AdminStudio 2016

Release Notes

23 June 2016

Introduction

AdminStudio Suite powers an enterprise's daily application readiness process for inventory, rationalization, packaging, and compatibility testing of physical, virtual, and mobile applications, ensuring faster service delivery and predictable deployment.

AdminStudio’s automation, integration with leading software distribution tools, and workflow capabilities help companies streamline day-to-day application packaging operations and reduce the time and cost of application virtualization, Windows migrations and mobile application deployment.

Trusted by more than 10,000 organizations, AdminStudio Suite eliminates the need for multiple standalone tools and provides an integrated solution that is adaptive and scalable to changing business priorities.

New Features in AdminStudio 2016

This section lists the new features that are included in AdminStudio 2016:

Import and Test Mac OS X Desktop Applications
Ability to Inspect and Test Complex Installer Executables
Improved FlexNet Manager Suite Integration
Enhanced Automation Capabilities to Streamline Application Import and Testing
Automated Application Converter Enhancements
New Wizard to Install and Launch Windows Installer Packages on a Virtual Machine for Testing
Productivity Shortcuts
New System Center Configuration Manager Settings View

Import and Test Mac OS X Desktop Applications

In its 2016 release, AdminStudio is extending its application readiness capabilities to Mac OS X desktop applications. You can now import Mac OS X applications into the Application Catalog for testing and distribution to a JAMF Casper Suite server. Additionally, because App Portal also supports Casper, when you publish DMG and PKG files to Casper, you can choose to automatically generate App Portal catalog items for those packages.

Import Mac OS X Desktop Applications (DMG and PKG Files)
Import Links to OS X Desktop Applications in the Mac App Store
Test Mac OS X Desktop Applications
Publish Mac OS X Desktop Applications to Casper With Integration to App Portal

Import Mac OS X Desktop Applications (DMG and PKG Files)

In AdminStudio 2016, you can import Apple disk images (.dmg) and Mac OS X installer packages (.pkg) into the Application Catalog for inspection, customization, testing, and distribution to Casper.

The Package Type Selection panel of the Import Wizard now includes two new selections to support the import of Mac OS X desktop applications into the Application Catalog.

New Apple Installer Packages on Package Type Selection Panel

The following are the two new package types that were added to the Package Type Selection panel to support Mac OS X desktop applications:

Apple Disk Image package (.dmg)—When you double-click a .dmg file, an Apple disk image is “mounted” as a volume within the Finder. To install the application, you usually drag the application icon from the disk image into the Applications folder.
Apple installer package (.pkg)—Double-clicking a .pkg file launches the Apple installer application, where the package is installed by proceeding through an installation wizard.

You can import these newly supported package types as single applications, part of a batch import of applications in a selected folder, or as part of a monitored directory using the Package Auto Import feature. You can also publish these package types to a JAMF Casper Suite server.

Inspecting Bundled Packages

Both .dmg and .pkg files can contain child .dmg or .pkg files bundled within the file. These bundled packages can be viewed on the imported package’s Bundled Packages tab of the Catalog Deployment Type View. For more information, see Inspect Bundled Applications in DMG and PKG Installers.

Customizing Installer Settings

The installer settings of a .pkg file can be modified on the Pkg Installer Choices tab of the Catalog Deployment Type View. For more information, see Customize Apple Installer Package PKG Installer Settings.

Inspect Bundled Applications in DMG and PKG Installers

If an Apple disk image package (.dmg) or Apple installer package (.pkg) contains child packages bundled within it, those child packages will be listed on the new Bundled Packages tab of the Catalog Deployment Type view.

Bundled Packages Tab of Catalog Deployment Type View for Apple Installer Package (.pkg)

When the imported .dmg or .pkg file is tested, each of these child packages is also tested, and the combined test results are listed in Test Center, as described in Combined Testing of Child Applications of DMG and PKG Files.

Note • AdminStudio will only inspect Mac OS X package files one level deep. If a .dmg or .pkg package contains another .dmg or .pkg package bundled within it, that child package will not be inspected.

Customize Apple Installer Package PKG Installer Settings

Just as a Windows Installer package can be customized by adding a transform file, an Apple installer package (.pkg) can be customized by editing an XML file that is embedded within it. In AdminStudio 2016, the settings defined in a .pkg file’s embedded XML file are displayed on the new PKG Installer Choices tab of the package’s Catalog Deployment Type view.

New PKG Installer Choices Tab of Catalog Deployment Type View for Mac PKG Installer

The PKG Installer Choices tab lists all settings that have been defined in that .pkg file’s embedded XML settings file by the application manufacturer. To customize this installer (such as to prepare it for silent installation by Casper), you can make changes to the settings on this tab and then click Update Installer Choices. AdminStudio will then save your changes in the package’s embedded settings file.

For each installer Choice listed on the PKG Installer Choices tab, the following options are available:

Option

Description

Visible

This option can be either selected or not selected:

Selected—This choice setting will be displayed in the installer.
Not selected—This choice setting will not be displayed in the installer.

Selected

This option can be either selected or not selected:

Selected—If this choice setting is displayed in the installer, its check box will be checked.
Not selected—If this choice setting is displayed in the installer, its check box will not be checked.

Enabled

This option can be either selected or not selected:

Selected—If this choice setting is displayed in the installer, it will be enabled.
Not selected—If this choice setting is displayed in the installer, it will be disabled.

Custom Location

If this choice setting explicitly permits the user to specify a user-defined installation path, the path entered in this field would populate the user-defined installation path when it is displayed in the installer.

Note • Modifying the installer choices of an Apple installer package does not affect the digital signature of the package.

Import Links to OS X Desktop Applications in the Mac App Store

In previous releases, you could import links to iOS mobile apps in the iTunes App Store. To do this, you selected, Apple Store on the Public Store Selection panel of the Import Wizard.

In AdminStudio 2016, in addition to being able to import links to iOS mobile apps in the iTunes App Store, you can now also import links to Mac OS X desktop applications in the Mac App Store. On the Public Store Selection panel of the Import Wizard, you now have two different Apple public store options:

Apple iOS App Store (for iOS mobile apps) 
Apple Mac App Store (for OS X desktop apps) 

Apple Mac App Store Option on Public Store Selection Panel

After you have imported a Mac OS X desktop application into the Application Catalog, you can test it and distribute it to a Casper server. For more information, see:

Test Mac OS X Desktop Applications
Publish Mac OS X Desktop Applications to Casper With Integration to App Portal

New Field That Identifies Genre of Mac Public Store Apps (Both iOS and OS X)

For Apple public store apps imported into the Application Catalog (both iOS and OS X apps), a new Genre(s) field is listed on the Package Information tab of the Catalog Deployment Type View, which lists the category that the application belongs to in the public store.

Genre(s) Field on Package Information Tab

Test Mac OS X Desktop Applications

You can use Test Center to test all three types of supported Mac OS X desktop applications: DMG files, PKG files, and Mac App Store apps. Tests are available in the Operating System Compatibility and Best Practices and Risk Assessment test categories.

Test Results for Mac OS X Desktop App

In AdminStudio 2016, the following new tests for Mac OS X desktop applications have been added:

Category

Test Name

Description

Supported Package Types

Operating System Compatibility

MAC001

Deprecated Property List Keys

DMG, PKG

MAC002

Deprecated Frameworks

DMG, PKG

MAC003

Application Requires Specific Minimum OS Version

DMG, PKG, Mac App Store

MAC004

Deprecated APIs

DMG, PKG

MAC005

Application Requires 64-bit Processor

Mac App Store

MAC006

Removed Frameworks

DMG, PKG

MAC007

Removed APIs

DMG, PKG

Apple Best Practices

MAC701

Recommended Property List Keys

DMG, PKG

MAC702

Code Signature

DMG, PKG

MAC703

Volume Purchase Program

Mac App Store

MAC704

Allows In-App Purchases

Mac App Store

Combined Testing of Child Applications of DMG and PKG Files

If an Apple disk image package (.dmg) or Apple installer package (.pkg) contains child packages bundled within it, those child packages are also tested when the parent package is tested. Test results of the parent package and all of its child packages are combined and are displayed in Test Center.

