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About App-V 5.0 SP3

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Use the following sections to review information about significant changes that apply to Microsoft Application Virtualization (App-V) 5.0 SP3:

App-V 5.0 SP3 software prerequisites and supported configurations

For the App-V 5.0 SP3 software prerequisites and supported configurations, see the following articles:

Migrating to App-V 5.0 SP3

Use the following information to upgrade to App-V 5.0 SP3 from earlier versions.

Before you start the upgrade

Review the following information before you start the upgrade:

Items to review before upgrading Description
Components to upgrade - App-V Server
- Sequencer
- App-V client or App-V Remote Desktop Services (RDS) client
- Connection groups
Upgrading from App-V 4.x You must first upgrade to App-V 5.0. You can't upgrade directly from App-V 4.x to App-V 5.0 SP3.
For more information, see:
- About App-V 5.0
- Planning for Migrating from a Previous Version of App-V
Upgrading from App-V 5.0 or later You can upgrade to App-V 5.0 SP3 directly from any of the following versions:
- App-V 5.0
- App-V 5.0 SP1
- App-V 5.0 SP2

To upgrade to App-V 5.0 SP3, follow the steps in the remaining sections of this article.
Required changes to packages and connection groups after upgrade None. Packages and connection groups continue to work as they currently do.

Steps to upgrade the App-V infrastructure

Complete the following steps to upgrade each component of the App-V infrastructure to App-V 5.0 SP3.

Step 1: Upgrade the App-V Server

If you aren't using the App-V Server, skip this step and go to the next step.

Note

The App-V 5.0 SP3 client is compatible with the App-V 5.0 SP1 Server.

Follow these steps:

  1. Review the Release Notes for App-V 5.0 SP3 for issues that may affect the App-V Server installation.

  2. Do one of the following, depending on the method you're using to upgrade the Management database and/or Reporting database:

  3. If you're upgrading the App-V Server from App-V 5.0 SP1 Hotfix Package 3 or later, complete the steps in section Check registry keys after installing the App-V 5.0 SP3 Server.

  4. Follow the steps in How to Deploy the App-V 5.0 Server.

Step 2: Upgrade the App-V Sequencer

For more information, see How to Install the Sequencer.

Step 3: Upgrade the App-V client or App-V RDS client

For more information, see How to Deploy the App-V Client.

Check registry keys before installing the App-V 5.0 SP3 Server

When this step is required You're upgrading from App-V SP1 with any subsequent Hotfix Packages that you installed by using an .msp file.
Which components require that you do this step Only the App-V Server components that you're upgrading.
When you need to do this step Before you upgrade the App-V Server to App-V 5.0 SP3
What you need to do Using the information in the following tables, update each registry key value under HKLM\Software\Microsoft\AppV\Server with the value that you provided in your original server installation. Completing this step restores registry values that may have been removed when App-V SP1 Hotfix Packages were installed.

ManagementDatabase key

If you're installing the Management database, set these registry keys under HKLM\Software\Microsoft\AppV\Server\ManagementDatabase.

Key name Description
IS_MANAGEMENT_DB_PUBLIC_ACCESS_ACCOUNT_REQUIRED Describes whether a public access account is required to access nonlocal management databases. Value is set to 1 if it's required.
MANAGEMENT_DB_NAME Name of the Management database.
MANAGEMENT_DB_PUBLIC_ACCESS_ACCOUNT Account used for read (public) access to the Management database. Used when IS_MANAGEMENT_DB_PUBLIC_ACCESS_ACCOUNT_REQUIRED is set to 1.
MANAGEMENT_DB_PUBLIC_ACCESS_ACCOUNT_SID Secure identifier (SID) of the account used for read (public) access to the Management database. Used when IS_MANAGEMENT_DB_PUBLIC_ACCESS_ACCOUNT_REQUIRED is set to 1.
MANAGEMENT_DB_SQL_INSTANCE SQL Server instance for the Management database. If the value is blank, the default database instance is used.
MANAGEMENT_DB_WRITE_ACCESS_ACCOUNT Account used for write (administrator) access to the Management database.
MANAGEMENT_DB_WRITE_ACCESS_ACCOUNT_SID Secure identifier (SID) of the account used for write (administrator) access to the Management database.
MANAGEMENT_REMOTE_SERVER_MACHINE_ACCOUNT Management server remote computer account (domain\account).
MANAGEMENT_SERVER_INSTALL_ADMIN_ACCOUNT Installation administrator sign-in for the Management server (domain\account).
MANAGEMENT_SERVER_MACHINE_USE_LOCAL Valid values are:
- 1: the Management service is on the local computer, that is, MANAGEMENT_REMOTE_SERVER_MACHINE_ACCOUNT is blank.
- 0: the Management service is on a different computer from the local computer.

ManagementService key

If you're installing the Management server, set these registry keys under HKLM\Software\Microsoft\AppV\Server\ManagementService.

