Announcement: Introducing Microsoft Softgrid for Application Virtualization

Softgrid is a Application Virtualization product that enables IT Administrators/Developers to run applications without the need to visit a desktop, laptop or terminal server. It is a way to avoid having to install applications on the client machine and therefore minimizing the impact on the host operating system and other applications.

From the product site: (Click here to go to the product site)

Softgrid's patented application Virtualization, dynamic streaming delivery, and centralized management technologies make everything from deployments and upgrades to migrations and business continuity initiatives, easier and faster with better agility:

Application virtualization: Enable applications to run without the need to visit a desktop, laptop, or terminal server. Applications are no longer installed on the client—and there is minimal impact on the host operating system or other applications. The most extensive virtualization technology on the market, SoftGrid virtualizes per user, per application instance, as well as key application components. As a result, application conflicts and the need for regression testing are dramatically reduced.

Dynamic streaming delivery: Applications are rapidly delivered using a streaming protocol, when needed, to laptops, desktops and terminal servers. Just 5%-40% depending upon application is needed to launch the application. Additional components are delivered when as transparently requested by the application. This results in faster delivery of the application when needed.

Centralized, policy-based management: Virtual Application deployments, patches, updates, and terminations are more easily managed via policies, and administered through the SoftGrid console.

Use Microsoft SoftGrid Application Virtualization to help reduce the complexities inherent in enterprise application management. With SoftGrid you can reduce challenges and transform your computing environment into a dynamic, services-oriented infrastructure.

If you want to see it demonstrated (via a recorded web cast) click here.

Overview of the recorded web cast:

Which to use, Microsoft SoftGrid or Terminal Services? Both of the fictional companies in our webcast, Contoso and Fabrikam, are considering application virtualization, and they have heard of both Terminal Services and SoftGrid. But which do they choose? In this session, we look at these solutions, provide details on how they differ, and explain when to use them. We also cover how to install, configure, and use SoftGrid.

Presenter: Jameel Khalfan, Technical Product Manager, Microsoft Corporation

As a Visual Studio .NET developer I find this interesting from the perspective of being able to roll out newer technologies to desktop/clients who are not quite up to the minimum requirements for my application (i.e., version of the .NET Framework or power of the PC equipment).

~ Robert Shelton

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