Consolidated Test Results for Apple Installer Package (.pkg)

When you view detailed test results, the name of the child .dmg, .pkg, or .app file that generated the error or warning is listed.

Detailed Consolidated Test Results for Apple Installer Package (.pkg)

Publish Mac OS X Desktop Applications to Casper With Integration to App Portal

In AdminStudio 2016, you can publish Mac OS X desktop applications (DMG, PKG, and Mac App Store apps) to a JAMF Casper Suite server.

Because AdminStudio is also integrated with App Portal (which also supports Casper), you can choose to automatically create App Portal catalog items for DMG and PKG applications in your Application Catalog when you publish them to a Casper server.

Setting Up a Connection to a Casper Server
Automatically Creating App Portal Catalog Items for DMG and PKG Applications
Viewing Casper Deployment Data for an Application

Setting Up a Connection to a Casper Server

On the Server Options > Distribution Options tab of the Application Manager Options dialog box, you can now create a named connection to a Casper server.

Named Connection to a Casper Server

After you select Casper Distribution Plugin from the Deployment Type field, the settings required for connecting to a Casper server are listed.

Note • Casper supports multiple server infrastructures, but AdminStudio only supports the File Share Distribution Points infrastructure, and copies packages to a UNC File Share Distribution Point in Casper. AdminStudio currently does not support copying packages to JDS Instances, Cloud Distribution Points, Software Update Servers, or NetBoot Servers.

Automatically Creating App Portal Catalog Items for DMG and PKG Applications

When you distribute DMG and PKG applications to Casper Suite Server, you can instruct AdminStudio to automatically create App Portal catalog items for each of those applications.

To do this, first set up a named connection to a Casper server and connect to the Flexera Service Gateway. Then, open the App Portal Information tab of the DMG or PKG application’s Application View, and click on the Categories field to open the Categories dialog box. On the Categories dialog box, select the Notify Flexera Software App Portal on publish of current application option and select one or more App Portal categories where the catalog item will be available.

Selecting App Portal Options on Categories Dialog Box

When this application is published to Casper, a catalog item in the selected category will automatically be created, and the Catalog Item field on the App Portal Information view will display the App Portal Catalog ID for that catalog item.

Catalog Item Field on App Portal Information Tab

Note • If an App Portal catalog item has not been created for an application, the Catalog Item field will display Not Published to App Portal.

Viewing Casper Deployment Data for an Application

In AdminStudio 2016, you can view and modify Casper deployment settings for Mac OS X desktop applications on the new Casper Deployment Data tab of the Catalog Deployment Type View.

Casper Deployment Data Tab of Catalog Deployment Type View

The Casper Deployment Data tab can include up to three subtabs that display Casper deployment data: General, Options, and Limitations.

Note • The Options and Limitations subtabs are not displayed for Mac App Store apps.

The Casper Deployment Data tab displays the following properties:

Subtab

Property

Description

General

Server Name

Name of the Casper server.

Category

Category in Casper that the package will be added to.

Note • Casper lets you create custom categories. If AdminStudio has matched this application to an entry in the Application Recognition Library (ARL), AdminStudio will use the ARL category when publishing to Casper, creating it if necessary.

Info

Information to display to the administrator when the package is deployed or uninstalled

Notes

Notes to display about the package (such as the name of the person who built it and when it was built).

Note • Not displayed for Mac App Store apps.

Free

Indicates whether or not the Mac App Store app is available for free (True) or whether it requires payment (False).

Note • Only displayed for Mac App Store apps.

Options

Priority

Priority to use for deploying or uninstalling the package. For example, a package with a priority of 1 is deployed or uninstalled before other packages.

When several applications are deployed together, the one with the highest priority is installed first. Therefore, if one application requires that another application be installed first before it can be successfully installed, you should assign the required application a higher priority (lower number) than the dependent application.

Fill user templates (FUT)

Set this property to True to fill new home directories with the contents of the home directory in the package's Users folder.

This setting can be changed when deploying or uninstalling the package using a policy.l

Note • Only applicable to DMG packages.

Fill existing user home directories (FEU)

Set this property to True to fill existing home directories with the contents of the home directory in the package's Users folder.

This setting can be changed when deploying or uninstalling the package using a policy

Note • Only applicable to DMG packages.

Requires restart

Set this property to True to require that computers must be restarted after installing the package.

Install on boot drive after imaging

Set this property to True to ensure that the package is installed on the boot drive after imaging.

Note • This setting is only used when deploying a package with an OS image, like with an OSD. It does not affect day-to-day package delivery.

Limitations

Operating System Requirement

Enter operating system version numbers, separated by commas, to specify that the package only be permitted to be deployed to computers with these operating system versions. To restrict installation to OS X 10.6.8, 10.7.x, or 10.8, you would enter the following:

10.6.8, 10.7.x, 10.8

Install Only if Available in Software Update

Set to True to require that this package only be installed if it is available in a software update.

Limit Architecture Type

Set to True to require that this package only be installed on machines matching the selectedArchitecture Type Requirement.

Architecture Type Requirement

If Limit Architecture Type is set to True, select the one of the following to specify the architecture type required to deploy the package:

PowerPC
Intel/X86

Substitute Package

If you want to specify a different package to deploy to computers that do not meet the architecture type requirement, click the Browse button in this field to open the Select Substitute Package dialog box, and select a substitute package from either Casper or the Application Catalog.

Product Name Displayed in Casper Listed on the Catalog Deployment Type View

For DMG and PKG packages imported into the Application Catalog, a Displayed Product Name field is listed on the Package Information tab of the Catalog Deployment Type View, listing the property that is mapped to the File Name property in Casper.

Displayed Product Name Field on Package Information Tab

Ability to Inspect and Test Complex Installer Executables

In previous releases, you could import complex installer executable files (.exe) that contain bundled Windows Installer packages into the Application Catalog, but you could not view the names of those bundled packages and you could not test those packages. You were limited to just viewing general package information and deployment data.

In AdminStudio 2016, you can now view the names of bundled Windows Installer packages and perform operating system compatibility, application virtualization compatibility, and best practices testing on those bundled packages.

Bundled Windows Installer Packages Now Listed on New Bundled Packages Tab
Can Perform Testing of Child Windows Installer Packages of Complex Installer Executables

Bundled Windows Installer Packages Now Listed on New Bundled Packages Tab

There are multiple installation executable types that can contain embedded Windows Installer packages, including the following:

InstallShield InstallScript .exe files
InstallShield Basic MSI installers that are compressed into a setup.exe file
InstallShield Suite Installer .exe files
Wise Package Studio .exe files
Other executable file types that can be uncompressed by 7-ZIP

In AdminStudio 2016, Application Manager can inspect the child .msi packages in these complex installer .exe files, and display a list of those child packages on the new Bundled Packages tab of the Catalog Deployment Type View.

Bundled Packages Tab of Catalog Deployment Type View / Microsoft .NET Framework 4 Suite

When inspecting these child .msi packages, Application Manager extracts the information about each package, such as product name and version number. This makes it much more likely that Application Manager will be able to assign a Flexera Identifier to these applications.

Note • AdminStudio will only inspect complex installer .exe files one level deep. If a complex installer .exe file contains another complex installer .exe file bundled within it, that child .exe file will not be inspected.

Can Perform Testing of Child Windows Installer Packages of Complex Installer Executables

When a complex installer .exe file is tested, its child Windows Installer packages are also tested and the test results are combined and displayed in Test Center.

Consolidated Test Results for Windows Installer Suite Package

When you view detailed test results, the name of the child Windows Installer package that generated the error or warning is listed.