Key name Description
MANAGEMENT_ADMINACCOUNT Active Directory Domain Services (AD DS) group or account that is authorized to manage App-V (domain\account).
MANAGEMENT_DB_SQL_INSTANCE SQL server instance that contains the Management database. If the value is blank, the default database instance is used.
MANAGEMENT_DB_SQL_SERVER_NAME Name of the remote SQL server with the Management database. If the value is blank, the local computer is used.

ReportingDatabase key

If you're installing the Reporting database, set these registry keys under HKLM\Software\Microsoft\AppV\Server\ReportingDatabase.

Key name Description
IS_REPORTING_DB_PUBLIC_ACCESS_ACCOUNT_REQUIRED Describes whether a public access account is required to access nonlocal reporting databases. Value is set to 1 if it's required.
REPORTING_DB_NAME Name of the Reporting database.
REPORTING_DB_PUBLIC_ACCESS_ACCOUNT Account used for read (public) access to the Reporting database. Used when IS_REPORTING_DB_PUBLIC_ACCESS_ACCOUNT_REQUIRED is set to 1.
REPORTING_DB_PUBLIC_ACCESS_ACCOUNT_SID Secure identifier (SID) of the account used for read (public) access to the Reporting database. Used when IS_REPORTING_DB_PUBLIC_ACCESS_ACCOUNT_REQUIRED is set to 1.
REPORTING_DB_SQL_INSTANCE SQL Server instance for the Reporting database. If the value is blank, the default database instance is used.
REPORTING_DB_WRITE_ACCESS_ACCOUNT Account used for write (administrator) access to the Reporting database.
REPORTING_DB_WRITE_ACCESS_ACCOUNT_SID Secure identifier (SID) of the account used for write (administrator) access to the Reporting database.
REPORTING_REMOTE_SERVER_MACHINE_ACCOUNT Reporting server remote computer account (domain\account).
REPORTING_SERVER_INSTALL_ADMIN_ACCOUNT Installation administrator sign-in for the Reporting server (domain\account).
REPORTING_SERVER_MACHINE_USE_LOCAL Valid values are:
- 1: the Reporting service is on the local computer, that is, REPORTING_REMOTE_SERVER_MACHINE_ACCOUNT is blank.
- 0: the Reporting service is on a different computer from the local computer.

ReportingService key

If you're installing the Reporting server, set these registry keys under HKLM\Software\Microsoft\AppV\Server\ReportingService.

Key name Description
REPORTING_DB_SQL_INSTANCE SQL Server instance for the Reporting database. If the value is blank, the default database instance is used.
REPORTING_DB_SQL_SERVER_NAME Name of the remote SQL server with the Reporting database. If the value is blank, the local computer is used.

Manually created connection group xml file requires update to schema

If you're manually creating the connection group XML file, and want to use the new "optional packages" and "use any version" features that are described in Improvements to connection groups, you must specify the following schema in the XML file:

xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/appv/2014/virtualapplicationconnectiongroup"

For examples and more information, see About the Connection Group File.

Improvements to connection groups

You can manage connection groups more easily by using optional packages and other improvements that have been added in App-V 5.0 SP3. The following table summarizes the tasks that you can perform by using the new connection group features, and links to more detailed information about each task.

Enable a connection group to include optional packages

Including optional packages in a connection group enables you to dynamically determine which applications will be included in the connection group's virtual environment, based on the applications that users are entitled to. You don't need to manage as many connection groups because you can mix optional and nonoptional packages in the same connection group. Mixing packages allows different groups of users to use the same connection group, even though users might have only one package in common. For example, you can enable a package with Microsoft Office for all users, but enable different optional packages, which contain different Office plug-ins, to different subsets of users.

For more information, see How to use optional packages in connection groups.

Unpublish or delete an optional package without changing the connection group

Unpublish or delete, or unpublish and republish an optional package, which is in a connection group, without having to disable or re-enable the connection group on the App-V client.

For more information, see How to use optional packages in connection groups.

Publish connection groups that contain user-published and globally published packages

Create a user-published connection group that contains user-published and globally published packages.

For more information, see How to Create a Connection Group with User-Published and Globally Published Packages.

Make a connection group ignore the package version

Configure a connection group to accept any version of a package, which enables you to upgrade a package without having to disable the connection group. In addition, if there's an optional package with an incorrect version in the connection group, the package is ignored and won't block the connection group's virtual environment from being created.

For more information, see How to make a connection group ignore the package version.

Limit end users' publishing capabilities

Enable only administrators (not end users) to publish packages and to enable connection groups.

For more information, see How to allow only administrators to enable connection groups.

For information about packages, see the following articles:

Enable or disable a connection group for a specific user

Administrators can enable or disable a connection group for a specific user by using the optional -UserSID parameter. For more information, see How to manage connection groups on a stand-alone computer by using PowerShell.

