Microsoft’s Application Virtualization 4.5 reaches RC status

The latest version of Microsoft’s application virtualization technology is now ready after reaching release candidate status. The technology comes from the 2006 acquisition of Softricity and their SoftGrid application. And with this new 4.5 release, rather than sticking with the old SoftGrid name, Microsoft has decided to change things up a bit and call the product Microsoft Application Virtualization.

However, that name doesn’t seem to roll off the tongue quite like saying Hyper-V. So, using the informal name or shortened version of the product known as “App-V” seems more fitting. After all, it sounds better, it’s easier to say, it ties in with Hyper-V, and it goes along with other application virtualization products from competitors like VMware ThinApp or Citrix XenApp.

Here are some of the new features found in Microsoft App-V 4.5:

• HTTP Streaming. Virtual applications can be streamed from an IIS server (Version 6 or 7), helping to provide performance and scalability improvements for large App-V deployments.
• New, Simplified Sequencer UI. A single wizard is used for creating a new package and enhancements have been made that will make editing packages even easier.
• Dynamic Suite Composition (DSC) for MSI packages. Creating MSI packages directly from the sequencer eliminates the need for a server environment. It is also possible to now dynamically suite two MSI packages together by following a few simple steps.
• Improved Integration with SCCM 2007 R2. Will offer the ability to deploy virtual applications via SCCM.
• Reporting. Application usage information is now recorded locally on each client so that offline usage is now accounted for properly in the App-V database. Customized reports will also be possible.
• New Manageability Tools. An OpsMgr 2007 Management Pack has been added to improve the monitoring capabilities of App-V servers.

If you want to download the product, sign in to Microsoft Connect with your LiveID.