Combined Suite Installer Test Results

Improved FlexNet Manager Suite Integration

In AdminStudio 2016, several new features have been added to improve integration with FlexNet Manager Suite. You can now generate a list of all applications in the Application Catalog that do not have an associated Flexera Identifier, and can create local Application Recognition Library entries for internally developed, repackaged, or unrecognized applications.

Ability to Search Application Catalog for Unrecognized Applications
Ability to Create Local Flexera Identifier Entries for Internal or Repackaged Applications
Ability to Enter FlexNet Manager Suite URL

Ability to Search Application Catalog for Unrecognized Applications

A Flexera Identifier is a unique code, stored in the Application Recognition Library, that is assigned to applications by FlexNet Manager Suite. It is used to link application information from Application Manager with application information in AdminStudio Inventory and Rationalization, FlexNet Manager Suite, and App Portal.

If both Application Manager and FlexNet Manager Suite are connected to the same Flexera Service Gateway, each time you import an application into the Application Catalog, a search for the application’s Flexera Identifier is performed, and if it is found, it is listed on the General Information tab of the Application View.

However, sometimes an application’s Flexera Identifier is not found, such as when:

Incorrect information—The value of the information in the application’s Product Name, Version, Edition, or Publisher fields is either incorrect or too specific.
Internally developed applications—The application has been developed internally.
Repackaged applications—The application has been repackaged.

In previous releases, there was no way to quickly identify all of the applications in your Application Catalog that did not have an assigned Flexera Identifier. You were required to review each application one by one.

In AdminStudio 2016, you can now generate a list of all applications in the Application Catalog that do not have an associated Flexera Identifier, so that you can search for and assign an existing Flexera Identifier to the application or create a new local Flexera Identifier.

To search Application Catalog for unrecognized applications:

1. Click Unrecognized Applications in the toolbar of the Application Manager Catalog tab.

The Application Search Results dialog box opens, listing all applications in the Application Catalog that do not have an associated Flexera Identifier.

2. Select an application in the list and click Assign Flexera ID. The Flexera Identifier dialog box opens.

3. Edit the text in the Search Criteria fields to either correct the information or make it less specific, and then click Search. A list of possible matching applications will be generated and will be listed in the Matching Application(s) list.
4. Do one of the following:
Matching application found—If the correct matching application is listed, select it from the list and click OK. The selected Flexera Identifier will be saved in the Application Catalog and will be listed on the General Information tab of the Application View for that application.
Matching application not found—If a matching application is not listed, continue with the steps in Ability to Create Local Flexera Identifier Entries for Internal or Repackaged Applications to create a new local Flexera Identifier.

Ability to Create Local Flexera Identifier Entries for Internal or Repackaged Applications

In AdminStudio 2016, you can create new local Flexera Identifier entries for the FlexNet Manager Suite Application Recognition Library. These may be required for internally developed applications, repackaged applications, and other applications that are not recognized by FlexNet Manager Suite.

To create a local Flexera Identifier for an application:

1. Open the Application View of the unrecognized application and click the browse button in the empty Flexera Identifier field. The Flexera Identifier dialog box opens.

2. Use the search fields to locate and select a Flexera Identifier.
3. If no Flexera Identifier is found, click Create New. The Flexera Local Identifier dialog box opens.

4. Enter the following information:

Property

Description

Product Name

The basic name of the application, excluding references to versions or editions, and without mentioning the publisher.

Version

The release number (or release identifier) of an application.

Edition

Enter the edition of this application.

Publisher

The name of the publisher of this software, responsible for its development and distribution.

Classification

To indicate how this application is classified, select one of the following options:

Beta—A pre-release application (covers such items as beta releases, alpha releases, or release candidates) that you have under some special arrangement.
Commercial—The application requires a license to be purchased for use in a commercial setting.
Freeware—Licensed for use in a commercial environment free-of-charge.
Malware—A potentially harmful application (a virus, Trojan, and the like), and should be treated as malware. If installations of this application are identified, you need to address the corresponding incidents or security issues.
Shareware—The application is available for downloading from web sites, and typically uses a “try-before-you-buy” licensing model that might include reminder messages, functional limitations, or other restrictions until a full license is purchased.
X Rated—The application contains potentially objectionable or sexually explicit material. You might want to consider whether corporate policies require any action.
Update—The application represents an update, for example, a service pack, to another application, and is issued for free to all customers regardless of purchasing agreements or support contracts (a “minor” update).
5. Click Create. A confirmation message appears stating that a new local Flexera Identifier has been created.

Ability to Enter FlexNet Manager Suite URL

In AdminStudio 2016, you can now more easily configure your connection to FlexNet Manager Suite by entering the FlexNet Manager Suite URL in the FNMS URL field on the Flexera Service Gateway (FSG) tab of the Application Manager Options dialog box.

FNMS URL Field on Flexera Service Gateway (FSG) Tab of Options Dialog Box

Enhanced Automation Capabilities to Streamline Application Import and Testing

AdminStudio 2016 offers several new automation features that help you to streamline the application import and testing process.

Applications Are Automatically Tested Upon Import
Enhancements to Package Auto Import Feature
Enhanced Control When Using Import Wizard to Perform Batch Import from a Directory

Applications Are Automatically Tested Upon Import

In AdminStudio 2016, Application Manager is now configured to automatically test packages against all selected compatibility, best practices, and risk assessment tests as part of the import process. By default, the Automatically Execute Tests After Import option on the Import Options tab of the Application Manager Options dialog box is selected. In previous releases, this option was not selected by default.

Automatically Execute Tests After Import Option

While having this option selected will mean longer import times for each application, packages will have all testing details populated immediately after import. However, if you are concerned with the length of import time, you may want to clear the selection of this option.

Note • In previous releases of AdminStudio, the Automatically Execute Tests After Import option was not selected by default; in AdminStudio 2016, this option is selected by default. Therefore, for users upgrading from previous releases of AdminStudio, they will inherit the new default selection, which means that, by default, this option will be selected and tests will be run immediately after import. To have the same user experience as you did in previous versions, you need to clear the selection of this option.

Enhancements to Package Auto Import Feature

The Application Manager Package Auto Import feature enables you to automatically import or re-import packages in shared network directories into your Application Catalog. Application Manager periodically checks these directories and imports all new packages it finds, and reimports all updated packages.

In AdminStudio 2016, the following enhancements have been added to this feature to make it even more powerful and useful:

Can Monitor Multiple Directories Simultaneously
Can Select File Types to Monitor
Can Perform Batch Auto Import of Microsoft Security Patch Files and iOS Enterprise Policy Files

Can Monitor Multiple Directories Simultaneously

In previous releases, when setting up the Package Auto Import feature, you could only specify a single directory to scan for new or updated packages to import.

In AdminStudio 2016, you can specify multiple directories to monitor. On the General Options > Import Options > Package Auto Import tab of the Options dialog box, you can add a directory to monitor by clicking the New button. There is no limit to the number of directories you can monitor.

Import Options > Package Auto Import Tab of Options Dialog Box

After the initial auto-import operation, packages will be imported or reimported into the Application Catalog whenever:

A new package is added to one of the monitored directories.
An existing package in one of the monitored directories is updated.

Each time you specify a directory to monitor, you need to provide the following information.

Property

Description

Directory

Enter the directory to monitor. You can either enter a directory path or click the browse button and select a directory.

Important • The directory must be in UNC format and it must be a shared directory.

Target Group

Specify the group in the Application Manager tree into which the packages will be imported.

Monitoring Status

Set this option to True to begin monitoring this directory for new and updated packages. Set it to False to stop monitoring the directory.

Extensions

Click the browse button to open the Select Watcher Extensions dialog box, where you will specify the package types to import, as described in Can Select File Types to Monitor.

The monitoring of the specified Package Auto Import directories is a task that can be distributed among the AdminStudio Host processes of all of the installations of AdminStudio in your network that have access to the specified shared directory.

After you have specified a directory on the Package Auto Import tab and have set the Monitoring Status field to True, the AdminStudio Host processes that are connected to the same Application Catalog will begin to monitor these directories.

