SvS4All and You Also

Formerly knows as SVS - Altiris® Software Virtualization Solution™.

My apologies people, I only am allowed to publish information and not the client (at the moment).
Believe me when I say, as soon as I'm allowed, you'll find it here.

The release of the 6.1 Version is such an improvement over the 2.1 version that I can't wait until y'all be able to use it!

Take your time, and read the info below, so you won't sleep as I'm doing until the new official release :)

Introduction

Symantec Workspace Virtualization is a revolutionary approach to software management. It lets you put applications and data into managed units called Virtual Software Packages (VSPs). When you put an application into a VSP, you completely avoid conflicts between the application and other applications installed on a computer. You can also instantly activate, deactivate, or reset the application. If an application is broken, you can reset it to return it to its original state

Symantec Workspace Virtualization is available in two versions:

The commercial version lets you create and distribute Virtual Software Packages.
The free version for personal use lets you create and use your own virtual layers on your home or personal computer. For more information, see Symantec Connect.

Features in this Release

The following are features of this release:

Layer Isolation and Visibility

Isolation lets you control and isolate layers by turning off visibility between layers and the base. Isolating layers makes it easier to use separate versions of the same program to open associated files.

Layer Patch Files

Layer patching provides a mechanism to make small, incremental updates to an existing application layer without requiring that an entirely new layer be created, updated, and then imported to provide an application update.

Dependent Layers

Dependent layers let you specify an association between layers. Dependent layers are checked for files and services before the base or other layers are checked.

Multiuser environments

Individual users on shared systems, such as Citrix and Terminal Server, now have their individual settings stored with a layer. Previously, all changes made by any user on the system were stored in the same location.

Start Automatically in Layer

You can set a program to automatically activate a layer and run from it. When run from the layer, the program's processes will be run from the layer instead of the base. Any files created or changes made to existing files will be saved in the layer, rather than the base.

Deactivate on Last Process Exit

Deactivate on last process exit allows you to have a layer automatically deactivate itself after the last process running from the layer has closed.

Run From Layer

Run from layer allows you to execute a non-virtualized program and its processes from a layer.

Keep in Layer

Keep file changes in layer enables you to always save changes made to the files in a layer, regardless of how the changes were made.

Clone Layer

Cloning a layer allows you to create an identical copy of an existing layer with a new GUID.

Keep in Layer

Keep file changes in layer enables you to always save changes made to the files in a layer, regardless of how the changes were made.

Supported Platforms

Access to the application setup files that you intend to virtualize.

One of the following client operating systems:

Microsoft Windows Vista SP1 32-bit
Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional SP4 or later
Microsoft Windows 2000 Advanced Server SP4 or later when used as a client
Microsoft Windows XP Professional SP2 or Home Edition SP2 or later
Microsoft Windows Server 2003 or later when used as a client
Microsoft Windows Server 2008 when used as a client
Prerequisites for Symantec Workspace Virtualization with the Notification Server Platform

Altiris Notification Server 6.0 SP3 R4 or later with the Altiris Agent 6.0 or later installed on client computers.
Prerequisites for Symantec Workspace Virtualization with the Deployment Server Platform

Altiris Deployment Solution 6.8 or later with the Deployment Agent installed on client computers.
Installation

Complete installation instructions are included in the Symantec Workspace Virtualization 6.1 User's Guide. This guide is available with the product download.

Upgrade

Upgrading from Altiris Software Virtualization Solution 2.x Agent

Workspace Virtualization 6.1 supports upgrading directly from the following releases:

2.1.3071 - Software Virtualization Solution 2.1 Service Pack 2 Maintenance Pack 2 Hotfix 46118
2.1.3066 - Software Virtualization Solution 2.1 Service Pack 2 Maintenance Pack 2
2.1.2095 - Software Virtualization Solution 2.1 Service Pack 1 Hotfix 39225
2.1.2084 - Software Virtualization Solution 2.1 Hotfix 36647
2.1.2081 - Software Virtualization Solution 2.1 Hotfix 35879
2.0.1407 - Software Virtualization Solution 2.0 Hotfix 26292
2.0.1404 - Software Virtualization Solution 2.0 Hotfix 19893
2.0.1403 - Software Virtualization Solution 2.0 Hotfix 24102
Click Help > About in Software Virtualization Solution Admin to see the version that is currently installed.

All these above mentioned versions are also available on this excellent site

Existing layers are upgraded to the 6.1 layer format the first time a layer is activated. After a layer is upgraded it cannot be used in previous versions.

To Upgrade the SVS 2.x Agent:

Back up any existing layers. After a 2.x layer is activated in 6.1, it cannot be used in previous versions.
(optional) To prevent a possible slow restart after upgrade, deselect the Start Layer Automatically option from installed layers. After upgrading, layers with this option are converted when the operating system loads, which can delay startup.
Run the Workspace Virtualization 6.1 Agent installation. Any previous versions installed are detected automatically and removed. If you are using the MSI installation on Vista, you might need to run the installation as Administrator.
After the installation completes and the computer restarts, activate existing layers to upgrade them to 6.1 format.
Altiris Management Platform 6.x SVS Solution

To upgrade to the Workspace Virtualization 6.x Solution, uninstall the previous version and then install the new version.

Have Fun, FrankB