App Layering comparison & reviews

Summary
Rank
3rd 2nd 3rd
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Analysis expand by AppVirt Guru Rory Monaghan
by AppVirt Guru
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General expand
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  • Fully Supported
  • Limitation
  • Not Supported
  • Information Only
Pros
  • + Rapid innovation and rich feature set
  • + Isolation capabilities through session layers
  • + Can output directly to VHD or VMDK
  • + Features image management which helps move your image from one platform to another including from on-premises to the cloud
  • + High rate of success with app layers in published shared image
  • + Most mature layering product on the market
  • + High success rate for real time\hot add application layers
  • + Relatively lightweight infrastructure setup
  • + Simple provisioning workflow
Cons
  • - Can license standalone but still requires ProfileUnity install
  • - User layers currently not in production
  • - Currently restricted to deploying app layers to source OS Layer
  • - Lacks automation capabilities
  • - Recommended to limit number of AppStacks on RDSH to 10-12
  • - Can be setup to output as in-guest VHD or VMDK but not both at the same time in a single setup
  • - Must modify config file in order to capture COM+ Component Services
  Support Status  
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Product is supported (Not End Of Life )
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Under active development
  Maturity  
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Public enterprise references in Europe
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Public enterprise references in US
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Official training classes available
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Official Certification program
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Large community resource
Some recipes available & community scripts
  Solution licensing  
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Concurrent licensing
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Device licensing
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Per named user licensing
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Free for personal use
Limited time free for 25 users
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Services Provider License Agreement
Layer Characteristics expand
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  Packaging  
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Pre-launch scripting
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Deploy One Layer to Many Operating Systems
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Layer can override GPO
Yes with Micro Isolation Feature
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Public layering recipes (10+ available)
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Optional compression of layers
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User Writeable Layer
Currently only for Desktop OS
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Reboot during packaging supported
No, reboot is not simulated
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No limit on package file size
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Unattended application packaging
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Import of MSI packages for conversion
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Quick edit of layers
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User can layer their own apps
Can change supported OS and some capabilities but not contents
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MSIX Support
Converts MSIX to FlexApp
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No need for clean OS during packaging
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Layer format is open source
Virtual Disk can be mounted
Virtual Disk can be mounted
Virtual Disk can be mounted
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Built-in package encryption
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Clone layers
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Clone Layers while still in use
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Show custom message at app launch
Only through scripting
Only through scripting
Only through scripting
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Printer Management
  User Experience  
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Windows Explorer context menu integration
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User driven application repair
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Registry Pre-staging / optimization
Out of the box handles registry relatively efficiently
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Publish shortcut and mount app on demand
Click to Layer Available
  Upgrade  
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Simple app rollback
Unassign removes app layer cleanly
Unassign removes app layer cleanly
Unassign removes app layer cleanly
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App upgrade while in use
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App upgrade using deltas
Yes, through differencing disk
  Compatibility  
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Support for protocol handlers
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Supports use of roaming user profiles
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Compatible with DRM solution
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Package apps with kernel mode drivers
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User mode services
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Boot time services
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Virtualization of services that require privilege
Some interdependent services may not work
Some interdependent services may not work
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COM components
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COM+ components
Requires config of snapvol.cfg
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DCOM components
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Named pipes isolation
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Support for WinSxS
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Fonts
Not as an Elastic Layer
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User based install e.g apps which install in user profile
FlexApp personal option
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Compatible with Windows UAC
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Support for Windows long filenames
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Win16 application on x32 platform
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Win16 application on x64 platform*
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Win32 application on x64 platform
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Win64 application on x64 platform
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Support for virtual printer drivers
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Application isolation
Some isolation options available
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Run multiple versions of apps in unsupport scenarios
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Mitigation for legacy applications
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Layer Internet Explorer
Only when coupled with ThinApp
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Run app in Windows compatibility mode
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Windows 10 Store Apps
Issues with shortcuts and FTAs for some apps
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Office
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Office 365
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Supported in combination with AppLocker
Architecture expand
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  General  
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Create a High Available platform
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SMB Cache for layers
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Encrypted management service communication
  Deployment  
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Supports Layering Operating System
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Application Layering standalone from other features
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Real time app deployment
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On Demand Deployment
Click to Layer Available
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Deliver at boot or login
As part of Layered Image
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Pre-caching (launch optimization)
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Solution is client- or agentless
  Infrastructure  
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Supports RDSH
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Supports VMware Horizon
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Supports Citrix XenApp & XenDesktop
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Supports ESXi
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Supports Hyper-V
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Supports XenServer
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Supports Acropolis
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Supports VHD
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Supports VMDK
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Supports native VHD to VHDX Conversion
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Supports virtual machines
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Supports physical machines
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Supported in Novell eDirectory environment
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No need for license service
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No need for file share
SMB Share for App Layers
SMB Share for App Layers
SMB Share for App Layers
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No need for dedicated server
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Enterprise scalable deployment platform included
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Data store supports: No DB Setup Required
Not Applicable
  Client platform  
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Support for EN localized operating systems
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Support for EN/DE/FR/ES localized operating systems
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Support for JP/Simple Chinese localized operating systems
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Windows Server 2008R2
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Windows Server 2012
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Windows Server 2012R2
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Windows Server 2016
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Windows Server 2019
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Windows 7
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Windows 7 x64
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Windows 8 RT
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Windows 8.0 x86
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Windows 8.0 x64
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Windows 8.1 x86
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Windows 8.1 x64
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Windows 10 x86
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Windows 10 x64
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macOS, run virtual app native on MacOS
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Linux, run virtual app native on Linux
  Cloud  
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Vendor offers cloud hosted service
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Native integration with cloud hosted storage product(s)
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Azure
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AWS
Yes
Yes
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Google Cloud Platform
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Layers on Object Based Cloud Storage
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Failover to cloud
Yes, with FlexApp Caching
Management expand
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  General  
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Central management platform
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File type associations centrally managed
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File type association managed by user
Yes with ProfileUnity
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Hide layers from other users on shared machines
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Integrate with Programs and features
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User created shortcut cleanup
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Management platform is included
  Access Control  
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Role based administration
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Limit application usage by AD security groups
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Limit application usage by AD computer objects
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Limit application usage by AD OU
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Machine targeting, centrally managed
  Audit  
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App license metering
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App usage tracking
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Event logging on client
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Pre-packaging diagnostics
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Post-packaging diagnostics
  Scripting and Automation  
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Manage with command line
REST API can be executed via cmd
REST API from commandline
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Manage with API/WMI
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Manage client with PowerShell
REST API can be executed with PowerShell
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Manage server with PowerShell
REST API can be executed with PowerShell
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Repository of available layers
  •  
SDK available

Matrix Score

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  • VMware
  • Citrix
  • VMware
  •  
  • 3 rd
  • 2 nd
  • 3 rd
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