Packages in the monitored directories will be imported as soon as one of the AdminStudio Host processes connected to the same Application Catalog is running but is not currently being used. This ensures that if someone is actively using one of AdminStudio’s tools, the import (and subsequent testing) of packages by the Package Auto Import process will not slow down the performance of AdminStudio.

Tip • To make sure that the batch import activities of the Package Auto Import process take place when AdminStudio tools are not in use, you could launch AdminStudioHost.exe as a scheduled task during off peak hours and it will perform the import of packages from the monitored directories at that time.

After a directory’s Monitoring Status has been set to True, the packages (of the selected package type) in that directory are listed on the Package Auto Import tab.

Monitoring the Import of Packages in a Directory on the Package Auto Import Tab

In the Status column, packages will have one of the following statuses:

Created—Package will be imported as soon as one of the AdminStudio Host processes connected to this Application Catalog is running but is not currently being used.
Imported—Package has been imported into the Application Catalog.
Canceled—User canceled the import of the package into the Application Catalog.
Error—There was an error during import of the package into the Application Catalog.

Can Select File Types to Monitor

When setting up a directory to monitor for a Package Auto Import process, you can now specify the specific package types in that directory to import. To do this, you click the browse button in the Extensions field of the Package Auto Import tab of the Options dialog box to open the Select Watcher Extensions dialog box.

Select Watcher Extensions Dialog Box

Only those packages of the package type you select on this dialog box will be imported from the monitored directory.

Can Perform Batch Auto Import of Microsoft Security Patch Files and iOS Enterprise Policy Files

Previously, you could only import Microsoft Security Patch files (.msu) and iOS Enterprise Policy Configuration Files (.mobileconfig or .plist) one at a time using the Import Wizard.

In AdminStudio 2016, you can now perform a batch import of Microsoft Security Patch files and iOS Enterprise Policy Configuration files using the Package Auto Import feature. To do this, select the Microsoft Windows Security Update Patch and/or the Enterprise mobile policy configuration support options on the Select Watcher Extensions dialog box.

Enhanced Control When Using Import Wizard to Perform Batch Import from a Directory

When using the Import Wizard to import a folder of applications, you can now choose to import only the packages that you select rather than all packages of the selected package type in the directory.

After you select the package types that you want to import from the selected directory on the Package Type Selection panel of the Import Wizard, a new panel named Select Applications opens, prompting you to select specific applications to import from the selected directory.

Select Applications Panel of Import Wizard

By default, all packages of the selected package type are selected. You can clear the selection of any packages you do not want to import.

Automated Application Converter Enhancements

AdminStudio 2016 contains several enhancements to the Automated Application Converter tool to expand its functionality.

Automated Application Converter for Repackaging Now Included in Professional and Enterprise Editions
Can Set Default Conversion Settings from the Application Manager Options Dialog Box
Can Set Custom Settings When Performing Individual Conversion Using Conversion Wizard

Automated Application Converter for Repackaging Now Included in Professional and Enterprise Editions

In AdminStudio 2016, the Professional and Enterprise editions now include Automated Application Converter—which you can use to perform automated repackaging on a virtual machine—without requiring you to purchase the Virtualization add-on pack.

Professional edition—You can perform automated repackaging one package at a time.
Enterprise edition—You can perform batch automated repackaging of a group of packages.

Note • In order to use Automated Application Converter to convert packages to virtual formats, you will still be required to purchase the Virtualization add-on pack.

You can choose to perform automated repackaging using either the Automated Application Converter interface or by using the Conversion Wizard, which is launched from Application Manager by right-clicking on a package or group of packages and then selecting Launch Conversion Wizard from the shortcut menu. Previously, the Conversion Wizard feature of Application Manager was only included with AdminStudio if you purchased the Virtualization add-on pack.

Ability to Edit Default Automated Application Converter Settings From Application Manager

In previous releases, you were able to use the Application Manager Conversion Wizard to quickly convert one or multiple Windows Installer packages or legacy installers to virtual packages (of the specified type) using default Automated Application Converter settings. However, to edit those default settings, you were required to launch Automated Application Converter and open the default project file.

In AdminStudio 2016, you can now edit the default settings file by clicking the new Edit Settings button on the Plugin Options > Automated Application Converter Plugin tab of the Options dialog box:

Edit Settings Button on Plugin Options > Automated Application Converter Plugin Tab

When you click Edit Settings, a limited version of Automated Application Converter opens, displaying the Machines tab, where you can quickly edit any of these default conversion settings and save them into this default project file.

Editing the Default Automated Application Converter Settings File

Can Edit Conversion Settings From the Conversion Wizard on a Per-Run Basis

In AdminStudio 2016, you now have to option of modifying the default conversion settings for a single run of the Conversion Wizard.

There is a new panel in the Conversion Wizard entitled Automated Application Converter Settings. On this panel, the virtual machine platforms defined in the settings file are listed in the Virtual Machine Platform list, and you can choose which platform to use for this run of the Conversion Wizard.

Automated Application Converter Settings Panel of Conversion Wizard

If you want to edit additional advanced settings, you can click the Edit Advanced Settings button. A copy of the default conversion settings file (that is specified on the Plugin Options > Automated Application Converter Plugin tab of the Options dialog box) is opened, displaying the Packages tab of Automated Application Converter.

Editing the Default Conversion Settings

You can change any of these settings. When you save this file and exit the Packages tab of Automated Application Converter, you are returned to the Conversion Wizard where you can proceed with the conversion.

New Wizard to Install and Launch Windows Installer Packages on a Virtual Machine for Testing

In AdminStudio 2016, the process of resetting a VM snapshot, powering it on, and copying the application for testing into it can be automated using the new Test on Virtual Machine Wizard, which is available with Professional and Enterprise Editions.

The Test on Virtual Machine Wizard uses the capability of the Automated Application Converter tool to quickly launch a specified virtual machine, install a selected Windows Installer (.msi) or installation executable (.exe) package, and enable you to launch a remote desktop session to that virtual machine so that you can perform testing.

Note • Both legacy installers and complex installer executables (which contain bundled Windows Installer packages) can be tested using the Test on Virtual Machine Wizard.

To use the Test on Virtual Machine Wizard to test a package, perform the following steps.

To use the Test on Virtual Machine Wizard to test a package:

1. Right click a Windows Installer (.msi) or installer executable (.exe) package (or on an application containing an .msi or .exe package) and select Test on Virtual Machine from the shortcut menu.

Note • The Test on Virtual Machine selection on the shortcut menu is available on both the Catalog and the Test Center tabs of Application Manager.

The Select Package to Test panel opens. The Application Manager tree is displayed, with the package that was selected when you opened the wizard automatically selected.

2. Confirm the selection of the package that you want to test and click Next.

The Automated Application Converter Test Settings panel opens, listing the virtual machines defined in the Automated Application Converter settings file that is selected on the Plugin Options > Automated Application Converter Plugin tab of the Options dialog box:

3. Select the name of the virtual machine that you want to use for testing and click Next. The Summary panel opens.

4. Click Next to launch the package on the specified virtual machine for testing. The Performing the Test Process panel opens, listing progress messages. When the package has been installed and launched on the virtual machine, the Remote Desktop button will become enabled.

5. Click Remote Desktop to connect to the virtual machine and perform testing. You may be prompted for login credentials to the virtual machine image. A Remote Desktop session opens displaying the virtual image where this package has been installed.

6. Use the installed shortcuts to launch the package and perform the desired testing.
7. When you have finished testing the package, click OK to close the Remote Desktop session and shut down the virtual machine.
8. Return to the Test on Virtual Machine Wizard and click Finish to close the wizard.

Productivity Shortcuts

Several productivity shortcuts have been added to AdminStudio in the 2016 release.

