The Official Quest Software Desktop Virtualization Group Blog

6.2 Quest vWorkspace Linux AppPortal Beta 1

Michel Roth — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 11:41:57 +0000

Providing support for many client platforms to enable the “any device scenario” is a key part of the strategy here at Quest. To that end we are continuously updating our clients to make sure that our customers have other client platform options when they decide not to use Windows and that they have a full feature set when doing so.

This new (6.2) Quest vWorkspace Linux AppPortal has several enhancements, most of which pertain to the installation and configuration of the client. Additionally, several issues were resolved. This is sample of the current feature set of the Linux AppPortal:

Application publishing
Desktop publishing
Mapping of local drives (supported via the native rdesktop)
Mapping of local audio
NAT for firewall traversal
RDP over SSL
Window size and colors
Local COM ports
RDP printers
Multimedia Redirection
Graphics Acceleration
Secure Ticketing

Next Beta or RTM versions of the 6.2 vWorkspace Client are planned to include support for Flash Redirection as well as Bi-Directional audio.

Beta 1 of the 6.2 Quest vWorkspace Linux AppPortal can be downloaded by anyone from the download area of vWorkspace.com. Please email us with any feedback you might have.

MR2 (Maintenance Release 2) for Quest vWorkspace Web Access 6.2

Michel Roth — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 18:20:36 +0000

Just as a quick heads-up, for those of you that were not aware yet, recently we released MR2 (Maintenance Release 2) for Quest vWorkspace Web Access 6.2. Be aware that this is an update specifically for the Web Access component of Quest vWorkspace 6.2, not for other components of Quest vWorkspace. Next to the necessary hotfixes, there’s also one cool updated feature in there.

This updated feature allows you to hide a vWorkspace Web Access download from unauthenticated users. As with many features in vWorkspace, this makes a lot of sense. For example: you might only want to make client software, company certificates or other downloads (because vWorkspace allows you to host any download you need to your users) available to your - so authenticated - users and not to anyone that happened to come to your Web Access page.

Since MR2 fixes a fair amount of issues, we strongly recommend to everyone using Quest vWorkspace Web Access 6.2 to apply it. Before you do though, please read through the entire associated release notes.

MR2 (Maintenance Release 2) for Quest vWorkspace Web Access 6.2, as always, can be downloaded from the download section of vWorkspace.com under the “hotfixes” section.

Have you tried the Release Candidate of the (new) Quest vWorkspace Mac Client?

Michel Roth — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 19:00:14 +0000

Recently we updated the Quest vWorkspace Mac Client to RC3. This new version adds some new functionality and fixes some bugs. This gives the Quest vWorkspace Mac Client a pretty impressive feature list. This Mac native client for vWorkspace now has the following features (amongst others):

• Creating and editing connections; saving them to and loading from a persistent storage (disk database).
• Retrieving application lists from the broker.
• Launching applications in an RDP session.
• Sharing RDP sessions for new applications when a session is already running (session sharing).
• Local devices redirection.
• Password management.
• Desktop Integration mode.
• RDP apps auto launch.
• Custom resolution.
• Sound redirection.
• RDP experience.
• Graphics Acceleration.
• Desktop-integrated mode.
• Printer mappings.
• Drive mappings.

The RC3 of the Quest vWorkspace Mac Client can be downloaded by anyone from the download area of vWorkspace.com. Your feedback is extremely important to us so we’d love to hear what you think!

Quest and NetApp Integration

Matthew Evans — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 09:33:22 +0000

This document covers the integration of NetApp Storage Systems with Quest vWorkspace in a VMware environment.

You are required to be running Quest vWorkspace 6.2 or later, available from http://www.vworkspace.com, and NetApp Data ONTAP 7.3.1 or later, available from http://now.netapp.com

NetApp have previously written a technical whitepaper that covers Virtual Desktop deployments on NetApp Storage Systems within a VMware environment. This whitepaper covers the configuration of the VMware and NetApp network that is typically required for this type of environment, page 5 is the most relevant. The NetApp TR3770 Whitepaper is available from http://media.netapp.com/documents/tr-3770.pdf

Download the Quest and NetApp integration whitepaper from here.

Igel Technology announce inclusion of vWorkspace 6.x Linux client

Matthew Evans — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 11:01:27 +0000

Thin Client vendor Igel Technology have added the Quest vWorkspace 6.2 linux client to their latest firmware release, the exact build is 4.01.500. The firmware will run on any hardware that supports the Universal Desktop image. Igel Technology also manufacture a range of terminals that ship with Microsoft Windows Embedded Standard, the vWorkspace Windows client is compatible with this platform.

For further information on the Quest Linux client please refer to the ‘Quest vWorkspace Linux Client Guide’ that is located in the downloads section of www.vworkspace.com. For further information on Igel Technology’s product range please refer to their website.

10ZiG Technology announce the V series…

Matthew Evans — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 09:25:10 +0000

Thin Client vendor 10ZiG have launched their V series, offering a variety of clients optimized for a VDI environment. The V series includes both Linux and XPe terminals, both of which include the Quest vWorkspace 6.x client.

Please refer to the ‘Quest vWorkspace Linux Client Guide’ that is located in the downloads section of www.vworkspace.com for full details on the Linux client, for the Windows client please refer to the Admin Guide that is packaged with the complete download of vWorkspace. For further information on 10ZiG please refer to their website.

