PRODUC T DATASHEE T

VMware ThinApp
Run Any Version of Any App on a Single OS Without Any Conflict

at a g l a n c e How is VMware ThinApp Used in the Enterprise?

For enterprise desktop administrators managing physical • Streamline Software & OS migrations. Migrate to new operating
and/or virtual desktops, VMware ThinApp application systems without upgrading or replacing legacy applications, run newer
virtualization software lets you run any version of any applications on legacy operating systems (Windows NT and above), and
application on a single operating system without any conflict. support multiple versions of the same application on the same PC.
VMware ThinApp works without the need for client agents • Augment security and compliance. . Lock down corporate endpoints
or backend servers, making application delivery faster, less by running applications in user mode without locking out users and
costly and conflict-free. create policies that travel with the application wherever it is deployed or
used.
benEfits
• Simplify application packaging and testing. Package applications in
• Eliminate application conflicts and reduce support costs. standard EXE and MSI files with no required source code changes, and
• Accelerate and streamline the development and delivery streamline regression testing with sandboxing and snapshot capabilities.
process.
• Accelerate software development and QA. Solve complex application
• Leverage and enhance existing infrastructure and packaging and compatibility issues such as Java versioning, Vista
management tools. compatibility, and .NET client rollouts.
• Deploy portable applications to virtually any PC (Physical & • Enhance VDI deployments. Place applications outside of desktop
Virtual), thin client or USB stick.
images to reduce storage costs, and consolidate multiple instances of
• Lock down endpoint PCs without restricting the use of applications that can be accessed from either a single purpose virtual
critical applications. image or a few number of virtual machines to reduce OS, workload, and
network costs.
• Improve terminal services. Eliminate conflicts by virtualizing terminal
service client agents and stream applications quickly to end users on thin
clients without the hassles of application sharing.
• Enable workforce mobility. Run applications directly from USB smart
drives without installation, host OS modifications, or the need for
VMware ThinApp administrator rights.
Streamlines the
Application custom in-house apps,
How Does VMware ThinApp Work?
3rd-party/vertical solutions
Life Cycle and commercial apps.
VMware ThinApp simplifies application delivery by isolating applications
from the underlying operating system and plugging directly into existing
virtual and physical desktop management tools and infrastructure.
apps locally or
over a network
VMware
apps inside EXE and
ThinApp encapsulates applications inside a Virtual OS that transparently
ThinApp
merges a virtual system environment with the real system environment
on PCs, thin
MSI files with no
clients and
source code
removable
media.
changes.
while providing the following services:
• Process loading. The Virtual OS loads a starting EXE file from the Virtual
File System and allows it to execute any other EXE directly from the
Deliver
apps using existing apps against desktop
Virtual File System or from the normal file system.
management tools images and other apps
and infrastructure. with real-time diagnostics.
• DLL loading. TThe Virtual OS loads any DLL dependencies the EXE/DLL/
OCX files may have directly from archive when instructed.
• Thread and process management. The Virtual OS tracks all processes
and threads created inside the virtual machine including out-of-process
COM and utility applications.