New Shortcut to Automatically Create Transform for Selected Package in InstallShield
Ability to Browse to Package Location from Application Manager Tree

New Shortcut to Automatically Create Transform for Selected Package in InstallShield

In previous releases, you were able to select Edit with InstallShield from the shortcut menu to quickly open a Windows Installer package in InstallShield. However, the only option you had was to open the package in Direct Edit Mode, which results in modifying the Windows Installer .msi file itself.

In AdminStudio 2016, you can quickly create a new transform project for a Windows Installer package by right-clicking on the package in the Application Manager tree and then selecting Create Transform with InstallShield from the shortcut menu.

Create Transform with InstallShield

A new transform project (named PackageName_ISTransform.mst) for the selected package opens in InstallShield in Direct MST mode.

Transform File Open in InstallShield Direct MST Mode

After you have finished customizing this transform file in InstallShield and have saved it, you can then reimport the Windows Installer package along with its newly created transform file into the Application Catalog by right-clicking on the Windows Installer package in the Application Manager tree and selecting Reimport Package from the shortcut menu. This lets Application Manager know that you are done editing the transform file.

Reimport Package Command on Shortcut Menu

Ability to Browse to Package Location from Application Manager Tree

In AdminStudio 2016, you can quickly browse to the directory location of your source package files by right-clicking on the package in the Application Manager tree and then selecting Open File Location from the shortcut menu. This new option is available on both the Catalog and the Test Center tabs of Application Manager.

New “Open File Location” Command on Shortcut Menu

A new File Explorer window opens, listing the package’s source files.

File Location of Imported Package’s Source Files

New System Center Configuration Manager Settings View

In previous releases, an application’s System Center Configuration Manager settings were listed on the General Information tab of the Application View. These settings were displayed whether or not you had configured a connection to a System Center Configuration Manager server.

In AdminStudio 2016, a new tab has been added to the Application View entitled SCCM Settings where these System Center Configuration Manager settings are now displayed. The SCCM Settings tab is only displayed if you have set up a connection to a System Center Configuration Manager server.

SCCM Settings Tab of Application View

Components/Editions

AdminStudio 2016 is available in Standard, Professional, and Enterprise Editions. You can also purchase additional Application Virtualization, Application Compatibility, and/or Mac and Mobile add-on packs.

Edition

Add On

Tools

Functionality

Standard

None

Repackager

Repackage applications into Windows Installer format

Perform basic ISO tagging, including creation of tag files

Legacy Distribution Wizard

Prepare packages for distribution

InstallShield 2015 (Professional Edition)

Customize Windows Installer packages by either directly editing them or by creating transforms

Note • While InstallShield 2015 is being shipped with AdminStudio 2016, you will be required to use an AdminStudio/InstallShield 2016 license to activate InstallShield 2015. InstallShield 2016 will be provided as part of an upcoming service pack release.

Tuner

Customize Windows Installer packages by creating transforms

Application Isolation Wizard

Resolve component versioning conflicts

Application Virtualization

Automated Application Converter (Single Application Version)

Conversion Wizard (Single Application Version)

Convert a package to a virtual application in the following formats:

Microsoft App-V (4.x and 5.1)
Citrix XenApp
VMware ThinApp (4.x and 5.x)
Symantec Workspace

Convert one package at a time

Virtual Package Editor

Edit App-V packages

Microsoft App-V Assistant

ThinApp Assistant

Citrix Assistant

Create a customized virtual package from an InstallShield project

Professional

 

 

 

None

Same as Standard, plus:

Application Manager / Catalog

Manage applications in an Application Catalog database

Manage a package’s System Center 2012 Configuration Manager and Symantec Altiris Client Management Suite deployment data

View an application’s System Center 2012 Configuration Manager deployment status

Perform advanced ISO tag file creation, editing, and storage

Application Manager / Test Center

Perform tests in the following categories:

Windows Installer Internal Consistency Evaluators
Windows Installer Best Practices
Application Conflicts

Test and fix one package at a time

Distribution Wizard

Publish applications to System Center 2012 Configuration Manager and Symantec Altiris Management Server.

OS Snapshot Wizard

Capture basic operating system configuration in an OS Snapshot, which can be imported into the Application Catalog to check for potential OS conflicts

QualityMonitor

Perform Windows Installer testing, including testing in a locked down environment

Automated Application Converter (Single Application Version)

Conversion Wizard (Single Application Version)

Automatically repackage a legacy package (.exe) into a Windows Installer package (.msi)

Repackage one package at a time

Test on Virtual Machine Wizard

Automatically launch a specified virtual machine and install a selected Windows Installer (.msi) or installation executable (.exe) package for testing.

Application Virtualization

Same as Standard, plus:

Enhancements to Application Manager / Catalog

Import virtual packages into Application Catalog

View virtual package data in Application Manager

Manage System Center 2012 Configuration Manager deployment data for App-V 4.x and 5.1 packages

Manage Citrix XenApp Server deployment data for Citrix XenApp profiles and App-V 4.x packages

Manage Symantec Altiris Client Management Suite deployment data for Symantec Workspace and VMware ThinApp packages

Manage App-V Server deployment data for App-V 4.x and 5.1 packages

Enhancements to Application Manager / Test Center

Test packages for compatibility to be virtualized to App-V, ThinApp, XenApp, and Symantec Workspace formats

Test App-V packages for best practices

Test App-V packages for conflicts with other packages

Enhancements to Distribution Wizard

Publish applications containing App-V 4.x and 5.1 packages to Microsoft App-V Server

Publish applications containing App-V packages to System Center Configuration Manager and Citrix XenApp Server

Publish applications containing Citrix XenApp profiles and App-V 4.x packages to Citrix XenApp Server

Publish applications containing Symantec Workspace and VMware ThinApp packages to Symantec Altiris Client Management Suite Server

Application Compatibility

Enhancements to Application Manager / Test Center

Test packages for compatibility with the following operating systems:

Windows 7 (32-bit and 64‑bit)
Windows 8 (32-bit and 64-bit)
Windows 10 (32-bit and 64-bit)
Windows Server 2008 R2
Windows Server 2012

On the Operating System Compatibility tab of the Test Center Deployment Type View, you can see detailed data for only the last package tested; for all other packages in the Application Catalog, this tab is blank (even if the package has been previously tested)

Ability to display Microsoft Application Compatibility Toolkit (ACT) database test results on ACT Summary tab of the Test Center Deployment Type View

Mac and Mobile

 

Enhancements to Application Manager / Catalog

 

 

Import of the following Mac OS X desktop applications into the Application Catalog:
Apple disk image (.dmg file)
Apple installer package (.pkg file)
Mac App Store app (public store link)
Import of the following mobile app formats into the Application Catalog:
Apple iOS mobile apps (local and public store link)
Google Android mobile apps (local and public store link)
Microsoft Windows Store mobile apps (local and public store link)
Ability to import iOS Enterprise Policy Configuration files, view their settings, and determine the policy compatibility of iOS mobile apps.
Ability to view iOS and Android mobile app reporting on feature use, device compatibility, and OS compatibility.
Ability to customize Apple Installer Package PKG installer settings
Ability to view deployment data for Windows Store mobile apps, including detection methods and framework customizations
Ability to manage AirWatch Server deployment data for both Apple iOS and Google Android mobile apps (local and public store link)
Ability to view and modify Casper deployment settings for Mac OS X desktop applications

Enhancements to Application Manager / Test Center

Test Apple iOS mobile apps for best practices
Test Apple iOS, Microsoft Windows, and Google Android mobile apps for risk assessment
Test Apple iOS, Microsoft Windows, and Google Android mobile apps for operating system compatibility
Test Mac OS X desktop applications (.dmg, .pkg, and Mac App Store apps) for operating system compatibility and best practices

Enhancements to Distribution Wizard

Ability to publish applications containing the following mobile app formats to System Center 2012 Configuration Manager R2 and AirWatch Server:

Apple iOS mobile apps (local and public store link)
Google Android mobile apps (local and public store link)

Ability to publish applications containing the following mobile app format to System Center 2012 Configuration Manager R2:

Windows Store (local and public store link)

Ability to publish applications containing the following package formats to JAMF Casper Suite:

Apple disk image (.dmg file)
Apple installer package (.pkg file)
Mac App Store app (public store link)

Enterprise

 

 

None

 

Same as Professional, plus: 

InstallShield 2015 (Premier Edition instead of Professional Edition)

Advanced customization of Windows Installer packages by either directly editing them or by creating transforms

Advanced customization of Windows Installer packages by either directly editing them or by creating transforms

Note • While InstallShield 2015 is being shipped with AdminStudio 2016, you will be required to use an AdminStudio/InstallShield 2016 license to activate InstallShield 2015. InstallShield 2016 will be provided as part of an upcoming service pack release.

