Softgrid is what I like to call the next paradigm shift in virtualization.

First we had Server and computer virtualization. This helped consolidate resources by allowing administrators to increase the density of servers per rack, and decrease the complexity of managing hundreds of servers.

The next wave of virtualization is happening at the application level. SoftGrid allows you to create a virtual environment that encapsulates the application.  These environments are known along with a Softgrid enabled application as a Softgrid SystemGuard.

The SystemGuard virtualizes the following elements commonly used by applications running on Windows:

·         System File

·         Registry

·         .ini files

·         DLLs

·         System Services (OLE, Cut&Paste,Printers)

·         Profile Data

Components:

There are 3 major components to Softgrid.

Softgrid Management Console:

This is where you manage your SoftGrid applications. Here you can associate them with an AD security group, Update them, and apply license enforcement policy, get application usage reports, and much more.

Softgrid Client:

This client is installed on the end user’s workstation. The end user may have varying degrees of access to this client, depending on their needs. There is also a command line tool that allows you to perform most of the functions seen in the client. The CLI tool also allows you to control the client remotely. The client allows for local management of the application.

Sofgrid Sequencer:

The Sequencer is the packaging tool for Softgrid. This tool allows you to capture installed software and prepare it into a Softgrid package. The sequencer is typically installed on a clean reference workstation. Sequencing is the trickiest part of mastering Softgrid. However once an application is packaged it’s ready to be deployed to as many clients as needed with no additional tweaks.

SoftGrid has been designed to streamline the Application Management Lifecycle. (I know some of this sounds a lot like marketing speak, but knowing these models and frameworks are a big key in being a Lazy Admin)

Applcation Management Lifecycle:

Deployment: Installing software to your clients. Sofgrid allows you to take a normal Windows application and package (or Sequence in Softgrid terminology) it so you can stream it down to your workstation. This allows for rapid provisioning of applications. To enable an app you need only add a user to a security group associated with the application. When the user launches the newly provisioned application they will receive the first datablock. This holds only the bits needed to launch the splash screen and get you to the starting screen of the application. As you use more features in the application more data blocks are streamed down to the app.

Updates: Updating software as updates and fixes are released. Once an update has been sequenced into an application you have already deployed replacing the application is as simple as updating the package in the Softgird management client. The next time the user opens the application they will automatically receive the new update.

Support: providing support for the software that had been deployed. (Users delete the shortcut from their desktop and can’t figure out where to launch their application) When this sort of thing happens you can reset their application with a simple command line.

Termination: The application is being replaced or retired from your organization’s catalog, and you need to remove the application, and make sure nobody is using it anymore. To accomplish this it’s as easy as deleting the application from the management console. You can also remove users from the security group associated with the application.