Microsoft App-V 4.5 Client in Stand-Alone Mode

The Microsoft Application Virtualization (App-V) 4.5 offers three major deployment models for virtualized applications. These include using a Server Infrastructure dedicated to streaming virtual applications, using a Server Infrastructure shared to deliver OS Images, Virtualized, and Non Virtualized applications and using the Stand-Alone Client, with or without a backing File Server. This paper shows how Microsoft App-V 4.5 Client can be used in Stand-Alone Mode, with or without a backing File Server. This paper introduces two methods for deploying with the stand-alone client. In the first part, the paper describes the usefulness of deploying Microsoft App-V 4.5 Client in Stand-Alone Mode and discusses the method that can be used with the stand-alone client, as originally documented by Microsoft. This method is suitable for supporting very small number remote users, typically with poor network connectivity to a main site. The paper extends this use case with a second use and uses this deployment method as part of its recommended Sequencing or virtual application preparation phase practices. In the second section, the paper also describes a potential full-scale deployment using the stand-alone client in conjunction with file streaming. This method also allows virtual applications to be upgraded without any loss of user personalization and customizations. The paper also describes a method that is used to customize the MSIs generated by the sequencer.