Dynamically delivering applications with Omnissa App Volumes to Amazon WorkSpaces Family and Amazon AppStream 2.0

Traditional application deployment methods have become increasingly unsustainable. Management and delivery of applications to the end-users in an enterprise environment is a daunting task. With multiple versions of applications running across different systems and environments, IT teams often face time-consuming processes, increases administrative overhead, and high operational costs. Omnissa App Volumes offers a solution to these challenges by providing dynamic application delivery capabilities. With release of Omnissa App Volumes 4, version 2406, Omnissa supports Persistent Desktop and with Omnissa App Volumes 4, version 2412, physical desktops as well. In this blog post, we’ll explore how App Volumes, in combination with WorkSpaces (Personal and Pools), AppStream 2.0 and Horizon 8 on WorkSpaces Core, revolutionize the way your organization handles application updates and management. This ultimately provides a seamless end-user experience while reducing operational costs.

Key Benefits of Dynamic Application Delivery:

1. Simplified application deployment
   Omnissa App Volumes enables IT teams to deploy applications as individual Virtual Hard Disks (VHDs) that can be instantly attached to user desktops as users launch those applications. This modular approach eliminates the need for complex installation processes and allows applications to be managed independently of the Windows image.
2. Reduced image management complexity
   Instead of maintaining multiple desktop images with different application combinations, administrators can maintain a single base image, and shift applications to a SMB share to be delivered by App Volumes. This dramatically reduces the number of images to maintain and update, saving significant time and storage resources, while delivering the needed combination of applications to each user.
3. Faster application updates
   Creating an App Volumes VHD package is easy with Omnissa’s app capture technology. Simply install the new version on the capture machine and App Volumes records all the changes and creates a VHD with the updates. To roll out the updates, an admin or app owner can simply move the current marker from the previous version to the newly packaged version, and all users entitled to the application will see this version the next time they log into their desktops. The previous version can still be made available for specific users if needed. Rollbacks are just as easy by changing the current version marker back to the previous version. This eliminates the need to update each desktop individually and allows for immediate rollout of critical updates and rollbacks across the organization.
4. Improved system performance
   App Volumes prevents conflicts and reduces system bloat by keeping applications separate from the base operating system. This separation results in faster boot times and improves overall system performance since only the entitled application is attached when the user runs the application. A slim operating system image also reduces storage costs since multiple users access these read-only VHDs in the SMB share.
5. Enhanced flexibility in application delivery
   Administrators can assign applications to specific users or groups based on their roles and requirements, ensuring users only receive the applications they need. The dynamic nature of App Volumes allows for real-time changes to application access without requiring system reboots or complex reconfigurations.

Dynamic Application Delivery Innovations:

1. Real-time application provisioning
   Applications can be instantly delivered to users’ desktops without requiring system restarts or lengthy installation processes. This real-time capability ensures minimal disruption to user productivity while maintaining consistent application access across sessions.
2. Easy application capture process and encapsulation
   Applications are automatically captured during the capture process and contained in VHDs that include all necessary dependencies and configurations. This encapsulation ensures consistent application behavior across different environments and simplifies the deployment process. Unlike traditional encapsulation technologies the App Volumes agent ensure these applications look and feel like installed Windows applications. Combined with Omnissa Dynamic Environment Manager (DEM) each user profile, environment settings, and policies follow the user personalizing each application.
3. Comprehensive version management
   Multiple versions of the same application can coexist and be managed independently, allowing for granular control over application updates and rollbacks. This version control capability enables organizations to maintain compatibility with legacy systems while gradually transitioning to newer versions.
4. Seamless rollback capabilities
   In the case of application updates causing issues, administrators can instantly rollback to previous versions without affecting user data or system stability. This safety net allows organizations to confidently deploy updates while maintaining business continuity.

Operational Advantages of Dynamic Application Delivery:

1. Significant reduction in administrative overhead
   IT teams spend less time managing and deploying applications through automated processes and centralized management. The simplified administration model reduces the need for manual intervention and allows IT staff to focus on more strategic initiatives.
2. Lower total cost of ownership
   By reducing storage requirements, simplifying management, and optimizing resource utilization, organizations can significantly decrease their infrastructure and operational costs. The efficient use of resources and reduced maintenance requirements contribute to substantial long-term cost savings.
3. Improved IT resource utilization
   Resources are used more efficiently through the elimination of redundant application installations and optimized storage usage. The centralized management approach allows for more efficient allocation of IT resources and improved scalability of the infrastructure.
4. Enhanced end-user productivity
   Users experience faster application access and consistent performance across their sessions, leading to improved productivity. The seamless delivery of applications and updates minimizes disruptions and ensures users have access to the tools they need to perform their jobs effectively.

Watch a demonstration of App Volumes in action and for more details, see What is App Volumes?

Conclusion

Omnissa App Volumes represents a significant leap forward in application delivery and management. By combining dynamic application delivery with Amazon WorkSpaces Personal and Pools, Amazon AppStream 2.0 and Horizon 8 on Amazon WorkSpaces Core offers a game-changing solution for enterprises struggling with application management and delivery challenges. By leveraging App Volumes’ innovative approach, organizations can significantly reduce administrative overhead, accelerate application updates, and enhance the overall end-user experience. With real-world success stories and step-by-step implementation guidance, embracing this solution can unlock a new level of efficiency and agility in your application management processes.

Take the first step towards streamlining your operations and delivering applications seamlessly to your end-users. Following AWS community article walks you through setting up the PoC environment for WorkSpaces and AppStream 2.0 services.

Mayank Jain is a Sr. Cloud Support Engineer in AWS Support Engineering who specializes in End User Computing Services. He is SME for Amazon WorkSpaces and AppStream 2.0 services and loves helping customers on all things EUC.

Dan Berkowitz is a Senior Product Manager for Horizon since 2021. He joined Omnissa in 2016 and has primarily focused on architecting solutions across the Horizon portfolio in various roles. Dan’s experience with virtualization dates back to 2003.