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Microsoft SoftGrid Application VirtualizationJeff FisherSenior Business Development Manager Microsoft

3 April 12, 2023

Agenda• SoftGrid Update• Product Overview• Solutions• Roadmap• Competition

SoftGrid Update

SoftGrid Update

6 April 12, 2023

SoftGrid Update• SoftGrid 4.1 is the current shipping version

−Available as 2 SKU’s• SoftGrid Application Virtualization

−Part of Microsoft Desktop Optimization Pack (MDOP) for SA

• SoftGrid Application Virtualization for Terminal Services

−Sold as a stand alone CAL

• SoftGrid ZeroTouch−Self-service web portal

−Being aligned with other Microsoft products

−No longer available to new customers as of 2/1/07

7 April 12, 2023

SoftGrid Update• SoftGrid 4.1 SP1 is schedule to RTM the last

week of May• SoftGrid 4.2 is scheduled to RTM in July

−Will ship in the July volume license kit (MDOP CD)

Product Overview

SoftGrid Platform:3 Key Components

Sequencer SoftGrid Server

SoftGrid Client

Virtualizes Applications Delivers Applications Runs Applications

SoftGrid Sequencer:Rapid Virtualized Application Packaging• The Sequencer is a wizard-

based tool that rapidly virtualizes applications without changing source code

• Allows for the installation and configuration of one or more applications/dependencies into a single, portable data file (SFT)

• SFT file is placed onto one or more SoftGrid Servers for on-demand deployment to desktops, laptops, terminal servers or virtual machines

SoftGrid Server: On-Demand Streaming of Virtual Apps• Permission Based

• User authentication, authorization and licensing are checked every time users try to launch a SoftGrid application

• Centrally Served• The first time the Server

streams “just enough” code (10-30%) to the client; as more code is needed, it is delivered dynamically

• Locally Executed• App executes on desktop,

laptop Terminal Server and/or VM, not on SoftGrid Server

• Cached for Performance• App code is cached for

repeat use – even without a network

• Disconnected Use Support• Entire set of applications are

cached for limited time before expiring

SoftGrid Client:SystemGuard™ Virtual Environment• Applications are

virtualized per instance:

• Files (including System files, INI files, etc.)

• Registry• Fonts• COM/DCOM objects• Services• Name Spaces• Semaphores, Mutexes

• Applications do not get installed or alter the operating system

• Yet tasks process locally on the host computer

Traditional LayeredInstallation Model

Isolated VirtualApplication Model

Application Virtualization:Configuration Independence

Traditional LayeredInstallation Model

Isolated VirtualApplication Model

Application Virtualization:Configuration Independence

How are Machine and Application Virtualization Similar?

.VHD .SFT

Operating System

Application

Policy-Based Management

• SoftGrid Management Web Service is a centralized service for setting up, administering and monitoring all SoftGrid servers and applications

• Assign application privileges via Active Directory

• Full license control for all applications

• Remote Assistance – IT can connect remotely to the SoftGrid client on a user’s machine

• Active Upgrade – Roll out new applications without any down time

• Server Upgrades – One-click migrations of a SoftGrid Server’s configuration to another system

SoftGrid Integration w/ SMS 2003• Leverages existing SMS distribution infrastructure• Flexible application deployment

− Pre-cached to clients with traditional updates

− Pre-cached with dynamic updates (requires SoftGrid Server infrastructure)

− Delivered completely on-demand (requires SoftGrid Server infrastructure)

• Integrated reports and metering

Solutions

Simplify & AccelerateVista and Office 2007 Migrations

SoftGrid accelerates Vista and Office 2007 migrations by decoupling applications and

preferences from Windows• Replace existing OS image with a

“thin” Vista image• Users log into their new Vista

machine and their applications and preferences are downloaded from the network

• Users can run virtualized Office 2003 components conflict-free on machines with Office 2007 installed locally

Suncor Energy migrated over 1,300 applications on 3,200 desktops to XP in just 3.5 months.

Case Study

Reduce Help Desk CallsMicrosoft SoftGrid reduces help desk calls by over 30% by making it easier for IT to resolve problems centrally and reducing the likelihood of problems in the first place

• Problem resolution is application-centric, not system-wide

• Reduce visits to computer by fixing problems remotely

• Deployment is pulled and not installed, leading to a higher success rate

Heartland Financial used to spend 2 hours on the phone with a single user. With SoftGrid it takes less than 10 minutes to solve a user’s problem.

