Deploy Office 2010 by using Microsoft Application Virtualization

 

Applies to: Office 2010

Topic Last Modified: 2011-07-15

You can use Microsoft Application Virtualization to deploy Microsoft Office 2010 in a medium-sized organization. The detailed technical guidance and procedures in this article will help you with your deployment.

In this article:

• Overview of Application Virtualization

• Introduction to the deployment process

• Deploy Office 2010 in a test environment

• Resources to deploy the infrastructure

Overview of Application Virtualization

Microsoft Application Virtualization (App-V) is an enterprise-level application virtualization solution that enables you to deploy, update, and support applications as services in real time, on an as-needed basis. When you use App-V, you transform individual applications from locally installed products into centrally managed services. App-V is one of the six technologies that are part of the Microsoft Desktop Optimization Pack (MDOP) for volume customers.

Audience

The target audience for this article is IT professionals. These IT professionals could include network managers, consultants, and IT managers who work for or with a medium- to large-sized organization.

Prerequisites

Prior knowledge and experience will help users understand and apply the information in this article, specifically experience in the following areas:

• 
  Microsoft Visual C++ 2005 SP1 Redistributable Package

• 
  Application Virtualization

• 
  2007 Microsoft Office system or Office 2010

Introduction to the deployment process

Once you have the supporting infrastructure in place for App-V, the process to deploy Microsoft Office Professional Plus 2010 involves creating and defining the following primary areas:

• Sequencing packages

• Publishing packages

• Distribution Points

• Application Virtualization Desktop Client

Packages   A package is the set of installation source files that Microsoft Application Virtualization manages and distributes for software deployment.

Sequencing   Sequencing is the process of creating an application package by using the Microsoft Application Virtualization Sequencer. In this process, an application is monitored, its shortcuts are configured, and a sequenced application package is created that contains the .osd, .sft, .sprj, and .ico files.

Publishing   Publishing is the method of activating a software package on the server, to make it available for client computers or to deploy to users and groups.

Distribution Point   A Distribution Point is the location that is enabled to stream a virtual application package to App-V clients.

Application Virtualization Desktop Client   An Application Virtualization Desktop Client installs the necessary components so that the client computer can use virtual applications.

Deploy Office 2010 in a test environment

This section provides a diagram and description of the test network environment for a lightweight Application Virtualization infrastructure. It also includes procedural information about the steps to deploy Office Professional Plus 2010 by using Microsoft Application Virtualization. It does not cover extensive Office 2010 licensing explanations, generic App-V virtualization information, nor how App-V Office deployment compares to other Office deployment types.

In this diagram, server (A), running Windows Server 2008, represents the Electronic Software Distribution (ESD) Server or App-V Management Server. The client computers (B, C) are running the same version of Windows. Client computer (B) is set up as the sequencing computer. Client computer (C) is the receiving computer for the virtualized application package.

Create a sequenced package for Office 2010

To create a sequenced application package for Office 2010, perform the following steps on the App-V Sequencer computer.

1. Download Microsoft Office 2010 and place the installer on a temporary directory on the App-V Sequencer computer.

2. Install the Deployment Kit from a command line and specify the path of the associated Windows Installer (.msi) file together with the appropriate licensing parameters for the environment.

   For example, type the following command, and then press ENTER:

   msiexec /i OffVirt.msi PROPLUS=1

   Note

   You must install the version of the Deployment Kit that matches the operating system architecture of your computer.

3. Open Windows Explorer, go to the Q:\ drive, and create an installation folder by using an 8.3 format, such as Temp123.xyz.

4. Create a directory on the sequencer computer that includes the name of the application. You will save the output of the sequencer to this directory.

5. To open Microsoft Application Virtualization Sequencer, from the Start menu, select All Programs, select Microsoft Application Virtualization, and then select Microsoft Application Virtualization Sequencer.

6. Click Create Package.

7. Create a name for the package.

8. Install to the new directory (for example, Q:\Temp123.xyz), and then click OK.

9. Click Begin Monitoring to monitor the installation phase.

10. Start Setup.exe for Office 2010.

11. At the Choose the installation that you want prompt, click Customize.

    Note

    In the Office installation procedure, make sure that you select Install to hard disk drive if you want that feature installed.

12. On the File Location tab, configure the path to match the installation directory that you selected in step 4

13. Click Install.

14. After installation has finished, check the virtual applications during the monitoring launch stage. From the Start menu, select Run.

15. Enter the path of the executable virtual file to start the virtual application.

    For example, to start Microsoft Word, type:

    Q:\Temp123.xyz\Office14\WINWORD.EXE, and then click OK.

    Note

    You must enter the actual path of the virtual application.

16. Start the application to create the primary feature block.

17. On the Applications page, click Next.

18. Select and start the preferred applications to generate the primary feature block for each application.

    Note

    We do not recommend starting Microsoft OneNote, Microsoft Outlook, and Microsoft SharePoint Workspace because of their customizable settings. As well, we do not recommend that you press F1 for help in this step.

19. Click Next.

20. After sequencing is finished, click Finish.

21. To save the package, click Package, and then click Save As.

Publish a sequenced package for Office 2010

To publish a sequenced package for Office 2010, perform the following steps on the ESD Server or the App-V Management Server.

1. Open the App-V Management Console.

2. Start Administrative Tools, and then select Application-Virtualization Management Console.

3. Expand server.net if it is necessary, and then select the Applications node.

4. Right-click Applications, and then select Import Applications.

5. Browse to D:\Content\..\, and then double-click the new *.sprj file.

6. On the General page, click Next.

7. Select Publish to User’s Send to Menu, and then click Next.

8. On the File Associations page, click Next.

9. On the Access Permissions page, click Add, and then type the name of the application.

10. In the Add/Edit User Group dialog box, navigate to the appropriate user group to access the application.

11. Click OK, and then click Next.

12. To complete the import wizard, click Finish.

Configure the client computer to run Office 2010

To configure the client computer to run Office 2010, follow these steps on the client computer.

1. Install the Application Virtualization Desktop Client, if you have not already done so.

2. Download the Deployment Kit, and extract the executable file (.exe).

3. After you extract the executable file, an Offvirt.msi file is available.

4. Open an elevated command prompt. (To open an elevated command prompt, click Start, right-click Command Prompt, and then click Run as administrator.)

5. Browse the directory that contains the Offvirt.msi file that you extracted.

6. At the command prompt, type the following command and then press ENTER:

   msiexec /i Offvirt.msi [licensing flags]

   Note

   You must provide a correct licensing flag to correctly configure the Deployment Kit. Otherwise, functionality can be incorrect.

7. Deploy the virtual Office package.

8. To access the newly published application, log off the client computer, and then log on as a member of the user group to which the application was assigned during the publishing phase. The application will now be available to client computers at the designated shortcut locations.

Resources to deploy the infrastructure

The following resources can help you understand and configure an infrastructure to test the deployment of Office 2010 by using App-V.

• Planning and Deployment Guide for the Application Virtualization System (https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/p/?LinkID=156611\&clcid=0x409)

• SFTMIME Command Reference (https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/p/?LinkID=186288\&clcid=0x409)

See Also

Other Resources

Best Practices for the App-V Sequencer