Microsoft SoftGrid

[Ravening_Wolf]

I'm just wondering if anyone is using, has trialled or even seen Microsoft SoftGrid in action at all?

 

My establishment currently uses software installed on a central server and then accessed via shortcuts on a shared start menu. We also have various "core" applications installed directly on the school's PCs. Both of these methods have their pluses and minuses but, if what the Microsoft site indicates is true, I should be able to kiss goodbye to the awkwardness of package creation (which never seems to work properly!) whilst improving software performance for the user. Or so it would seem anyway.

 

Can anyone shed any light on this software?

 

Thanks.

[localzuk]

I would also like to know about this. Especially whether it works with SIMS.net and its legions of tools.

[Lee_K_81]

Ooohhh. How do I get it..... Isnt it a bit similar to Citrix? Hopefully a less expensive version.....

[Quackers]

Whilst it looks good, and maybe would be OK for desktop PC's it would die on wireless laptops. I've got a copy but never used it, was going to give it an evaluation to see how well it worked, but once i looked more into the way it worked i back off.

[Ric_]

Microsoft SoftGrid Application Virtualization is the only virtualization solution on the market to deliver applications that are never installed, yet securely follow users anywhere, on demand. It dramatically improves IT efficiencies, enables much greater business agility and a superior end-user desktop experience.

 

This isn't technically true since Citrix Presentation Server 4.5 now has application streaming. The Citrix offering works offline too

[CyberNerd]

yeah - same as jboss applications.

[Ravening_Wolf]

Wyse also offer an application streaming system so M$ are lying on that point. That said, neither Citrix nor Wyse are cheaply licensable or addable to my Schools Agreement, hence my question.

[Uraken]

any more on this? any one using it in anger yet?

[binky]

For all those with Software Assurance (or the school agreement) it is free in the Desktop Optimization Pack. I have not tried SIMS, but in theory it should work.

[wesleyw]

webconnect does something similar as well I believe and cost significantly less than Citrix. I've got a citrix system at our school but I'm trialling webconnect now as it could extend our thin client across the school for considerably less investment.

 

 

Wes

[Ravening_Wolf]

I'm coming back to SoftGrid for another look as we have two suites coming to the end of the useful lives. If they could be converted into reasonable thin clients using something like SoftGrid maybe I can save the school a whole load of cash next year....

[srochford]

We're using softgrid - not for much yet (mainly just Office 2007)

 

It's not a replacement for Citrix or Terminal Services so it doesn't let you use low spec hardware with a chunky server. Although it's described as application streaming it's more like "application installation streaming" - ie the first time you click an icon it can take some time for the app to start ("some time" depends on all sorts of things but Outlook 2007 takes about 30-60 seconds). Once it's been installed, the application runs on the local machine so if the hardware you have won't support "application X" then you aren't going to be able to run it using Softgrid.

 

From then on, the same app will load very quickly because the program has now been cached on your local hard drive.

 

This also means that it can work over wireless although I'd guess you might want to do the initial stream on a wired network (there is an option to "load all apps") It also has the option to work offline - you can choose if you want this to work or not.

 

Note that "free in the desktop optimization pack" does not mean free - you have to pay for that pack

 

The biggest problem I've had is with sequencing applications (capturing them on a master installation ready for straming). Some work well (and a few have detailed notes on the MS web site) but some don't work at all - eg I've been trying to use this for Adobe CS3 (because it's normal installation is a pile of *&^!!% as others here have found!) but I can't get it to sequence properly.

[ZedLeppelin]

One thing you might want to look at is AppExpress from Endeavors Technologies.

 

http://www.endeavors.com

 

This is a streaming technology where applications are published to a central server and delivered to the client computers under control of something called the AppExpress player. Only enough of the application is initially delivered to the client machine to get the program up and running and subsequently more is delivered as and when the user requires extra functionality. As such the local footprint is minimised.

 

The application appears as if it is actually installed on the client machine with the expected desktop shortcuts and icons. Furthermore the install can be configured to run at different levels of virtualisation allowing anything from full interaction with other programs to totally isolated. There are also extensive administrative tools included for things like access and licensing control.

 

They have a demonstration website

 

http://www.stream24-7.com

 

Where you can try out a range of pre-packaged Open Source applications ranging from games to office and cad software. Registration is, naturally, free and you can lie about your identity.... just like I have here.

 

Better still you can also download a version called AppExpress Lite which is a fully functional 'free' single server implementation of the same software that is used to run the demonstration website. I say 'free' because the license is set to expire towards the end of May.

 

At the moment, if you have registered on stream24-7.com then the same username and password will work on the download site at

 

http://tryitnow.endeavors.com

 

I hope you find it useful

 

Thanks

 

Zed

[SimpleSi]

and you can lie about your identity.... just like I have here.

 

Your not the real Zep then ?

 

What have you done with her?