K E Y F E AT U R E S
ThinApp Secure Compressed Container (EXE)
Application
Registry Access
Virtual
Registry
Virtual
File Access File
System
Virtual OS
The VMware ThinApp Virtual OS uncouples applications from their underlying host operating
system.
100% Agentless Application Virtualization
• Virtual Operating System. The core feature of VMware
ThinApp is the Virtual OS, a unique, lightweight embedded
virtual registry and file system delivers high degree of
application isolation, eliminating installation and runtime
conflicts while increasing application portability.
• Zero-runtime execution. VMware ThinApp does not leave
a footprint on endpoint devices and allows applications
to run directly from the compressed state without first
caching data to the hard disk, enhancing performance and
data security and eliminating single points of failure.
• 100% User Mode execution. Applications packaged with
ThinApp run completely in User Mode, allowing users to
use and customize their applications without installation or
administrative access.
• Broad application compatibility. VMware ThinApp
is compatible with a broad range of applications, from
Adobe Reader to complex applications from vendors
such as Oracle and SAP (see Web site for complete list of
compatible applications).
Conflict-Free Application Delivery
• Agentless, infrastructure-free architecture. ThinApp
works without the need for additional client agents
or backend servers, and it integrates seamlessly with
Microsoft Active Directory, LANDesk and countless other
third-party management solutions
• VMware VDI compatibility. ThinApp makes a perfect
complement to VMware Virtual Desktop Infrastructure,
and applications packaged with ThinApp can easily be
deployed and managed on centralized virtual machines in
the datacenter.
VMware, Inc. 3401 Hillview Ave Palo Alto CA 94304 USA Tel 877-486-9273 Fax 650-427-5001 www.vmware.com
Copyright © 2008 VMware, Inc. All rights reserved. Protected by one or more of U.S. Patent Nos. 6,961,806, 6,961,941, 6,880,022, 6,397,242, 6,496,847, 6,704,925, 6,496,847, 6,711,672, 6,725,289,
6,735,601, 6,785,886, 6,789,156, 6,795,966, 6,944,699, 7,069,413, 7,082,598, 7,089,377, 7,111,086, 7,111,145, 7,117,481, 7,149,843, 7,155,558, 7,222,221, 7,260,815, 7,260,820, 7,268,683, 7,275,136,
7,277,998, 7,277,999, 7,278,030, 7,281,102, 7,290,253; patents pending. VMware, the VMware “boxes” logo and design, Virtual SMP and VMotion are registered trademarks or trademarks of VMware,
Inc. in the United States and/or other jurisdictions. All other marks and names mentioned herein may be trademarks of their respective companies. Item No: 08Q2_VM_THINAPP_DS_EN_R2
V M WA R E T H I N A P P P R O D U C T D ATA S H E E T
• Sandbox environments for terminal services. VMware ThinApp
has been successfully implemented over the ICA protocol in Citrix
Terminal Services environments, and applications packaged with
ThinApp can be sandboxed to run in a terminal services environment
so that multiple users can run their own sandboxed VMware ThinApp
System applications.
Registry
• Block-by-block memory streaming. Applications virtualized with
System
Files ThinApp execute as soon as the minimum amount of code required
to run the application is available on the desktop in memory. For
example with the Oracle CRM client (950MB), only 350MB of the
application needs to be physically streamed to the client in order for it
to run.
• Application Sync. This feature, unique to ThinApp, updates virtual
applications via file share/http/https over the LAN or WAN and
leverages existing software delivery systems, making it easier to
deliver application updates to mobile users and third parties on
the corporate extranet while helping to ensure compliance with
configuration policies and reducing patch risks to machines that are
taken “off the network.”
Simplified Application Packaging
• Application Link. Allows applications packaged using VMware
ThinApp to dynamically establish dependencies (“links”) with
other VMware ThinApp applications. In addition, ThinApp lets IT
administrators leverage existing tools to inventory and track each
application component for improved software license management
of virtual applications.
• Flexible packaging options. ThinApp encapsulates entire
applications within a single EXE file, or as an MSI package with group
policies and WMI registration.
• System snapshots. Capture and save pre- and post-install system
states to simplifying the packaging process while ensuring support for
applications that require a reboot during the installation process.
• ISV embeddable. ThinApp enables independent software developers
and organizations to package their applications into a single self-
contained EXE to ensure their application will run without conflict,
and without even requiring installation.
24x7 Gold and Platinum Support
VMware offers enterprise-class support to all VMware ThinApp
customers. For customers that require additional services, VMware also
offers a two-day jumpstart engagement on best practices and getting
started with your ThinApp deployment.
Find Out More
For information or to purchase VMware products, call
1-877-4VMWARE (outside of North America dial
+1-650-427-5000), visit www.vmware.com/products, or search online for
an authorized reseller. For detailed product specifications and systems
requirements, please refer to the ThinApp install and configure guide.