additionally, when you manage devices through Configuration Manager on-premises device management, manage these further app types:

Windows Phone app package (xap)
Windows Phone app package in the Microsoft Store
Windows Installer through MDM (msi)
Web application

State-based applications

Configuration Manager applications use state-based monitoring. You can track the last application deployment state for users and devices. The state messages display information about individual devices. For example, if you deploy an application to a collection of users, you can view the compliance state of the deployment and the deployment purpose in the Configuration Manager console. Monitor the deployment of all software from the Monitoring workspace in the Configuration Manager console. For more information, see Monitor applications.

The Configuration Manager client regularly reevaluates application deployments. For example:

A user uninstalls a deployed application. At the next evaluation cycle, Configuration Manager detects that the app isn't present. The client then automatically reinstalls the app.
Configuration Manager didn't install an application on a device because it failed to meet the requirements. Later, a change is made to the device and it now meets the requirements. Configuration Manager detects this change, and the client installs the application.

You can set the re-evaluation interval for application deployments. Use the Schedule re-evaluation for deployments client setting in the Software Deployment group. For more information, see About client settings.

Get started creating an application

If you want to jump right in and create an application, you'll find a walkthrough in the Create and deploy an application article.

If you're familiar with the basics and looking for more detailed reference information about all the available options, start to Create applications.

Software Center

Software Center is a Windows application installed with the Configuration Manager client. Use it for the following actions:

Browse for and request applications deployed to the device or the user
Install and schedule software installations
View installation status for applications, software updates, and operating systems
Configure remote control settings
Set up power management

For more information, see the following articles:

Packages and programs

Configuration Manager continues to support packages and programs that were used in previous versions of the product.

For more information, see Packages and programs.

Next steps

Now that you understand the basic concepts of application management in Configuration Manager, continue to the following articles: