What Operations Can Be Performed with Application Management?

ZENworks for Desktops Application Management uses the Novell Application Launcher program as the means of providing your users access to workstation applications. Application Management is extremely flexible. Using Application objects that you create in Novell eDirectory and configure in Novell ConsoleOne, you can manage application software for your users in a variety of ways:

• Distribute traditional Windows applications and Microsoft Windows Installer applications to the users on your network

  Traditional Windows applications include their own installation programs. Windows Installer applications utilize the Windows Installer and a .msi file for installation.

  The distribution can occur when users are connected to eDirectory and the application files are distributed from the network, or it can occur when users are disconnected from eDirectory and the application files are access from removable media, such as a CD, Jaz* drive, or Zip* drive.

• Distribute Web applications

  Web applications run on a Web server, so the distribution typically involves making the URL available to the user.

• Determine which users an application is distributed to

  You must associate an application with a user through eDirectory before the application can be available for distribution to the user. You can also associate applications with workstations so that they are available on the workstation regardless of which user is logged in.

• Create application dependencies

  Through application dependencies, you can require that Application B is installed and running before Application A can be launched.

• Determine how distributed applications are presented to users on their workstations

  For a user to receive applications you've configured in eDirectory and associated with him or her, Novell Application Launcher (NAL) must be running on the user's workstation. NAL accesses eDirectory to know which applications are associated with the user and performs all distribution processes (including installing and uninstalling) for the applications.

  NAL provides three views that applications can be presented through:

  • Application Window: a standalone window that displays icons for the distributed applications
  • Application Explorer: a component that includes a standalone window like the Application Window and also includes Windows Explorer integration so distributed application icons can be displayed on the Windows desktop, the Start menu, the status area, and the Quick Launch toolbar
  • Application Browser: a Web browser view that displays icons for the distributed applications.

  All three views are made available to users when NAL is installed.

  For more information, see "Novell Application Launcher: Components Overview" in the Novell ZENworks 6.5 Desktop Management Administration Guide.

• Distribute applications to newly imaged workstations as part of the imaging process
• Control which nondistributed applications can be run on a workstation

  For example, if you don't want users to be able to launch the Microsoft Calculator because you want them to use a calculator application you've distributed to them, you can disable their ability to launch Calculator even though it was not distributed through Application Launcher.

• Uninstall any distributed applications

  The uninstall includes the deletion of all nonshared files, .ini entries, and registry entries associated with the distribution of the application.

Although it is easy to use Application Management, it has great versatility. For more information about this component, see "Application Management" in the Novell ZENworks 6.5 Desktop Management Administration Guide.

Installing Application Management

ZENworks Desktop Management Application Management requires elements installed on both the ZENworks Desktop Management Server and user workstations. This section provides links to more information where you can learn about both.