 

regards

Simon

[ZedLeppelin]

I'm not even the real Zed :-) I just found your forum through Google and decided I'd drop in and SPAM it... }:-)

 

In a nice way though. It was sort of on topic since the discussion is about Microsoft Softgrid, virtualisation and streaming. Since some of the other available options had been mentioned I thought I'd mention the one I did.

 

Oh Dear...... :oops: Just read the welcome message. Sorry :-(

 

I don't represent the company, honest.... mumble mumble mumble

 

If I see a missing Zep I'll mention she is being missed but in the meantime I'll exit stage right :arrow:

[SimpleSi]

We don't mind useful and interesting spam (well I don't anyway)

 

regards

 

Simon

[ZedLeppelin]

Peeks back around curtain... OK, I was lieing again. I don't represent the company but I do sort of follow them, a small matter of £600 worth of shares. I won't toot their trumpet for them, too much, but they have sort of re-invented themselves recently and...

 

Have a poke about their sites and if you see something you like... Well, I'm sure that they will sort of fall over themselves to help you out for the simple reason that you are prospects. Ermmm, no.. I'm sure they are quite nice people. As long as they have been fed.

 

Righty-ho, back to selling some more used cars. Well, maybe my first one. Or maybe I'll go back to road sweeping.

 

:arrow: :arrow: :!:

[RobFuller]

Ahh, I'm not having much luck with sequencing programs even basic ones, I followed the basic guide but with no joy. I'm use to packaging up msi's to the cows come home but I don’t understand why these fail to load. Any tips Steve?

 

TIA Rob.

[limbo]

It is still early days for this technology yet.

 

From what I can understand it is closer to msi technology than thin client.

 

You package up an application and then set it up for people to access. When people access the software it gets installed onto the client machine, but only they bits needed.

 

Taking a basic example liek a word processor. When you open it you get sent all the files you need to get it running, then when you do something like run the spell checker your machine goes off to the server and gets all the files it needs to run the spell checker. If they already exist on the machine (because you have used it before) then it does not go and fetch them.

 

Sort of MSI on demand.

 

At the moment the downside seems to be creating the packages. To build an application you have to run it and use all the features you think a user is likely to need. So if, for example you forget to click file > save as when you are building the app then file > save as is not available to the end user because it has not been included in the package.

 

This could of course have its advantages if you wanted to lock out a particular function - but you have to think of everything a user is likely to want to do.

 

I think Softgrid has been around for a while, and Microsoft have just bought the company.

 

I have been advised by smarter people than me that it has potential, but is not quite there yet.

[RobFuller]

I know Microsoft is releasing a 'branded' version as its still got Softricity on the current version. It would be a brilliant bit of software if I can work out what I’m doing wrong as even the most basic software gives me the same error.

[saundersmatt]

Currently having softgrid running most of the software on our network I think I can set a few points straight and hopefully help out anyone with problems.

 

Limbo, your first 2 paragraphs are pretty much correct: On first run softgrid will only download "feature block 1" i.e. enough off the app to launch the interface and commonly used features (configured during install) softgrid will then progressively download more of the app when required, however no features are ever not available to be used. You will often find that most apps are not downloaded 100%. Typically (from my experience) 30-70% of the entire package size is downloaded and cached, not all initially, but over time.

 

The beauty of softgrid is that you only need to manage one software install on every workstation, the softgrid client itself (the client isn't without it's problems, but only having to manage one local installation is a major advantage. Client side logging and error messages are thorough and helpful). Since all the applications run in a virtualised environment on the host, they can be guaranteed to work the same across each machine.

Application upgrading is a dream due to in place upgrading. For instance to upgrade firefox to the latest release you open your existing package, perform the upgrade and then save it as a new version. The client checks on launch that the cached version of the app is the latest, and downloads the new one if not.

srochford: I feel your pain with CS3, it has been a royal pain in the backside to get working, along with Acrobat 8. They both require a modification to a dll before sequencing but they do both work. Let me know if you're still struggling.

 

If anybody has any problems or questions don't hesitate to ask. I'd be more than willing to help out to the best of my ability.

 

Matt

[limbo]

Have you found any limitations about what software you can deploy through this?

 

I am guessing Microsoft will work pretty well, but how about things like Photoshop and Dreamweaver? Always a pita through MSI's.

[saundersmatt]

Most apps work great. There are only two things that I can recall not working, Dartfish classroom - due to it's wierd licensing system and Success Maker - due to it's local database oddness.

 

I've attached a doc listing all our sequenced application.

 

Matt

Sequenced Apps.doc

[SYNACK]

Most apps work great. There are only two things that I can recall not working, Dartfish classroom - due to it's wierd licensing system and Success Maker - due to it's local database oddness.

 

I've attached a doc listing all our sequenced application.

 

Matt

 

Wow, you have been busy. How long did it take you to sequence all of those?

[cookie_monster]

Matt, is that a list of all software you have running using softgrid? If so that's pretty impressive.

 

What's the process then do you create a package on the softgrid server and then it's ready to go?