Merging identical package paths into one virtual directory in connection groups

If two or more packages in a connection group contain identical directory paths, the paths are merged into a single virtual directory inside the connection group virtual environment. This merging of paths allows an application in one package to access files that are in a different package.

For more information, see About the connection group virtual environment.

Administrators can publish and unpublish packages for a specific user

Administrators can use the following cmdlets to publish or unpublish packages for a specific user. To use the cmdlets, enter the -UserSID parameter, followed by the user's security identifier (SID). For more information, see:

For example:

Publish-AppvClientPackage "ContosoApplication" -UserSID S-1-2-34-56789012-3456789012-345678901-2345

Unpublish-AppvClientPackage "ContosoApplication" -UserSID S-1-2-34-56789012-3456789012-345678901-2345

Enable only administrators to publish and unpublish packages

You can enable only administrators (not end users) to publish and unpublish packages by using one of the following methods:

RunVirtual registry key supports packages that are published to the user

App-V 5.0 SP3 adds support for using the RunVirtual registry key with virtualized applications that are in user-published packages. The RunVirtual registry key lets you run a locally installed application in a virtual environment, along with applications that have been virtualized by using App-V.

Previously, the virtualized applications in App-V packages had to be published globally. For more information about RunVirtual and about other methods of running locally installed applications in a virtual environment with virtualized applications, see Running a locally installed application inside a virtual environment with virtualized applications.

New PowerShell cmdlets and updateable cmdlet help

New PowerShell cmdlets and updateable cmdlet help are included in App-V 5.0 SP3. To download the cmdlet modules, see How to load the PowerShell cmdlets and get cmdlet help.

New App-V 5.0 SP3 Server PowerShell cmdlets

New Windows PowerShell cmdlets for the App-V Server have been added to help you manage connection groups.

  • Add-AppvServerConnectionGroupPackage: Appends a package to the end of a connection group's package list and enables you to configure the package as optional and/or with no version within the connection group.
  • Set-AppvServerConnectionGroupPackage: Enables you to edit details about the connection group package, such as whether it's optional.
  • Remove-AppvServerConnectionGroupPackage: Removes a package from a connection group.

Getting help for the PowerShell cmdlets

Cmdlet help is available as a downloadable module. To get the latest help after downloading the cmdlet module, open Windows PowerShell or Windows PowerShell Integrated Scripting Environment (ISE) and run one the following commands:

  • App-V Server: Update-Help-Module AppvServer
  • App-V Sequencer: Update-Help-Module AppvSequencer
  • App-V client: Update-Help-Module AppvClient

For more information, see How to load the PowerShell cmdlets and get cmdlet help.

Primary virtual application directory (PVAD) is hidden but can be turned on

The primary virtual application directory (PVAD) is hidden in App-V 5.0 SP3, but you can turn it back on and make it visible by using one of the following methods.

Note

More about PVAD: When you use the Sequencer to create a package, you can enter any installation path for the package. In past versions of App-V, you were required to specify the primary virtual application directory (PVAD) of the application as the path. PVAD is the directory to which you would typically install an application on your local computer if you weren't using App-V. For example, if you were installing Office on a computer, the PVAD typically would be C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\.

Use a command line parameter

Pass the -EnablePVADControl parameter to the Sequencer.exe.

Create a registry subkey

  1. In the Registry Editor, navigate to: HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\AppV\Sequencer\Compatibility. If the Compatibility subkey doesn't exist, you must create it.

  2. Create a DWORD Value named EnablePVADControl, and set the value to 1. A value of 0 means that PVAD is hidden.

ClientVersion is required to view App-V publishing metadata

In App-V 5.0 SP3, you must provide the following values in the address when you query the App-V Publishing server for metadata:

Value Additional details
ClientVersion If you omit the ClientVersion parameter from the query, the metadata excludes the new App-V 5.0 SP3 features.
ClientOS You have to provide this value only if you select specific client operating systems when you sequence the package. If you select the default (all operating systems), don't specify this value in the query. If you omit the ClientOS parameter from the query, only the packages that were sequenced to support any operating system appear in the metadata.

For syntax and examples of this query, see Viewing App-V Server Publishing Metadata.

App-V event logs have been consolidated

The following event logs, previously located at Applications and Services Logs/Microsoft/AppV/<App-V component>, have been moved to Applications and Services Logs/Microsoft/AppV/ServiceLog.

To view the logs, select View > Show Analytic and Debug Logs in the Event Viewer application.

Client-Catalog Client-Integration Client-Orchestration Client-PackageConfig Client-Scripting Client-Service Client-Vemgr Client-VFSC FilesystemMetadataLibrary ManifestLibrary PolicyLibrary Subsystems-ActiveX Subsystems-AppPath Subsystems-Com Subsystems-fta

How to get MDOP

App-V is a part of the Microsoft Desktop Optimization Pack (MDOP). MDOP is part of Microsoft Software Assurance. For more information about Microsoft Software Assurance and acquiring MDOP, see How to get MDOP.

Release Notes for App-V 5.0 SP3