Application Manager / Report Center

Advanced reports including detailed summary and dashboard reports on Test Center test results, package data, and deployment information

Platform API

Use to integrate your existing .NET applications or scripting environments like Microsoft PowerShell with AdminStudio

Software Repository

Secure storage system for AdminStudio package data, including version management

Report Center (Web Tool)

Generate reports on packages stored in the Application Catalog, including reports using custom SQL queries

Security Console (Web Tool)

Manage AdminStudio user accounts and directory services

Manage AdminStudio roles and permissions

Automated Application Converter (Multiple Application Version)

Conversion Wizard (Multiple Application Version)

Automatically repackage legacy packages (.exe) into Windows Installer packages (.msi)

Ability to perform automated repackaging of multiple packages at a time

Application Virtualization

Same as Professional, plus:

Automated Application Converter (Multiple Application Version)

Conversion Wizard (Multiple Application Version)

Ability to perform automated conversion of multiple packages at a time

Enhancements to Application Manager / Report Center

Includes the Application Virtualization Compatibility Dashboard report

Report Center's Application Readiness Dashboard includes an Application Virtualization Compatibility summary chart and App-V Best Practices and App‑V Conflicts test results summary charts.

Application Compatibility

Same as Professional, plus:

Enhancements to Application Manager / Test Center

Ability to test and fix multiple packages or groups of packages simultaneously

Ability to view package-level test details for Operating System Compatibility and Browser Compatibility tests for all packages in the Application Catalog, not just the last one tested

Import of web applications and web deploy packages into the Application Catalog

Test web applications for compatibility with the following browsers:

Internet Explorer 9
Internet Explorer 10
Internet Explorer 11
Microsoft Edge

Test web deploy packages for compatibility with the following platforms:

Windows Server 2012 R2
Microsoft Azure Application Services

Test web deploy packages for best practices.

Test web deploy packages for browser compatibility.

Enhancements to Application Manager / Report Center

Display of Microsoft ACT database test results on the Report Center tab

Enhancements to Platform API

Ability to use the Test-ASPackage and Resolve-ASPackage Platform API commands to perform batch package testing and issue resolution.

Mac and Mobile

Same as Professional 

 

System Requirements

This section lists the requirements for the AdminStudio machine, Application Catalog database server, Web server, Software Repository server, and virtual machines.

Compatibility Summary
AdminStudio Machine
Distribution Systems
Application Catalog Database Server
AdminStudio Enterprise Server / Workflow Manager Server
Software Repository
Automated Application Converter

Compatibility Summary

AdminStudio 2016 supports the following versions of the listed software.

Category

Item

Supported Versions

Operating System for:

AdminStudio 
Standalone Repackager 
Standalone Tuner 

Microsoft Windows

Windows 7
Windows 8 and 8.1
Windows 10
Windows Server 2008 R2
Windows Server 2012
Windows Server 2012 R2

AdminStudio Web Server Operating System (AdminStudio Enterprise Server, AdminStudio Inventory and Rationalization, Workflow Manager)

Microsoft Windows Server

Windows Server 2008 R2
Windows Server 2012
Windows Server 2012 R2

Application Catalog Database

Microsoft SQL Server

2008 R2
2012
2014

Flexera Software Product Integration

FlexNet Manager Platform / FlexNet Manager Suite (On Premises)

9.2 SP1 or later

FlexNet Manager Suite (Cloud)

2014 or later

App Portal

7.5.3 or later

Workflow Manager

2015

Flexera Service Gateway

1.0

Virtual Machines for Virtualization

VMware Workstation

6.5 or later

VMware ESXi

VMware ESX/ESXi Server, Version 3.5 Update 3 or later

VMware vSphere

5.5

Microsoft Hyper-V Server

2008 R2 or later

Virtual Formats

App-V

App-V 4.5 through 5.1

VMware ThinApp

4.x and 5x

Symantec Workspace Virtualization

7.6

Microsoft App-V Sequencer

App-V Sequencer

5.1

Desktop Distribution (Applications)

System Center Configuration Manager

2007, 2012 R2, 2012 R2 SP1

Microsoft App-V Server

5.1

Symantec Altiris Client Management Suite

7.5

Citrix XenApp Server

6.5

Desktop Distribution (Packages)

Novell ZENworks Configuration Management

10 and 11

LANDESK Management Suite

9

System Center Configuration Manager

2007, 2012 R2, 2012 R2 SP1

Altiris Notification Server

6.5

Marimba NCP

4.7.2

Mobile Distribution

AirWatch Server

6.5

Microsoft App-V Server

5.1

Microsoft System Center Configuration Manager

2012 R2, 2012 R2 SP1

Mobile Operating Systems

Supported for compatibility testing

Apple iOS

6 (32-bit)
7 (32-bit and 64-bit)
8 (32-bit and 64-bit)

Google Android

4.1 Jelly Bean
4.2 Jelly Bean
4.3 Jelly Bean
4.4 KitKat
5.0 Lollipop

Windows Phone

8
10

Internet Browsers

Supported for browser compatibility testing

Microsoft Internet Explorer

9, 10, 11

Microsoft Edge

Current version

Internet Browsers

For viewing AdminStudio Enterprise Server, AdminStudio Inventory and Rationalization, and Workflow Manager

Mozilla Firefox

Firefox for Windows 25.0 or later

Google Chrome

Chrome for Windows 33.0 or later

Microsoft Internet Explorer

Microsoft Internet Explorer 9.0 or later

Microsoft Edge

Current version

Apple Safari

Safari for Mac OS X and iOS

Mobile Devices

Apple iOS Devices

iPad WiFi
iPad 2 3G and iPad 2 WiFi
iPad Third Gen and iPad Third Gen 4G
IPad Fourth Gen and iPad Fourth Gen 4G
iPad Fifth Gen and iPad Fifth Gen 4G
iPad Sixth Gen and iPad Sixth Gen LTE
iPad Mini
iPad Mini 3 and iPad Mini 3LTE
iPad Mini 4G
iPad Mini Retina and iPad Mini Retina 4G
iPhone 4S
iPhone 5, iPhone 5c, and iPhone 5s
iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus

Mobile Devices

(Continued)

Google Android Devices

Samsung Galaxy Grand 2
Google/LG Nexus 5
Google/Motorola Mobility Nexus 6
Google/HTC Nexus 9
Samsung Galaxy Note 2
Samsung Galaxy Note 3
Samsung Galaxy NotePro
Samsung Galaxy S4
Samsung Galaxy S5
Samsung Galaxy Tab 3

Windows Phone Devices

Microsoft Lumia535
Microsoft Lumia 930
Microsoft SurfacePro 3

API

PowerShell

4.x

Application Compatibility

Microsoft Application Compatibility Toolkit (ACT)

5.6

AdminStudio Machine

The following table lists the recommended system configuration for a machine running AdminStudio.

Item

Description

Processor

32-bit or 64-bit processor at 2 GHz or greater

Note • All of the AdminStudio tools run on 64-bit Windows operating systems. To repackage 64-bit applications or create 64-bit App-V packages, install AdminStudio on a 64-bit Windows operating system.

RAM

4 GB

Hard Disk

4 GB of free space

Display

Designed for XGA at 1024 x 768 resolution or higher

MSXML

MSXML 6.0

Note • MSXML is installed by the AdminStudio installer.

