MGT312: Deep Application Management with MS SC Configuration Manager 2012

This was a good session about Configuration Manager 2012, and the new (more modern) way to deploy applications to the enterprise. Gone is the 'package' model (well not gone, you can still use it) but in is the the new Application model. It's built for the 21st century and how users are consuming IT services. Some goodies about what's coming in Configuration Manager 2012 SP1 were also leaked. Such as (drum roll)...support for Mac OS X application deployment, and deploying Metro 8 style apps directly from the Microsoft Store without repackaging! Support for App-V 5.0 will also be included as well. Yipppeee!

Session summary:

• Need for a new application model
• End users are changing the way they do work - Ultra mobility, lots of devices, new generation with new expectations
• Apps are changing - AppV, SaaS, Datacenter hosted (VDI, remote apps), mobile apps
• SC 2012 re-wrote the definition of an app
• User-Centric Application Delivery
• General Info: Administrator Properties, end user metadata
• Deployment Type: Detection method, install command, requirement rules, dependencies, supersedence
• Application package: App-V, Windows Script, Windows Installer, CAB
• User-targeting - Much smarter targeting (only primary devices, not kiosk, not a conference room computer, etc.)
• State-based application management
• Detection method should determine if any action should take place
• Install/Uninstall
• Regular evaluation to check for and enforce compliance
• Rules determine applicability of software
• Rules are per-deployment type
• Evaluated in real time on the client
• If present or not applicable, don't download content
• Detection method is a new concept in CM 2012
• Requirement Rules
• Properties of users or devices (e.g. memory, disk space, OS type, etc.)
• Evaluated in real time on the client
• Evaluated before content is downloaded
• Global Conditions
• Foundation of requirements rules
• Properties of users and/or devices that make delivering software appropriate
• Global conditions are system artifacts (e.g. don't install on personal devices, or not on tablets)
• Global expressions (mix and match with and/or rules to build complex requirement rule)
• Rich Application Relationships
• Dependencies and supersedence
• 1 to n dependencies
• And/Or expressions as well
• Content Distribution
• Distribution Point Groups - Automatic distribution of content to DPs
• Distribute Content Wizard - Multiple packages to multiple DPs at once
• Content Library
• Bandwidth control
• Content Monitoring
• Progress of distribution
• Ability to validate content on a distribution point
• Updates package compliance in the monitoring node
• Application Deployment
• Replaces "Advertisement" from 2007 and earlier
• Two deployment purposes (required or available)
• Two actions: Install or uninstall
• User Device Affinity
• User can set affinity, IT can set affinity, multiple devices can be primary
• Import from CSV file, can set at OS deployment time, during mobile device enrollment, or manually by administrator
• On Demand installation - Real time installation, don't have to wait for advertisement or a timer
• Built-in Deployment types
• MSI
• Script
• App-V
• Windows Mobile 6.x
• Nokia
• Citrix XenApp connector under development
• App-V Configmgr 2012:
• Requires App-V 4.6
• Coming CM 2012 SP 1
• Windows 8 Metro Apps
• Deep Links - Reference from CM into Microsoft Store. Admins do not need to repackage
• Mac OS X Applications- DMG, MPKG, PKG, .APP
• App-V 4.6 SP2 Support - Windows 8
• App-V 5.0 support
• Connection groups (Lync and Office, Word and Visio, etc.). Allows the applications to communicate with each other in the virtual sandbox
• Create within CM console
• PowerShell Provider