You can capture a wide range of entities as part of an app layer.

Supported Entities

An app layer can contain the following entities:

  • A single application or a set of applications

  • Any updates or patches related to the installed applications

  • Global application configurations and settings

  • Any custom set of files and registry entries

For example, an app layer can contain Adobe Reader, Microsoft Visio 2010 or the entire Microsoft Office 2010 suite. An app layer can also be used to capture OEM software, such as the Dell software suite, including drivers and utilities.

Note:

When an update, patch, or service pack becomes available for an application in the app layer, you must capture a new complete app layer with the original application and the update installed in the application software.

Mirage can additionally contain the following elements:

  • Windows services

  • Kernel drivers

  • Shell integration components or shell extensions

  • Browser plug-ins

  • COM objects

  • Global .NET assemblies

  • OS language packs

Unsupported Entities

The following components are not supported for delivery as part of Mirage app layers:

  • User accounts and groups, both local and domain users, and user-specific changes

  • OS components or OS-bundled applications, for example, the .NET framework, Windows updates, Internet Explorer, and Windows Media Player

  • Windows license

  • Applications that are already part of the base layer

Note:

You can deliver OS components or OS-bundled applications and the Windows license as part of a base layer instead.

Partially Supported Entities

The following applications are partially supported for delivery as app layers:

  • Disk encryption software

  • Applications that make changes to the Master Boot Record or to disk blocks

  • Kaspersky Internet Security

  • Microsoft SQL Server

Recommended for Base Layer Only

Install the following applications in the base layer and not in app layers:

  • Windows security applications, for example anti-virus, anti-malware, and firewalls

  • VPN or other connectivity software, such as iPass

  • Windows components and frameworks, for example .NET, Java

  • Global Windows configuration and settings changes

  • Applications that add a network provider, such as Citrix Receiver