Case Study:

15%

52%

4%

11%

18%

Helpdesk

Deskside visits

Engineering

Patch Mgmt

Overhead

Source: 2003 Intel IT Avg. Quarterly

Spending on desktop PC support

Consolidate, Standardize and Stabilize Images

• Reduce the size and complexity of images

• Move closer to the goal of a “single image” for the entire enterprise

• Repurpose systems without constant re-imaging

Fidelity National Financial reduced 13 virtual images into one with SoftGrid

Case Study

Without SoftGrid

With SoftGrid

Roadmap

Release (codename)

SoftGrid Roadmap at a GlanceCY07 CY08 CY09

New Capabilities

Key Scenarios

Schedule

Vista compatible client

Office 2007 virtualization

Virtual server (VPC) support

Quality enhancements Accelerate Vista

deployments

Multiple Office in parallel

Quality enhancements

Unified management

Large deployments (> 100,000)

Operational readiness

Virtual applications interaction

Terminal Services scale

Ready-to-run virtual applications

“4.5” – Management Scale

“5.0” – Extended Virtualization

“4.2” – Vista Compatibility

TAP: H2/CY08

RTM: TBD

TAP: H2/CY 07

RTM: H1/CY08

TAP: Q1/CY 07

RTM: July CY07

Client scalability

Availability and maintainability

Security tightening

Globalization (Localizability)

Context Awareness

x64 support

Standards based virtualization format (VHD)

Microsoft Confidential – Information Subject To Change

• SoftGrid ZeroTouch is being aligned with other Microsoft products, to provide a more complete user experience for application provisioning both for the desktop and for Terminal Services

• During this alignment period, Microsoft will honor existing license agreements (and provide support to existing customers) but the product will not be available to new customers and Microsoft will no longer make it available to customers as of February 1, 2007

• Once realigned, the product will likely be a component of other Microsoft products and follow their release schedule

• Microsoft plans to release a new product roadmap by early June

SoftGrid ZeroTouch Update

Competition

Altiris SVS• Simplifies installation and de-installation

• Application is still installed, but uses redirection and prioritization

• Not all application components are virtualized• Redirection allows applications to be installed and uninstalled

more easily• SVS does not simplify application deployment or

management in an enterprise environment• Changes still require disrupting users• Applications are not fully isolated from problems

• SVS does not eliminate conflict testing• Prioritization layers clearly demonstrate potential for conflict• Multiple applications require more testing than normal

deployment• Applications are delivered using a traditional ESD system

• No on-demand delivery system or streaming• Installs must be scheduled as tasks using Altiris’ Client

Management Suite

Citrix AIE/Tarpon• Enables consolidation for Citrix servers – but not

Terminal Servers• Applications are redirected to a different location on install• Helps reduce some problems with apps that are not multi-user

friendly• AIE uses application redirection, not virtualization

• Applications are still installed, but in the AIE context• Not all components are isolated, so not all applications will

work• Applications still need to be managed

• Administrators must create rules for redirection to prevent conflicts

• Conflicts are eliminated, but not without significant effort• Installing applications on servers requires additional

management tools• Citrix Project Tarpon – AIE for the desktop

• Suffers from same potential limitations as AIE• Streaming uses SMB, a file server protocol

SoftGrid Competitive Comparison

Reduces application management costs

Accelerates app provisioning

Simplifies OS migration/patching

Enables on-demand access to applications

Fully supports user mobility and roaming

Consolidates Terminal Servers

Proven scalability for thousands of apps

SoftGrid

Altiris SVSCitrix AIE

Myths About SoftGrid• Some applications can’t be virtualized in SoftGrid

− Over 25,000 applications have been Sequenced using SoftGrid. It virtualizes all application components can support any application that is designed for Windows 2000 or XP, and can virtualize and run many applications that wouldn’t otherwise work.

• Disconnected users may experience application crashes− SoftGrid clients operate in either an on-demand or push mode, so users can work

in offline mode indefinitely. SoftGrid allows administrators to use push mode for individual clients or entire groups so 100% of the application is pre-cached, enabling offline use. Applications can also easily be repaired in disconnected mode.

• It only supports about 1,500 users per SoftGrid server− A SoftGrid server can support about 1,500 concurrent user requests per server

for first-time application delivery or significant updates. Once applications have started to cache, this increases by 5x or more. Customers can often support 50,000 seats with 4 or 5 servers.

• It performs poorly in WAN environments− SoftGrid only needs about 10 to 20% of an application’s files to launch.

Additionally, files can be cached on a local server for distribution, but managed centrally.

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