Quest vWorkspace 6.2 with NetApp: Deploy 100 Quest Virtual Desktops In 5 minutes with only 2 GB of Storage (!)

Michel Roth — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 17:08:45 +0000

One of the most exiting new features in Quest vWorkspace 6.2 is the tight integration with NetApp FlexClone. In addition to dramatic reductions in storage requirements, the tight integration between vWorkspace and NetApp storage enables organizations to quickly provision hundreds or thousands of virtual desktops in minutes instead of hours. This further reduces the cost and resources required to implement a VDI environment while simplifying deployment and management. NetApp FlexClone technology instantly replicates data volumes and data sets as transparent, virtual copies to increase productivity and save storage space without compromising performance. By saving space with minimal overhead, FlexClone enables companies to cost effectively create all the clones they need to optimize the productivity of their vWorkspace Virtual Desktops.

Recently we recorded a demonstration of this cool integration of Quest vWorkspace 6.2 with NetApp. The demo shows the creation of 100 Quest Virtual Desktops in 5 minutes using only 2 GB storage. That is extremely impressive. Check it out:

Quest vWorkspace NetApp integration

Viewing Quest vWorkspace Managed User Profile Data

Michel Roth — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 12:55:04 +0000

One of the unique features of Quest vWorkspace is our User Profile Management. Quest vWorkspace User Profile Management (previously known by the module named Metaprofiles-IT) when implemented in concert with Microsoft Group Policy Folder Redirection provides a stable alternative to Roaming Profiles. Often referred to as Hybrid User Profiles, it allows users to retain administrator approved portions of their user profile, (typically stored in the registry) whereas everything else, including the local user profile is discarded at logoff. Users My Documents, Desktop, Application Data and optionally Start Menu are typically redirected to network file shares using Group Policy (they can also be stored using Quest vWorkspace User Profile Management), whereas the vWorkspace User Profile Storage Server manages settings that are imported to and exported from the User Registry Hive (HKCU). This unique combination provides for lightning fast logons (typically 10 seconds, or 1 -2 seconds longer than a local profile), lower data storage requirements, and a stable working environment that looks and feels personal to the end user. The cool thing is that you can create a Managed Profile for Terminal Servers users, Virtual Desktop Users, Blade PC users or all of the above!

Quest vWorkspace User Profile Management data is stored on the vWorkspace User Profile Storage Server in an encrypted manner so there is no easy tampering with user data. This does however also mean that the user data cannot be opened by administrators for troubleshooting. Sometimes administrator do need to view the Quest vWorkspace User Profile Management data. There is an easy way to do this, should you need to:

Go to the vWorkspace User Profile Storage Server and locate the vWorkspace User Profiles directory (C:\Metaprofiles for example).
Copy the profile that you want to troubleshoot. Profiles are stored with SID as the file name. You could use a a tool like PSGetSid to determine what SID translater to which user.
Rename the copy from .grp (for per-silo settings) or .gbl (for global settings) to .zip
Now open the .zip file and you can look inside the Quest vWorkspace User Profile Management data to perform your troubleshooting. It should look like something like this:

All the folders (like Desktop in the screenshot) you see are the folders that are configured for inclusion in the Quest vWorkspace User Profile Management configuration.

The file “dir.txt” contains all of the files inside the folders that are synchronized as part of the Quest vWorkspace User Profile Management configuration.

Finally and probably most importantly “reg.xml” stores all of the registry keys and values that have been configured for inclusion in the Quest vWorkspace User Profile Management configuration.

Please be aware that this method should only be used for troubleshooting purposes. Changes to the Quest vWorkspace User Profile Management should always be made through the vWorkspace Management Console in the Quest vWorkspace User Profile Management configuration. Directly editing the profile is not recommended nor supported.

Thinspace include QRdesktop 6.2 client

Matthew Evans — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 15:06:01 +0000

Thin Client vendor Thinspace have added the Quest vWorkspace 6.2 linux client to their latest firmware release, the exact build is 1041. This is available on the following models TST200, TST450 and TST600. The Quest vWorkspace client is also supported on the Windows XPe version, now Windows Embedded Standard. This is supported on TST200, TST450, TST600, TST550 and TST700 thin clients.

Please refer to the ‘Quest vWorkspace Linux Client Guide’ that is located in the downloads section of www.vworkspace.com for full details on the client. For further information on Thinspace please refer to their website.

Customizing the Look and Feel of Quest vWorkspace Web Access

Michel Roth — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 17:27:06 +0000

vWorkspace Web Access is one of the most popular ways for our customers to provide access to their applications in a seamless, simple way. Out of the box, vWorkspace Web Access has quite a couple of options to allow customers to customize the vWorkspace Web Access pages to fit their personal needs. Still, some customers want to customize vWorkspace Web Access even further. Since vWorkspace Web Access is built on web-industry standards like ASP.net and ASP.net features such as “Themes” and “Skins”, it is relatively easy to take vWorkspace Web Access customization even further. To make it easier for our customers to do so, we have included a document called ”vWorkspaceWebAccess6.2_CustomizationGuide.pdf” in every download of vWorkspace 6.2. It is located in the documents folder. Here’s an example of a customized Quesr vWorkspace Web Access instance:

While on the subject of customization, remember that Quest vWorkspace 6.2 also included experimental integration with Microsoft Sharepoint. The associated documentation for this Microsoft Sharepoint integration can be found in the download section of vWorkspace.com under the documentation header.

Happy customizing! ( or maybe I should have called it pimping…? )