How do you automate and simplify app provisioning and delivery with Horizon View and VMware App Volumes?

1 What is Horizon View?

Horizon View is a desktop and application virtualization solution that provides secure and consistent access to desktops and applications from any device, anywhere. Horizon View enables you to create and manage pools of virtual desktops that are hosted on VMware vSphere servers, and deliver them to your end users through a unified portal. Horizon View also supports remote application delivery, which allows you to publish individual applications to users without requiring a full desktop.

3 How to create app stacks?

To create app stacks, you need to install and configure App Volumes Manager, which is the central console for managing app stacks and assignments. You also need to install App Volumes Agent on the virtual machines that will receive app stacks. Then, you need to create a provisioning machine, which is a virtual machine that is used to capture and create app stacks. You can use the App Volumes Manager to create a provisioning machine from an existing virtual machine, or create a new one from scratch. Once you have a provisioning machine, you can use it to install and configure the applications that you want to include in the app stack. After you finish installing the applications, you can use the App Volumes Manager to finalize and save the app stack as a virtual disk file.

4 How to assign app stacks?

To assign app stacks, you need to use the App Volumes Manager to create assignments. Assignments are rules that define which app stacks are attached to which users, groups, or machines. You can create assignments based on various criteria, such as Active Directory domain, organizational unit, user name, computer name, or IP address. You can also specify when the app stacks are attached, such as at login, at launch, or immediately. You can also set priorities and exclusions for app stacks, to control which app stacks take precedence or are prevented from attaching. Once you create assignments, the App Volumes Agent will automatically attach the app stacks to the virtual desktops or remote sessions according to the rules.

5 How to update app stacks?

To update app stacks, you need to use the App Volumes Manager to create a new version of the app stack. You can use the same provisioning machine that you used to create the original app stack, or create a new one from the existing app stack. Then, you can install or uninstall applications, or change the configuration of the app stack as needed. After you finish updating the app stack, you can use the App Volumes Manager to finalize and save the new version of the app stack as a virtual disk file. You can then assign the new version of the app stack to the same or different users, groups, or machines as the original app stack. The App Volumes Agent will automatically detach the old version and attach the new version of the app stack to the virtual desktops or remote sessions.

6 How to monitor and troubleshoot app stacks?

To monitor and troubleshoot app stacks, you can use the App Volumes Manager to view the status and details of app stacks, assignments, and attachments. You can also use the App Volumes Manager to perform actions such as detach, attach, update, or delete app stacks, or edit or delete assignments. You can also use the App Volumes Logon Monitor tool, which is a Windows service that runs on the virtual machines that receive app stacks. The App Volumes Logon Monitor tool collects and analyzes information about the app stack attachment process, such as the time, duration, and errors. You can use the App Volumes Logon Monitor tool to view the log files or generate reports that help you identify and resolve issues with app stacks.