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Create Windows Embedded applications with Configuration Manager

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Applies to: Configuration Manager (current branch)

In addition to the other Configuration Manager requirements and procedures for creating an application, you must also take the following considerations into account when you create and deploy applications for Windows Embedded devices.

General considerations

  • When you deploy applications to Windows Embedded devices that are enabled for write filtering, you can specify whether to disable the write filter on the device during the app deployment. You can then choose to restart the write filter after the app deployment. If the write filter isn't disabled, the software is deployed to a temporary overlay. This means that unless another deployment forces changes to persist, the software will no longer be installed when the device restarts.

  • When you deploy an application to a Windows Embedded device, make sure that the device is a member of a collection that has a configured maintenance window. This lets you manage when the write filter is disabled and enabled, and when the device restarts.

  • The setting that controls the write filter behavior is a check box named Commit changes at deadline or during a maintenance window (requires restarts).

Tips for deploying applications

Use required applications rather than available applications for Windows Embedded devices that have write filters enabled. Because users can't install apps from Software Center on a Windows Embedded device that has write filters enabled, always deploy applications with a deployment purpose of required rather than available to these devices. Typically, this isn't a problem because computers that run a Windows Embedded operating system often run a single application that must run in the same way for multiple users. Because of this, these devices are highly managed and locked down by the IT department. Required applications are well-suited to this scenario.

However, if users do run more than one application on embedded devices when write filters are enabled, educate these users about the following limitations:

  • Users can't install required software from Software Center.

  • Users can't change their business hours in the Options tab of Software Center.

  • Users can't postpone the installation of a required application.

In addition, low-rights users can't sign in during a maintenance period if Configuration Manager is committing changes for software installations and updates. During this period, users see a message informing them that the device is unavailable because it's being serviced.

Do not deploy applications to Windows Embedded devices that have write filters enabled if the applications require the user to accept the license terms. When write filters are disabled so that Configuration Manager can install software on embedded devices, low-rights users can't sign in to the device. If the installation requires the user to accept the license terms, this won't be possible and the installation will fail. Make sure that you don't deploy software to Windows Embedded devices if the installation requires user interaction. You can use the Applicable Platforms list to filter these operating systems.