Virtualization

I'm not familar with a tool with this capability, but I'd like to learn more.

ACT -> nowadays used for Vista .

But this one new to me.........

Yeah, I contacted the MDOP rep at Microsoft and apparently M$ is in the process of documenting some process around using ACT 5.0 to evaluate the candidacy of apps for sequencing. Right now, it's not spelled out anywhere.

I'll let you know more once I do.

I'll be seeing a MDOP rep on Friday doing his roadshow & promoting the Kidaro product being introduced to the newest MDOP update. I'll ask him as well.

I just got word back that we might be mixing apples & oranges - he believes that this was a toolkit developed for Vista compatibility use & not necessarily with App-V, but he's checking into it.

On another note, [font="times new roman"]I was just searching / reading during lunch & found a TS Application Analyzer (beta) article <[font="times new roman"]http://blogs.technet.com/virtualworld/archive/2008/06/24/terminal-services-application-analyzer-beta.aspx[font="times new roman"]> for determining application compatibility on terminal server’s written by an ‘App-V Legend’ Madelinde Walraven. I’m wondering if someone confused / rewrote what they thought they saw.

Didn't think ACT had anything to do with that. I've recently partnered with App-DNA (logo not on website yet) who does evaluate against SoftGrid.

Tell us more about this App-DNA Kevin.

Yeah, I know ACT is for Vista, but I challenged our MDOP rep and he insisted that ACT can be leveraged for Softgrid app evaluation. I still think he's out to lunch, but he says they're developing documentation around it so, who knows.

As far as I know ACT can only test against known issues regarding Vista, IE and patches since that is what it's rule set is designed to test against. It wouldn't be too difficult to add additional logic to ACT for SoftGrid compatibility assessment but I've heard that ACT is only going to be about 60% accurate regarding run time / install time issue analysis using the toolkit but that's an unofficial stat I heard.

As you can see Microsoft is somewhat promoting the App-DNA solution (or at least as much as MS will promote vendor).
http://www.microsoft.com/uk/technet/flash/20080130.htm

Version 2.5 of AppTitude came out today and I think it is a unique product because of it's ability to perform a rapid assessment of applications so you don't need the SME or someone who lacks knowledge of the application to be performing a functionality test. There are other features to the app such as producing a SoftGrid sequence or MSI at the end and documentation of the installation process. I think it's a very unique product and is an ideal fit for those needing a rapid analysis without spending the time and money on a traditional and more labor intensive process. This solution as with any application compatibility testing framework / tool is not 100% accurate but you have to look at the goal of the assessment and 100% accuracy shouldn't be a deliverable though a high level of accuracy should be one of them.

Interesting indeed. I'm in the middle of three projects, an MSI conversion project, a Softgrid sequencing project, and a Vista readiness project. It seems like this tool would be an excellent fit for each.
Are you reselling it? Can you get my hands on a functioning demo?

Sure, I'll get a hold of ya.