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Best Practices for Server Application Virtualization

 

Updated: May 13, 2016

Applies To: System Center 2012 SP1 - Virtual Machine Manager, System Center 2012 R2 Virtual Machine Manager, System Center 2012 - Virtual Machine Manager

This topic provides best practices for running Server App-V. You should review and consider the following recommendations when planning and using Server App-V in your environment.

Server App-V Best Practices

  • Deploy virtual application packages to the same drive letter on target computers that was specified when the virtual application package was sequenced.

    You should always deploy virtual application packages using the same drive letter on target computers running the Server App-V Agent that you specified when you sequenced the package. For example, if you sequenced the application to Q:\MyApp, you should deploy the virtual application package to Q:\MyApp on the target computer.

  • Never allow untrusted users to create login sessions on datacenter computers.

    You should never allow untrusted users to connect, for example, by using Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP), to computers running virtual application packages in a data center environment. Additionally, running virtual application packages on computers that have Windows Terminal Services enabled is not supported.

  • Configure the temp directory with enough free disk space.

    The Sequencer uses the %TMP% or %TEMP% directory and the Scratch directory to store temporary files during sequencing. You should configure these directories on the computer running the Sequencer with free disk space equivalent to the estimated application installation requirements.

  • Sequence on a computer that has a similar configuration and that is running the same version of the operating system as the target computers.

    Ensure that the computer that is running the Sequencer is running the same version of the operating system as the target computers. This includes the service pack and update versions.

  • Sequence applications using a computer running in a virtual environment.

    You will sequence most applications more than once. To help facilitate this, you should consider sequencing on a computer running in a virtual environment. This will allow you to sequence an application and revert to a clean state, with minimal reconfiguration, on the computer that is running the Sequencer.

    If you are running Microsoft Hyper-V in your environment the Server App-V Sequencer will run when the computer running Hyper-V virtual is:

    • paused and resumed.

    • has its state saved and restored.

    • saved as a snapshot and is restored.

    • migrated to different hardware as part of a live migration.

  • Before you sequence a new application, shut down other running programs.

    Processes and scheduled tasks that normally run on the sequencing computer can slow down the sequencing process and cause irrelevant data to be gathered during sequencing. All unnecessary applications and programs should be shut down before you begin sequencing.

  • Sequence on a computer that is running Terminal Services

    You should not configure the install mode on a computer that is running Terminal Services before you install the Sequencer.

See Also

Server Application Virtualization Sequencer Technical Reference