VMware Application Virtualization

Delivering Windows Applications to a Highly Mobile Sales Force

Question

A customer is struggling with how to support application delivery to its highly mobile sales force.

There are two Windows applications that need to be delivered, which could present a challenge.

Both applications use a local copy of the central database and the applications are frequently being updated.

During assessments and user interviews, the sales personnel indicated that they frequently use these two applications while traveling in areas with poor connectivity.

The sales people rarely connect to the company network.

Pushing out updates using a traditional deployment system is therefore difficult.

Which solution from VMware would solve the customer's situation?

Answers

Explanations

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A. B. C. D.

D.

The customer in this scenario is facing challenges delivering two Windows applications to their highly mobile sales force. The applications use a local copy of a central database and are frequently updated, making it difficult to manage updates through traditional deployment systems. Additionally, the sales personnel use these applications while traveling in areas with poor connectivity and rarely connect to the company network.

To address this challenge, VMware offers several solutions. The correct solution will need to meet the following requirements:

  1. Allow for offline use of the applications
  2. Provide a way to manage updates to the applications
  3. Provide a way to deliver the applications to the mobile sales force

Let's examine each answer choice and see if it meets these requirements:

A. Package the applications as an App Volumes Appstack. Manage delivery and updates off the Appstack using VMware Identity Manager.

App Volumes is a technology that allows administrators to deliver and manage applications in virtual disks (AppStacks). These virtual disks are mounted to a user's desktop or virtual machine as a logical disk, allowing the applications to run locally. VMware Identity Manager is an identity and access management solution that provides a single sign-on portal for applications.

This solution would meet the requirements because App Volumes Appstacks can be delivered to devices and used offline, allowing sales personnel to use the applications even when not connected to the company network. Updates to the applications can be managed through App Volumes and delivered to the Appstacks. Using VMware Identity Manager, the applications can be delivered to the mobile sales force as part of a portal with single sign-on.

B. Package the applications using ThinApp and manage delivery and updates using VMware Identity Manager.

ThinApp is a technology that allows administrators to package applications into single executable files that can run on any supported Windows operating system without installation. VMware Identity Manager can be used to manage the delivery of ThinApp packages.

This solution would also meet the requirements because ThinApp packages can be delivered to devices and used offline. Updates to the applications can be managed through ThinApp and delivered to the packages. Using VMware Identity Manager, the applications can be delivered to the mobile sales force as part of a portal with single sign-on.

C. Install the applications on RDS Hosts and publish them using Horizon 7. Since installed centrally, management of the applications will now be possible using traditional methods.

RDS (Remote Desktop Services) is a technology that allows administrators to deliver applications to remote desktop sessions. Horizon 7 is a virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI) solution that provides desktop and application delivery.

This solution would not meet the requirements because RDS requires a connection to the company network to access the applications, making offline use impossible. Additionally, updates to the applications would need to be managed using traditional methods, which was identified as a challenge in the scenario.

D. Package the application using ThinApp for isolation and publish them to users using Horizon 7. Place the ThinApp packages on a network share for central and easy updates.

This solution is similar to option B but with the addition of using Horizon 7 to deliver the ThinApp packages. This option would also not meet the requirements because Horizon 7 requires a connection to the company network to access the applications, making offline use impossible.

Based on the requirements and examination of each answer choice, the correct solution for the customer is A. Package the applications as an App Volumes Appstack. Manage delivery and updates off the Appstack using VMware Identity Manager.