App Deployment Tech Blog (mostly): April 2017

Friday, April 21, 2017

Adding the RunVirtual key via the DeploymentConfig.xml

The RunVirtual key can be entered via the DeploymentConfig.xml file.


<MachineScripts>
<PublishPackage>
<Path>REG.EXE</Path>
<Arguments>ADD HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\AppV\Client\RunVirtual\WINPROJ.EXE /d 36867e23-413f-4f7c-a181-0cc075ad2d1e_ed75245c-bce8-48bc-89de-e63d55c320b6 /f</Arguments>
<Wait RollbackOnError="false" />
</PublishPackage>
<UnpublishPackage>
<Path>C:\Windows\System32\REG.EXE</Path>
<Arguments>DELETE HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\AppV\Client\RunVirtual\WINPROJ.EXE /f</Arguments>
<Wait RollbackOnError="false" />
</UnpublishPackage>
</MachineScripts>

Note that for this to work the EnablePackageScripts must be set to 1.

Set-AppvClientConfiguration -EnablePacakgeScripts 1

When publishing this globally, the <name>_DeploymentConfig.xml file is specified during the Add-AppvClientPackage action

Add-AppVClientPackage <PathToAppVFile> -DynamicDeploymentConfiguration <PathTo_DeploymentConfiguration,xml>

Not tested but if packages were user published on a citrix platform the UserConfig.xml can carry similar commands and the _UserConfig.xml specified during the publishing command. In this case the user RunVirtual Key would be used? I guess.

Further Deployment Config info
https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-desktop-optimization-pack/appv-v5/about-app-v-50-dynamic-configuration

Key Words
DeploymentConfig
Deployment Configuration
Deployment Config

Connection Group Related Articles

https://blogs.technet.microsoft.com/configmgrdogs/2013/12/22/understanding-configmgr-2012-app-v-virtual-environments/

http://www.alkanesolutions.co.uk/category/appv/appv-5-0/
Scroll Down to
Using RunVirtual to Present Excel Addins
Configuring RunVirtual Registry from the AppxManifest.xml - this doesn't seem consistent with a proper Lead/Master pacakge / Connection Group approach.

http://virtualvibes.co.uk/planning-for-app-v-virtual-environments-with-sccm-2012/

Package and Connection Group clash
http://virtualvibes.co.uk/connection-group-conflicts-in-app-v-5-0/

https://blogs.technet.microsoft.com/gladiatormsft/2013/08/07/app-v-still-more-on-those-office-add-ins/
Again this does not point to the correct Lead Package/Connection Group approach.

Best known reference on Connection Groups
https://blog.gridmetric.com/2015/09/12/add-flexibility-when-using-app-v-5-runvirtual-key/

SCCM vs Server
http://virtualvibes.co.uk/app-v-management-server-or-configuration-manager-2012-a-feature-comparison/

This is really an advanced techniques paper from Tim including ideas for using junction points
http://www.tmurgent.com/AppV/images/WhitePapers/Connection_Group_Fun_in_AppV5.pdf

Microsoft Connection Group reference pages
https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-desktop-optimization-pack/appv-v5/managing-connection-groups

Keywords
Connection groups group

Tuesday, April 18, 2017

Virtual Machine Notes

Always check your BIOS visualisation settings are enabled.

Hyper-V

Windows 10 / Windows 2012 built in. Works well but it can be difficult getting to local disk drives on the host.

Windows Virtual PC

Windows 7 Virtual PC solution.
Existing VHDs are limited to 127.5Gb in size.

Virtual Box

http://www.virtualbox.org

Not compatible with Windows Hyper-V features activated. You'll need to turn them off for access to 64-bit machines.*Issue now resolved since Windows 10 1803*

https://www.how2shout.com/how-to/use-virtualbox-and-hyper-v-together-on-windows-10.html

Existing VHD must be attached via IDE controllers.

Modify VHD sizes using:

vboxmanage.exe modifyhd <pathtoVHDfile> --resize <SizeinMB>

The vboxmanage manual
https://www.virtualbox.org/manual/ch08.html

Tested with 6.0.x to 6.0.4 - It is possible to run the install of a later version installation over a previous version and retain all the VM configuration information.

Thursday, April 13, 2017

Windows 10/11 Version History

https://www.howtogeek.com/236195/how-to-find-out-which-build-and-version-of-windows-10-you-have/

https://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/release-info.aspx?f=255&MSPPError=-2147217396

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windows_10_version_history
Win10 Update History
https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/4498140/windows-10-update-history

https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/dotnet/framework/migration-guide/versions-and-dependencies

.NET version history
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/.NET_Framework_version_history

Summary

Service Packs are replaced by Build Releases

See above links for latest information.

Run WinVer.exe to display version and build details.
The version number uses the YYMM date convention for the number.

Major Windows 10 PC Build Releases are

For later than 1809 click here for an up to date list.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windows_10_version_history

▶ Version 1809 (OS build 17763) October 18 release
▶ Version 1803 (OS build 17134) April 18 release
▶ Version 1709 (OS build 16299) Fall Creators Update
▶ Version 1703 (OS build 15063) Creators Update CodeName Redstone 2
▶ Version 1607 (OS build 14393) Anniversary Update CodeName Redstone 1 includes App-V Client and UE-V for Enterprise and Education Editions
▶ Version 1511 (OS build 10586) November Update (wow what a boring name!)
▶ Version 1507 (RTM) (OS build 10240)

keyword versions

Main build releases acquire Build Revisions e.g.

20H2 is OS Build 19042

1526 is an example of a build revision.

In the Windows application winver this is shown as

Microsoft Windows

Version 20H2 (OS Build 19042.1526)

This page lists recent build revisions.

https://www.anoopcnair.com/windows-10-build-numbers-version-numbers/

Windows 11

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windows_11_version_history

▶ Version 21H2 (OS build 22000) October 2021 release

▶ Version 22H2 (OS build 22621) September 2022 release