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 Creating Packages to Distribute to Users

Creating Packages to Distribute to Users

Using the VMware ACE Manager, you create projects that include

  • One or more virtual machines
  • An application to run the virtual machines
  • A set of policies to control the capabilities of the virtual machines

You then create packages, based on the projects, to distribute to your users.

When you create a package, you include VMware ACE and one or more virtual machines from the project. VMware ACE is the easy-to-use application that runs the virtual machines. For more information on VMware ACE, see Installing and Running VMware ACE.

Basic Steps

Basic Steps

At the most basic level, you need to take the following steps to create and deploy virtual machines:

  1. Create a project. Give the project a name that makes it easy to identify. For more information on creating projects, see Creating a Project. For a handy checklist, see Checklist: Creating a Project.
  2. Add one or more virtual machines to the project. You can add existing virtual machines, create new virtual machines or both. For more information on adding virtual machines, see Adding a Virtual Machine to a Project. For a handy checklist, see Checklist: Adding a Virtual Machine.
  3. Set policies for the virtual machines. You use policies to control what your users can do with their virtual machines — for example, what network access they have from the virtual machines and what devices on their host computers they may use in the virtual machines. For basic information on setting policies, see Setting Policies and Customizing VMware ACE. For a detailed discussion of policies, see Understanding Policies.
  4. Install guest operating systems, VMware Tools and other software in the virtual machines. For information on installing VMware Tools, see Installing an Operating System and Applications in the Virtual Machine. For notes on installing particular guest operating systems, see the VMware Guest Operating System Installation Guide, available from the VMware Web site or from the Help menu.
  5. Create packages to deploy to your users. The VMware ACE Manager guides you through the process and, for large packages, prepares the package so it spans multiple CDs or DVDs. For more information, see Creating Packages to Deploy to Users.
  6. Give the packages to your users. You may distribute the packages on CD or DVD, or you may make them available on a network. The package includes an installer that installs the full package — VMware ACE and the virtual machines, along with the policies that control their use. For more information, see Deploying and Maintaining Packages.
Keeping Users Up-to-Date

Keeping Users Up-to-Date

VMware ACE Manager gives you tools you can use to ensure that your end users are running up-to-date virtual machines.

You may need to provide updates to users' packages. You may need to update the guest operating system or provide an update to a program running inside the virtual machine. Or you may need to update either the virtual machine itself or policies set for the package — or add a new virtual machine to the package. There are two basic approaches to updates.

  • Deliver updates to the guest operating system or to programs running inside the virtual machine as you would with any other software updates — for example, using a patch management system.
  • Provide a new package — to replace the virtual machine, to distribute an additional virtual machine or to change the policies applied to the VMware ACE application or the virtual machine. If you replace an existing virtual machine by supplying a new package, your end users lose any data or custom settings stored in that virtual machine.

If your users connect to your network, you can set network quarantine policies so out-of-date virtual machines have restricted access or no access to the network. You may, for example, give users with out-of-date virtual machines access only to the server where an update is available.

For information on these topics, see Deploying and Maintaining Packages.

Troubleshooting Users' Problems

Troubleshooting Users' Problems

Your users may need help with lost passwords, expired virtual machines or copy-protected virtual machines that they have moved to a different location. You can use the hot fix feature to respond to these problems.

For information on using the hot fix feature, see Hot Fix Policy and Responding to Hot Fix Requests.

You may find it useful to modify the configuration of a virtual machine on an end user's computer. You may do so if you have enabled administrator access for VMware ACE in that package. For information, see Administrator Access Policy.

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