Softgrid is an application delivery and provisioning product created by Softricity, Inc. With it, we have the ability to solve the following problems:
- Eliminate or significantly compress the required testing and development cycle for new images (this includes regression testing, application conflict management and workstation customization.
- Minimise the time needed for deployment, updating and support overhead for new software images
- Enable dynamic application provisioning and last minute changes to class and instructional needs with a minimum of Administrator input.
- Enable the same level of service at GCC North, with a minimum increase in currently available resources (specifically manpower)
- Audit Application licenses and usage
- Eliminate all application conflicts, while retaining the ability to utilize multiple versions of an application for different user needs (such as the 3 different versions of FileMaker Pro currently in use by administrative users)
- Limit user account rights for better security management.
Softgrid answers these needs in a number of fashions. Among Softgrid's advantages are:
- Applications are 'sequenced' (packaged with all aspects of the system (registry, DLLs, ini files, COM objects, etc) being monitoried and changes being tracked) for streaming and customization.
- During the sequencing process the application is run to verify execution and any further changes and to establish baseline software behaviour
- Application is broken down into 'blocks' to maximize streaming efficiency and minimize the amount of time data requires to travel down to the workstation.
- Applications are streamed using RTP/RTSP (Real-Time Protocol/Real-Time Streaming Protocol- designed for high-speed, low-bandwidth video transport)
- As part of the Sequencing process, the application is broken down into 'feature blocks' and only the required code for the application (usually 10-20% of the total code for the application) is streamed to the desktop, allowing faster execution of the application and limiting network traffic.
- Provisioning and administration of applications is through an Active Directory MMC snap-in
- Fully integrated with Active Directory (Softricity is a Microsoft Gold Partner)
- Applications are easily enabled and disabled through User groups in Active directory
- Applications streamed to the desktop run in a protected 'sandbox' with Administrative equivalent rights (despite the actual user rights) allowing applications to run in a full mode (such as Adobe products), and since this 'sandbox' has all the registry, user configuration and customization within it- there are NO application conflicts.
- No regression testing is required since the application registry does not interact with any others
- Modifications to applications (such as upgrades, patches, etc) are done easily and quickly without affecting current users usage of the application (ie, updates are done 'offline', and then 'published' to the desktop the next time the user logs in or refreshes the desktop)
- No need to re-image the machines for anything other than workstation based (OS or Anti-Virus) concerns.
- Because applications are all streamed to the desktop, the workstation image is small and tailored to hardware, rather than large and unwieldy.
- 20,000 applications sequenced so far.
- Technical support and online knowledgebase is the best seen for software vendor support.
