Windows Server 2008 or Windows Server 2003 Terminal Services can be used to take advantage of App-V virtual applications. Once an application is loaded on a Terminal Server in the App-V cache, any user who has permissions for that application may use it on the Terminal Server. Additionally, App-V can be used as an application coexistence tool. Because each application runs in its own virtual environment, applications that normally could not be installed on the same computer are able to co-exist.

 Figure: App-V for Terminal Services Clients

App-V allows any application to run along-side any other on a terminal server, eliminating the need for silos and increasing utilization, resulting in the need for less servers. App-V for Terminal Services automatically sets up and manages virtual environments for Application Virtualization-enabled applications, publishes the applications to the Terminal Services virtual desktop, and manages connections to App-V Server. The App-V client stores user-specific virtual application settings in each user's profile—for example, registry and file changes.

Challenges with Today's Terminal Services Environment: Rigid, Costly, and Unwieldy:

Server growth is a costly issue for organizations that rely on terminal services. To avoid post-installation application conflicts, applications must be tested up front to determine which applications will collide and, therefore, must be separated and run on different Terminal Server silos – a time-consuming and costly process. Servers are routinely underutilized because each one is locked into a specific configuration, capable of serving only a limited set of non-conflicting applications, typically using just 25% of capacity. Often, 20 servers are required to support 1,000 users. Microsoft App-v for Terminal Services completely changes this situation.

Consolidate Servers and end Server Siloing, Increasing Server farm ROI:

Application virtualization allows any application to run alongside any other – even applications that normally conflict, multiple versions of the same application, and many applications that previously could not run under Terminal Services. This eliminates the need for server silos and significantly improves server utilization. As a result, the number of servers needed is much lower, operational costs for managing the remaining servers is reduced, and the server farm ROI is increased. For instance, it has enabled Russell Investment Group and Fidelity National Financial to shrink their application server farms by 33 – 40%.

End Application conflicts and Regression Testing :

By eliminating the need to permanently install applications on servers, and shielding the operating system and applications from changes created when installed applications run, Microsoft App-v for Terminal Services prevents problems that hinder deployments. The need to perform lengthy regression testing is also significantly reduced.

Build Business Continuity for Applications:

Replicate your virtualized applications like any other enterprise data to maintain an instant-on failover plan for your applications. Applications can be kept up to date between live sites and back-up sites by automatically replicating virtualized application files on the live sites' App-v servers to App-v servers at a back-up site (using third-party tools).

Simplify OS Migrations and Patching:

Turn time-consuming migration and patching projects into largely automated, conflict-free processes. Applications typically do not have to be repackaged for OS migrations. Patching and migrations do not require regression testing.

Simplify Packaging:

Applications that use App-V only need to be packaged once for desktop or terminal services platforms. This reduces the need for "double packaging" or creating two different processes and packages when providing the choice for running an application on a desktop or via a Terminal Server. This simplifies administration, troubleshooting, and support.

Scalability:

App-V's unique approach enables applications to be centrally stored and then delivered and executed on Terminal Servers on demand. Application files are only delivered once from the App-v server to the Terminal Server, where they are cached for repeat use by multiple users. As a result, App-v is a bandwidth-efficient method of distributing applications to Terminal Servers ensuring that the App-v server can support many Terminal Servers and thousands of connected users.

Integration with MICROSOFT SMS

With App-v for Microsoft Systems Management Server (SMS), IT administrators get the benefits of  Application Virtualization and dynamic streaming from within the SMS infrastructure. This allows you the flexibility to choose the best way to deploy and run applications while maintaining OS level patches, updates, inventory, and asset tracking with a single, integrated management point.