Operating Systems

Windows 7
Windows 8 and Windows 8.1
Windows 10
Windows Server 2008 R2
Windows Server 2012 and Windows Server 2012 R2

Note • Support for Windows Vista was removed due to a modification made by Microsoft. For more information, see the following articles:

An ADO application does not run on down-level operating systems after you recompile it on a computer that is running Windows 7 SP 1 or Windows Server 2008 R2 SP 1 or that has KB983246 installed [Microsoft Article 2517589] 
A Better Solution for the Windows 7 SP1 ADO GUID Changes 

Browser

Microsoft Internet Explorer 7.0 or later

Privileges

Administrative privileges on the system

Distribution Systems

AdminStudio supports distribution of both applications and packages.

Application Distribution

AdminStudio supports the following distribution systems for the distribution of applications.

Distribution System

Support Version(s)

System Center Configuration Manager

2007, 2012 R2, 2012 R2 SP1

Symantec Altiris Client Management Suite

7.5

JAMF Casper Suite Server

9.9

Citrix XenApp Server

6.5

AirWatch Server

6.5 [Mobile applications only]

Microsoft App-V Server

5.1

Note • In order for you to distribute packages to a Microsoft App-V Server, the WinRM service must be running, and the App-V Server must be in the list of trusted hosts. Both of these can be accomplished from PowerShell by running the following command:

set-item wsman:\localhost\Client\TrustedHosts –value <Machine Name>

Package Distribution

AdminStudio supports the following distribution systems for the distribution of packages using the Legacy Distribution Wizard.

Distribution System

Supported Versions

Altiris Notification Server

Version 6.5

LANDESK Management Suite

Version 9

Novell ZENworks Configuration Management

Versions 10 and 11

Microsoft System Center Configuration Manager

2007, 2012 R2, and 2012 R2 SP1

Application Catalog Database Server

The following table lists the recommended system configuration for a database server to store AdminStudio Application Catalog databases.

Note • While minimum requirements are listed below, the recommended system configuration for a database server is dependent upon the number of users and the number of packages that will be imported into the Application Catalog database.

Item

Description

Processor

32-bit or 64-bit processor at 2 GHz or greater

RAM

4 GB or greater (8 GB preferred)

Hard Disk Space

80 GB or greater

Operating System

Windows Server 2008 R2 or later (Windows Server 2012 preferred)

Database Software

SQL Server 2008 R2 or later databases, including SQL Server 2012, SQL Server 2014, and SQL Server 2016.

Dictionary sort order—SQL Server must be installed with case-insensitive dictionary sort order 52 on Code Page 1252 for non-Unicode data. For more information, use the sp_helpsort T-SQL command, which returns the following:

Latin1-General, case-insensitive, accent-sensitive, kanatype-insensitive, width-insensitive for Unicode Data, SQL Server Sort Order 52 on Code Page 1252 for non-Unicode data

Collation settingSQL_Latin1_General_CP1_CI_AS is the required collation setting for AdminStudio database server. It is the only supported collation.

Note • Before attempting to connect to an existing Microsoft SQL Server, open SQL Server Configuration Manager and make sure that the following three protocols are enabled:

Shared Memory
Named Pipes
TCP/IP

AdminStudio Enterprise Server / Workflow Manager Server

The following table lists the system requirements for the Web server that hosts the Workflow Manager Data Web service and the actual Workflow Manager Web site and/or AdminStudio Enterprise Server.

Note • While minimum requirements are listed below, the recommended system configuration for this web server is dependent upon the number of users.

Item

Description

Processor

32-bit or 64-bit processor at 2 GHz or greater

Note • AdminStudio Enterprise Server / Workflow Manager runs in 32-bit mode on a 64-bit OS.

RAM

4 GB or greater (8 GB preferred)

Hard Disk Space

100 GB or greater

Operating System

Windows Server 2008 R2 or later / English base language (Windows Server 2012 preferred)

IIS

IIS 7.0 or later

.NET

.NET Framework 4.0

MSXML

MSXML 6.0

Note • MSXML is installed by the AdminStudio Enterprise Server / Workflow Manager installer.

Software Repository

The following tables lists the recommended system configuration for the machine that stores the Software Repository files.

Item

Description

Processor

1 GHz or greater

RAM

2 GB or greater

Hard Disk Space

500 GB or greater

Operating System

Windows 8, Windows 7, Windows Vista, or Windows Server 2008 or later

Automated Application Converter

This section lists the requirements for the virtual machines used by Automated Application Converter to perform repackaging. Also, the software requirements for specific virtual technologies are listed.

Virtual Machine Requirements
Virtual Technology Requirements

Virtual Machine Requirements

Edition • Automated Application Converter is included with AdminStudio Application Virtualization.

Automated Application Converter performs automated repackaging on virtual machines. This section lists the virtual machine platform and virtual machine image system requirements.

Supported Virtual Machine Platforms
VMware Requirements
Microsoft Hyper-V Server Requirements
Virtual Machine Image Requirements

Supported Virtual Machine Platforms

The Automated Application Converter supports automated repackaging on virtual machines from the following platforms:

VMware ESX/ESXi Server, Version 3.5 Update 3 or later
VMware Workstation 6.5 or later
VMware vSphere 5.5
Microsoft Hyper-V Server 2008 R2 or later

VMware Requirements

As described above, Automated Application Converter supports automated repackaging on VMware ESX/ESXi Server and VMware Workstation.

VMware VIX API Requirement
VMware ESX/ESXi Server Permission Requirements
vSphere 5.5 Account Requirements

VMware VIX API Requirement

In order for Automated Application Converter to perform automated repackaging, it needs to communicate with the virtualization technology that you are using. If you are using VMware virtualization technology (VMware ESX or ESXi Server or a local VMware Workstation), the VMware VIX API needs to be installed on the same machine as the Automated Application Converter. You can do this by either installing VMware Workstation on that machine or by downloading and installing the VMware VIX API from the following location:

http://www.vmware.com/support/developer/vix-api

Note • When using VMware Workstation, it is recommended that you install VMware Workstation on the same machine as Automated Application Converter so that Automated Application Converter will use the version of the VIX API that was designed for that specific version of VMware Workstation. Although it is likely that newer versions of the VIX API will also work, it seems that the best approach is for Automated Application Converter to use the version of the VIX API that was bundled with your version of VMware Workstation.

VMware ESX/ESXi Server Permission Requirements

If you plan to use a VMware ESX/ESXi Server in conjunction with Automated Application Converter, make sure that the account that you use to log in to this server has the permissions/roles needed to automatically open a VM using VMware VIX API. The account needs to either have an administrator role assigned or, at least, have the following three roles assigned:

All Privileges/Virtual Machine/State/Create Snapshot
All Privileges/Virtual Machine/State/Delete Snapshot
All Privileges/Virtual Machine/Interaction/Console Interaction

If the login account does not have these permissions/roles, Automated Application Converter will be unable to automatically boot up a virtual machine on that server.

vSphere 5.5 Account Requirements

In order to make Automated Application Converter (AAC) work with VMware virtual machines residing under vSphere 5.5, there are certain minimum permissions required for the vSphere user account. To assign these permissions to a vSphere user account, perform the following steps:

To configure a vSphere 5.5 account to be used with Automated Application Converter:

1. In vSphere 5.5, open the Assign Permissions dialog box and assign a user the Virtual machine power user (sample) role, which consists of the following permissions:

Category

Permission

Datastore

Browse datastore

 

Global

Cancel task

 

Scheduled task

Create task
Modify task
Remove task
Run task

Virtual machine > Configuration

Add existing disk
Add new disk
Add or remove device
Advanced
Change CPU count
Change resource
Disk lease
Memory
Modify device settings
Remove disk
Rename
Reset guest information
Settings
Upgrade virtual machine compatibility

Virtual machine > Interaction

Answer question
Configure CD media
Configure floppy media
Console interaction
Device connection
Guest operating system management by VIX API
Power off
Power on
Reset
Suspend
VMware Tools install

Virtual machine > Snapshot management

Create snapshot
Remove snapshot
Rename snapshot
Revert to snapshot
2. Also give the user account read-only access to the rest of the server.

