Project Owner: Ron Sweatland
Team Members:
Jamar Salmon (Project Manager)
Cody Collins
Jeff Melara
Joshua Berner
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Table of Contents
Introductions
Project Overview
What is ThinApp?
Uses of ThinApp
Deliverables
Goals and objectives
Contributions
Virtualized Applications
Technical Environment
The Process
2
Table of Contents
Server Side Deployment
Collaboration
Planning and Management Experience
Challenges/ obstacles
Finale (Success!)
Lessons Learned
Skills and Knowledge Learned
Demonstration
Questions
3
Group Members
Jamar- Project Manager, Progress and
Project Reports, Documentation
• 3rd Year Senior - IT Management Track
Cody- Website Development,
Reference Documentation
• 4th Year Senior - IT Security Track
Jeff- Technical Documentation
• 4th Year Senior - IT Business Track
Josh- Technical Documentation
• 4th Year Senior - IT Health Track
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Project Overview
The goal of our project was to
research and implement a VMware
ThinApp environment by :
Defining
ThinApp
Demonstrating
ThinApp
Discussing
ThinApp:
• What is it?
• Creation
• Deployment
• Implementation
• Uses
• Advanatges
• Disadvantages
5
What is ThinApp?
A program that virtualizes applications to run
separately from the operating systems
It eliminates application conflict and streamlines
application delivery and management.
It virtualizes applications by packing application
files and registry into a single ThinApp package.
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Uses of ThinApp
Users can run
applications
on virtually
any computer
to which they
have access.
Applications
can run
directly from
portable
storage
devices,
including USB
flash drives.
Reduce and
streamline
software and
update
management
Simplify
software
migration
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How ThinApp Works
VMware ThinApp is an agentless application
virtualization tool that dissociates
applications from their native operating
systems by packaging them into a single
ThinApp package. This allows applications
to perform consistently across various
configurations while maintaining
compatibility, consistent user experience
and streamlined application delivery and
management.
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How ThinApp Works
9
Deliverables
Servers and Clients
• ESXI Virtual
Servers
• ThinApp
Repository
• VMware Virtual
Test Clients
Documentation
• Project Website
• Research Reports
• Technical
Documentations
• Team
Bibliographies
• Gantt Chart
Thin Applications
• Virtualized
Applications
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Goals and Objectives
Phase 1: 10/9/2012
Project Preparation:
Obtain all required
software and
documentation that
will be used
Backend servers
configured
Prepare IT Capstone
Website Layout
Choose top 20
software from the list
Obtain requested
software list from
teachers
Research Licensing
issues
Documentation 1st
Drafts (Technical,
Report, Reference)
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Goals and Objectives (Cont.)
Phase 2: 11/6/2012
Deploy Capstone
Website
Prepare Clients
and VMware
Repository
Documentation
2nd Drafts
(Technical,
Report, Reference)
Add Applications
to the repository
Determine
Application
Workarounds
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Goals and Objectives (Cont.)
Phase 3:
12/07/2012
Deploy
applications to
Clients
Finalize
Documentation(
Technical,
Report,
Reference)
Prepare
Presentation and
Poster Session
Material
Ensure
Applications
Work as
Expected
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Contributions
Each group
member
played an
even role
within the
project. Key
roles within
the project
include:
•
•
•
•
•
Virtualizing Applications
Poster and Presentation
ThinApp Deployment
Website Creation
Project Documentation
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Virtualized Applications
Cody
• Microsoft
Office
(Failed)
• Vizio
(Failed)
• Libre Office
• Skype
•
•
•
•
Jeff
Josh
Jamar
Audacity
Dia
Jgrasp
VMWare
Player
• Firefox
• Chrome
• Adobe
Reader
• NetBeans
• SeaMonkey
• Maya
• Python
• VLC Media
Player
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Virtualized Applications
Adobe Reader (Virtualized)
16
Virtualized Applications
Firefox (Virtualized)
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Virtualized Applications
Firefox (Installed)
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Virtualized Applications
Adobe Reader (Installed)
19
Technical Environment
ThinApp
applications were
virtualized in new
virtual machines
using VMware
Workstation and
Windows 7.
The ThinApps were
then moved into a
virtual Windows
2008 Server
(Repository) to be
stored for
deployment.
Applications were
then assigned to
various clients. These
clients pulled the
ThinApp from the
repository.
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The Process
Required Project Tool:
• VMware Workstation
• VMware ThinApp
• The installation files for the
s0ftware you wish to virtualize
• A copy of an operating system of
your choice (Windows 7)
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The Process (Cont.)
Create a Windows 7
VM in VMware
Workstation
Install VMware
ThinApp Suite on
virtual client
Create a snapshot of
client using ThinApp
Suite
Compare snapshots
Create a post snapshot
of client.
Install the application
to virtualized
Copy changes,
application files and
registry into a
virtualized .exe/.msi
package.
Upload virtualized
packages to repository
Deploy Virtualized
applications
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Server Side Deployment
Deployment and assignment of ThinApps to
various clients is done using the management
console. The management console is known as
“VMware View Administrator”
It must be noted that in order to maintain
network security limited details are provided
on this section are limited to specific
screenshots.
23
Server Side Deployment
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Server Side Deployment
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Collaboration
As a group we
decided to meet
every Tuesday
and Thursday
at 4:30 P.M.
when there was
no scheduled
class time.
Our group
communicated
through email,
phone calls and
text messaging.
We shared our
documents
through Email
and DropBox.
26
Planning and Management
Planning
• Goals of the project were outlined and
verified.
• Specific goals were group in 1 of 3 phases.
• Project research was then conducted.
Management
• Each person was assigned tasks relevant
to their skills.
• Each task was assigned a specific period
of time to be completed
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Challenges and Obstacles
Network
Connectivity
• Disruptions in network connectivity,
prevent any new applications from being
added to the repository or deployed to
clients.
Program
Modification
• Programs such as Microsoft Office Suite
and Visio require extensive modification
before it can be virtualized successfully.
Operating System
Requirements
• Virtualization of ThinApps requires that a
clean installation of the operating system
be used.
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Challenges and Obstacles(Cont.)
 Microsoft Office gives an error if it is not modified
before virtualization:
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Finale (Success!)
Sixteen (16)
ThinApps
• Created
• Deployed
• Implemented
Documentation
• Reference
• ThinApp
Overview
• Progress
Reports
• How-To
Guides
Infrastructure
• Servers
• Clients
• ThinApp
Repository
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Lessons Learned
Creating a schedule allows for better project and time tracking.
Good problem solving skills can go a long way.
Be prepared and expect delays during a project
Always take your teammate’s perspective into account.
Good Communication IS key
Practice proper project documentation
Time management is essential
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Skills and Knowledge Learned
Skills
Knowledge
• Virtualization
• Web
Development
• Documentation
• Use of LinkedIn
as a professional
networking tool
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Demonstration
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Questions
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