• Article

How to Create App-V Virtual Environments in Configuration Manager

 

Updated: May 14, 2015

Applies To: System Center 2012 Configuration Manager, System Center 2012 Configuration Manager SP2, System Center 2012 R2 Configuration Manager, System Center 2012 R2 Configuration Manager SP1

Note

The information in this topic applies to System Center 2012 Configuration Manager SP1 or later, and System Center 2012 R2 Configuration Manager or later.

Microsoft Application Virtualization (App-V) virtual environments in Microsoft System Center 2012 Configuration Manager enable deployed virtual applications to share the same file system and registry on client computers. This means that unlike standard virtual applications, these applications can share data with each other. Virtual environments are created or modified on client computers when the application is installed or when clients next evaluate their installed applications. You can order these applications so that when multiple applications try to modify a file system or registry value, the application with the highest order takes priority.

System_CAPS_security Security Note

Do not rely upon App-V virtual environments to provide security protection, for example, from malware.

Use the following procedure to create App-V virtual environments in Configuration Manager.

To create an App-V virtual environment

  1. In the Configuration Manager console, click Software Library.

  2. In the Software Library workspace, expand Application Management and then click App-V Virtual Environments.

  3. In the Home tab, in the Create group, click Create Virtual Environment.

  4. In the Create Virtual Environment dialog box, specify the following information:

    - **Name:** Specify a unique name for the virtual environment with a maximum of 128 characters.

- **Description:** Optionally specify a description for the virtual environment.

  5. Click Add to add a new deployment type to the virtual environment. You must add at least one deployment type.

  6. In the Add Applications dialog box, specify a Group name of up to 128 characters that you will use to refer to this group of applications that you add to the virtual environment.

  7. Click Add, select the App-V 5 applications and deployment types that you want to add to the group and then click OK.

  8. In the Add Applications dialog box, you can click Increase Order or Decrease Order to specify which application will take priority if multiple applications attempt to modify file system or registry settings in the same virtual environment.

  9. Click OK to return to the Create Virtual Environment dialog box.

  10. When you have finished adding groups, click OK to create the virtual environment. The new virtual environment is displayed in the App-V Virtual Environments node of the Configuration Manager console. You can monitor the status of your virtual environments by using the report App-V Virtual Environment Status.

    Note

    The virtual environment will be added or modified on client computers when the application is installed or when the client next evaluates installed applications.