What Is VMware Thin App Factory?

If I was to summarize it in a few words, I would say it this way: VMware ThinApp Factory is the P2V for applications. The idea behind the ThinApp Factory is simplifying the application virtualization process -- specifically, the annoying, cumbersome and somewhat complicated sequencing process.

ThinApp Factory is dubbed to be an appliance that you install in your VMware infrastructure. You can then point an installed application or an MSI package to this appliance and it will "auto-magically" spin up the right VM with the right operating system based on a set of pre-qualifying questions you've answered. ThinApp Factory will then sequence the application properly, presenting you with a fully packaged EXE file which you can then use.

VMware with the ThinApp Factory aims to simplify the process of application virtualization. I would not be surprised if the ThinApp Factory at release did not include an assessment feature that would also analyze the applications and determine which ones are good candidates for virtualization and which are not. And then based on that analysis, it can then virtualize the good candidate applications.

If executed properly, ThinApp Factory could be a game-changer in the world of application virtualization. The application virtualization concept is of interest at every enterprise, simply due to the sheer number of applications that are available that enterprises want to get a better handle on, especially in the virtualized world.

If only VMware would release a pure ThinApp client for iDevices (IOS, Android, etc.). Now, that would be the ultimate combination: an automated application virtualization tool and a mobile device client to run these newly virtualized applications. I would be a happy camper.

Your thoughts? Post them here or e-mail me.

Posted by Elias Khnaser on 11/03/2011 at 12:49 PM