Microsoft Hyper-V Server Requirements

As described above, Automated Application Converter supports automated repackaging on Microsoft Hyper-V Server. When preparing a Hyper-V Server for use with Automated Application Converter, make sure that the following conditions are met:

Configuration tools—Verify that the Hyper-V configuration tools are installed on the Hyper-V server machine. These tools can be installed using the Microsoft Hyper-V Management Console.
Connection—Verify that you can successfully connect to the Hyper-V Server from the machine where AdminStudio Automated Application Converter is installed.
Permissions—Make sure that the Hyper-V Server user has the following permissions to perform operations on the Hyper-V machines:
Permission to create/restore/delete VM snapshots
Permission to start and stop virtual machines
Permission to access console sessions
Configuration settings—Connecting to a WMI namespace on a remote computer running Windows Vista or Windows Server 2008 may require changes to configuration settings. Check the following configuration settings on the AdminStudio machine as well as on the Hyper-V Server machine:
Windows Firewall Settings
User Account Control (UAC) Settings
DCOM Settings
Common Information Model Object Manager (CIMOM) Settings

For detailed information, see Connecting to WMI Remotely at:

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/aa822854(VS.85).aspx

Virtual Machine Image Requirements

Automated Application Converter uses virtual machines to perform automated repackaging. These virtual machines have the following requirements:

Virtual Machine System Requirements

When creating a virtual machine image that will be hosted on one of the virtual machine platforms listed above, the recommended minimum requirements should meet those required by the applications you are trying to repackage. Since you repackage on the target deployment platform, the virtual machine image should closely resemble the target deployment environment.

Preparing Your Virtual Machines for Use With the Automated Application Converter

You need to prepare each virtual machine that you are going to use with the Automated Application Converter to perform automated repackaging by running the Virtual Machine Preparation setup and by creating a snapshot. For instructions, see Preparing Your Virtual Machines for Use With the Automated Application Converter.

Virtual Technology Requirements

In order to convert to some virtual formats, there are some software requirements:

Virtual Format

Requirement

App-V 5.1

Conversion—To convert a package to App-V 5.1 format using Automated Application Converter’s App-V 5.x with Sequencer method, the Microsoft Application Virtualization 5.1 Sequencer must be installed on the virtual machine where the conversion will take place.
Upgrade—To upgrade an imported App-V 4.x package to App-V 5.1 format directly from Application Manager using the App-V Upgrade Wizard, the Microsoft Application Virtualization 5.1 Sequencer must be installed on the same machine as AdminStudio.
Testing—To test an App-V package using Automated Application Converter, the Microsoft Application Virtualization 5.1 Client must be installed on the same machine as AdminStudio.

VMware ThinApp

To convert a package to VMware ThinApp format, VMware ThinApp must be installed on the same machine as AdminStudio, and all license agreements must have been accepted.

Symantec Workspace

To convert a package to a Symantec Workspace virtual package, the Symantec Workspace Virtualization Agent must be installed on the same machine as AdminStudio.

Downloading AdminStudio Installers

You can download the installers for AdminStudio, AdminStudio Service Packs, Standalone Repackager, Standalone Quality Monitor, and the FlexNet Licensing Server from the Flexera Software Product and License Center:

https://flexerasoftware.flexnetoperations.com 

For information on using the Flexera Software Product and License Center, see the Download and License Overview for AdminStudio:

http://www.flexerasoftware.com/downloads/instructions/productlicensing/en/adminstudio.htm

AdminStudio 2016 Evaluation Restrictions

When you run AdminStudio in trial/evaluation mode, all of the features in the AdminStudio Enterprise Edition tools are fully available, with the following restrictions:

Can create only one Application Catalog—You are permitted to create only one Application Catalog, and it must be named AdminStudio Evaluation Catalog.
Ten package import limit—Only 10 total packages (of one or more deployment types) can be imported into the Application Catalog.
Package deletion not permitted—After you import a package into the Application Catalog, you are not permitted to delete it.
AdminStudio Platform API support is disabled—All platform support is disabled.

Resolved Issues

The following table lists the customer issues that were resolved in AdminStudio 2016.

Issue Number

Issue Summary

IOJ-1724747

Dependencies are not listed in the Dependencies node view of the package after Patch Impact Analysis is run.

IOJ-1727335

When repackaging using the Installation Monitoring method, the InstallScript/MSI installer hangs.

IOJ-1736087

Request to improve the resolution of runtime value for ProgramFilesFolder when converting to App-V format.

IOJ-1737236

When importing using the Import Wizard, the Package Type Selection panel does not list package types.

IOJ-1738631

When using the legacy Distribution Wizard to distribute a package to System Center Configuration Manager, the package name is truncated.

IOJ-1742085

Request to clean up extracted files after an MSI with a patch is imported.

IOJ-1742220

File/folder permissions on repackaged application are not set correctly. After the MSI is built, the ISLockPermissions table is not present in the MSI, and you are not able to set permissions on files/folders.

IOJ-1743436

The content location specified in AdminStudio during distribution is ignored for certain packages.

IOJ-1743438

Request to provide more logging during distribution. The verbose logging created during AdminStudio distribution does not capture anything specific to the content location.

IOJ-1744011

During repackaging, application is crashing during installation when using the Installation Monitoring method.

IOJ-1744365

InstallShield Editor is missing from the tools list in AdminStudio interface after upgrading to AdminStudio 2015 SP1. The InstallShield shortcut can still be launched from the Start Menu but this initiates a self-repair install.

IOJ-1744441

When you attempt to import a security patch and you are using non US English operating system settings, the package fails to import.

IOJ-1744443

Unable to import or test Web Deploy packages due to licensing issue.

IOJ-1744464

The OS Snapshot Wizard can capture and create a Windows 10 image, but when it is imported into the Application Catalog, AdminStudio recognizes it as a Windows 8 machine.

IOJ-1744823

When repackaging certain packages, the Repackaging Wizard will not progress past the “Running the setup program(s)” dialog box.

IOJ-1749194

Request for a way to mitigate or suppress reboots during a silent installation.

IOJ-1749216

On iOS and Android Feature Use reports, the mobile app is listed multiple times, once for each feature, instead of showing all features on one line.

IOJ-1749414

Request to optimize file copy when republishing a package in Altiris (and other distribution systems. Instead of copying all files, just copy the files that have changed.

IOJ-1751224

Distribution from AdminStudio to Altiris fails.

IOJ-1751231

If you load a Custom ACE rule file, the custom rules are not be displayed properly on the General Options > ACE Tests tab of the Options dialog box.

IOJ-1753385

AdminStudio Host can cause files to be held in use causing issues with “Content Location” during distribution to System Center Configuration Manager.

IOJ-1753930

Database created manually are missing table entries, which prevents plugins from functioning properly.

IOJ-1754786

When trying to repackage an application that contains a file named rnuninst.dll using the Snapshot method, Repackager will not capture the file.

IOJ-1755267

Certain tests results are not being displayed if the database was upgraded or created with a certain build of AdminStudio 2015 SP1.

IOJ-1755270

On Windows 7 SP1, if KB2922229 is not installed on the system, AdminStudio will not be able to create a database or upgrade a database.

IOJ-1756714

When using the Software Repository, the wrong error message is displayed when an error is encountered during test execution in Test Center.

IOJ-1756810

When Adminstudio is activated with an “Enterprise with Application Compatibility” License, Windows Server operating system results are not shown when viewing the “Overall Package Testing Results” report.

Known Issues

For a complete list of known issues that pertain to the AdminStudio 2016 release, see the AdminStudio Support Knowledge Base article at:

https://flexeracommunity.force.com/customer/articles/en_US/INFO/AdminStudio-2016-Known-Issues 

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