VMware ThinApp
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| Design by | VMware |
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| Developed by | VMware |
| Latest release | 4.0.2 (build 3089) [1] / 2009-03-24 |
| Operating system | Windows |
| Size | ~7 MB |
| Development status | Active |
| Type | Application virtualization |
| License | Commercial, Proprietary |
| Website | www.vmware.com/products/thinapp |
VMware ThinApp (formerly Thinstall) is an application virtualization suite by VMware that can package conventional applications so that they become portable applications.
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[edit] History
Thinstall was originally developed by Thinstall Inc. but on January 15, 2008, VMware acquired Thinstall.[2] VMware later used the code name VMware Project North Star while the product was in beta.[3] On June 10, 2008, VMware announced that the final name for the product was going to be VMware ThinApp.[4] The trial version of Thinstall was initially available only to corporations[5], however VMware now offers a public trial version.[6]
[edit] Technology
VMware ThinApp is an application virtualization solution.[7] As with similar products from other vendors, it is able to execute applications without them being installed in the traditional sense by virtualizing resources such as environment variables, files and Windows Registry keys. The virtual environment presented to the client is a merged view of the underlying physical and virtual resources, thereby allowing the virtualization layer to fool the application into thinking that it is running as if it were fully installed.
[edit] Software compatibility
Many windows applications can be packaged and made portable with VMware ThinApp, with the following notable exceptions:
- Any software that requires a device driver to function[8]
- Software with copy protection based on hardware
- Software already bundled with Windows and not available as a separated package (like Windows Picture and Fax Viewer)
- Any software that cannot run on the underlying operating system due to memory-related application compatibility issues (e.g. Applications that fail Heap Protection under Windows Vista[9])
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ http://www.vmware.com/download/thinapp/
- ^ VMware (January 15, 2008). VMware to Expand Desktop Virtualization Solution with Acquisition of Thinstall. Press release. http://www.vmware.com/company/news/releases/thinstall.html. Retrieved on 2008-06-11.
- ^ "VMware ThinApp (Project North Star/Thinstall) Release Candidate". VMware. June 10, 2008. http://communities.vmware.com/community/beta/northstar. Retrieved on 2008-06-11.
- ^ VMware (June 10, 2008). VMware Launches ThinApp 4.0 to Run Virtually Any Application on Any Windows Operating System without Conflict. Press release. http://www.vmware.com/company/news/releases/thinapp_4.html. Retrieved on 2008-06-11.
- ^ VMware ThinApp Application Virtualization Platform: IT Management Solutions
- ^ "Evaluate VMware ThinApp". VMware. http://www.vmware.com/go/trythinapp. Retrieved on 2008-08-09.
- ^ "Introduction to VMware ThinApp". VMware. 2008-06-26. http://www.vmware.com/pdf/thinapp_intro.pdf. Retrieved on 2008-08-05.
- ^ Thinstall product demos (the first one)
- ^ Adrian Marinescu (2006-07-14). "Windows Vista Heap Management Enhancements". Microsoft. http://www.blackhat.com/presentations/bh-usa-06/BH-US-06-Marinescu.pdf. Retrieved on 2008-07-05.
