Sometimes a user might infrequently use business-critical applications. Using App Volumes, you can now deliver such applications to the user only when necessary. This self-service like capability helps you set the delivery mode (classic and on-demand) for each application package while creating the package. When editing a package, the delivery mode can be changed.
In the default behavior, any assigned application is delivered to an end user either at computer startup or user login even when the application is not immediately required by the end user. This behavior is the classic delivery mode. To deliver an application only when the user has a need for the application, you can use the on-demand delivery mode.
When an administrator selects the delivery mode of a package as on-demand, only shortcuts of the application are displayed to the end user in the Start menu or on the desktop. When an end user opens the shortcut, the application volume is delivered to the end user, virtualized, and launched. During virtualization, the App Volumes on-demand shortcuts for the application are replaced with the application's shortcuts. If an application takes a few seconds longer to launch, a message box is displayed to the end user indicating that the application delivery is in progress.
Criteria for Delivering an On-demand Application Package
For an application package to be delivered as on-demand to the end user, there are a few eligibility criteria:
- All App Volumes Manager servers and agent computers must be upgraded to App Volumes 4, version 2111 and later.
If an end user logs into an agent computer which is installed with an earlier version of App Volumes agent, then App Volumes Manager delivers this package to the end user through the classic mode even though the package delivery is configured as on-demand.
- A package must be captured by using App Volumes 4, version 2111 or later.
If an earlier version of App Volumes Manager or App Volumes agent is used when capturing a package, then App Volumes Manager delivers this package to the end user through the classic mode.
- The application programs installed during the packaging process must have shortcuts.
If the package has no shortcuts, the on-demand delivery option is disabled in the App Volumes Manager.
Characteristics of an Application Package delivered as On-demand
- Shortcut of the application assigned to a user is visible only to that user.
- Shortcut of the application assigned to a computer is available to all users.
- Certain Windows features such as file type association and context menu integration is not supported for an on-demand application prior to the user launching the application's on-demand shortcut.
After the application is delivered to the user session, the application functions as it does in the classic mode.
- Package attachment for an application delivered as on-demand occurs only after the end user launches the simulated shortcut of the application.
The attachment and attachment count displayed in certain areas of the App Volumes Manager admin UI such as on the Applications, Packages, and Attachments details page in the INVENTORY tab and the Manage Entity details page in the DIRECTORY tab change only after the end user launches the shortcut of the application.
