Assign an App Layer to CVDs

After an app layer is updated at the server and tested on at least one CVD, you can assign it to individual or multiple CVDs.

About this task

If Collections are defined, you can assign the new app layer to all the CVDs in a collection in one step. See Working with CVD Collections.

The assignment process swaps the old app layer with the new one, thereby assigning the app layer to the endpoint and instantiating the applications to the endpoint. The changes in the endpoint are propagated back to the endpoint’s CVD on the server.

The download to the endpoint transfers only new files and incremental changes to existing files of the target endpoint.

Before a new or updated app layer is applied, the Mirage server takes a CVD snapshot so that it can roll back if any post-update problem arises.

Before and during app layer download, the system verifies that enough disk space is available to proceed with the operation.

The same interfaces are used to apply or modify app layers for multiple CVDs, or a collection.

You can upgrade an existing base layer or app layers to all CVDs that are already assigned with previous versions of those layers. See Assign a Previous Layer Version.

Prerequisites

Verify that endpoint centralization is completed for that CVD and its content is protected in the server. You can revert to the previous CVD state.

Verify that the software to be deployed by the app layer does not conflict with locally installed applications. See Correct Software Conflicts By Using a Transitional Base Layer.

App layer assignment requires a base layer to be present on the endpoints.

Procedure

1. In the Mirage Management console, select Common Wizards > Update App Layer.
2. Select individual or multiple CVDs, or a collection of CVDs that you want to update, and click Select. When you finish selecting CVDs or a CVD collection, click Next.
3. Select the app layers with which you want to update the CVDs.

   The app layer details appear in the bottom pane.

   You select a layer in the Available Layers pane and click the right arrow to move it to the Assigned Layers pane. To remove a layer, select it in the Assigned Layers pane and click the left arrow.

   Layers shown in gray indicate that they are already assigned to some CVDs.

4. Correct mismatches between the app layer and the selected CVDs if needed. The following system aspects are validated. Ignore any warnings that are not applicable.

   Table 1. System Aspect Validations

   System Aspect	Validation
   Operating System	The system verifies that the CVD and the new app layer have the same OS and type (32- or 64-bit). If they are different, the system blocks those CVDs from receiving the app layer.
   Drive Letters	The system verifies that the CVDs include the required drive letter in the app layer. If the CVDs do not have the appropriate drive letters, the system blocks these CVDs from receiving the app layer.

5. Click Finish.

   An update task is created. The Mirage client periodically checks the server for updates to download as part of its regular processing.

Results

This completes the administrator procedure.

When the client next connects, download and swap operations take place, which ask the user to restart. Allow some time for the changes to download.