Software Deployment in a Virtual Environment

Question

I’m looking for a way to provide preliminary or demo versions of our software to our customers as easily as possible.

The software that we are currently developing is a rather large project. It consists of a client environment, an application server, various databases, a web services host, etc. The project is being developed gradually, and we want to send a bit at intervals of one to two months. First deliveries will not be used in production. They have a puropse demo to encourage customers to give feedback.

We do not want to put a strain on clients to install and configure the system. In general, we are looking for a way to facilitate the deployment, installation and configuration of pain.

I was thinking about using virtualization technology to pre-install and pre-configure a virtual machine with all the necessary components. Our customers just need to install a virtual image and run the application.

I would love to hear from people who use this technique. I believe there are some difficulties. Especially with regard to problems with a license with an installed OS? The virtual machine may expire after a certain period of time.

Any experiences there?

Answer 1

As you browse the entire application stack, you will need to virtualize the entire server to provide your customers with a realistic demo experience. Thinstall is great for single applications, but not for the whole package ....

Microsoft has licensing schemes for this type of situation, as it was used for demonstration purposes only and not for use as a TechNet subscription. Let your local Microsoft Licensing Center call to discuss, and unlike offshore support groups, they are really helpful and friendly.

To run the “stack” at the lowest cost to your customers, I suggest using VMware. Customers can download the free VMware player, download machines (or multiple computers) and get an idea of ​​the system ... Microsoft Virtual PC or Virtual Server will be a little more intrusive and not really a “plug n play” solution that you are looking for.

If you only want to send the application, consider either a thin installation or provide access to Citrix / Terminal services - clients can remotely log into their own (test) machines and run what they need.

Personally, if possible, a stand-alone system would be best - let your customers know about installing a vmware player, then run this application ... which launches various parts of your application stack (possibly from a DVD), and you have completely do-it-yourself demo for marketers to pimp :)

Answer 2

You should take a look at thinstall (it was bought by vmware and now called thinapp), its application virtualizer.

Answer 3

It seems that you are trying to fulfill several competing goals:

• Give the customer something.
• Simplify and facilitate work with clients.
• Make sure the various components coexist and interact happily.
• In accordance with licensing restrictions, both by yours and OS providers.
• Allow incremental and piecewise updates.

Can you achieve all this by placing a back end (database, web server, etc.) and providing your customers with a CD (or download) that contains the client? This will give them a “download / upgrade experience” that comes with client software, unable to cope with the complexity of administering the back end.

For close use of plug-and-play, you might consider placing your demo version in real-time linux or a Windows CD. Note. For the latter, you need a licensed copy of Windows.

Perhaps your "serious" customers may request their own demo copies of the back; they will be more susceptible to additional work on their part.

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Regarding OS licenses, if your vendors (providers) are not useful, you can consider open source alternatives such as FreeDOS or linux .

Answer 4

Depending on whether you can put all the necessary services in one OS instance or not ...

Vmware Ace, or something else that it is calling at the moment, will allow you to deliver unified virtual machines under strict control, with forced updates, expiration, and much more. But it's easier to just set up a demo environment and allow remote access to it.

The problem here, I think, allows several virtual machines to communicate in unknown circumstances - if that is not enough?

The idea is to send a physical server pre-configured using virtualization and any number of virtual servers needed to demonstrate the system.

Using trial versions of the operating system can be good enough for the licensing dilemma - at least Windows Server can be tested for 60 days, during registration it can be extended to 240.

Answer 5

Thinstall is great for single applications, but not for the whole package ....

I have not tried it yet, but with the new version of thinstall you can transfer different thin-walled applications. But I think you're right, the vm-ware image will be simpler