Next generation software deployment

ThinApp provides an application ‘sandbox’ which protects the local OS from installation modifications that could affect stability or security and also enables applications to be run safely from restricted user accounts without local installation.

What is Application Virtualization?

Application Virtualization is the core technology of the ThinAppl. It is next generation technology yet fits into how software is being deployed today.  Application virtualization enables the deployment of software without modifying either the local or virtual operating system or file system. It allows software to be delivered and updated in an isolated environment ensuring the integrity of the operating system and all applications. 

 

Because ThinApp runs completely in user mode without kernel mode drivers, virtualized applications cannot circumvent local Windows network, file system, and registry security policies. Microsoft security guidelines recommend user mode solutions to reduce the potential and scope of security vulnerabilities.

 

ThinApp virtualization incurs no noticeable runtime performance impact or source code changes. The ThinApp Virtual OS technology component is less than 400K on disk and occupies approximately 1 MB RAM at runtime.

 

The ThinApp Virtual Operating System (VOS)

ThinApp acts as a thin Virtual OS that transparently merges a virtual system environment with the real system environment.  The ThinApp Virtual OS consists of the Virtual File system (VFS), and Virtual Registry (VREG).

 

The Virtual OS Technology enables entire applications to be packaged into a single EXE that can be run without an installation process, and without modifying the resident operating system. The ThinApp Virtual (VOS) performs:

• Process Loading. The VOS loads a starting EXE file from the Virtual File System and allows it to execute any other EXE directly from the Virtual File System or from the normal file system.  
• DLL Loading. The VOS loads any DLL dependencies the EXE/DLL/OCX files may have directly from archive when instructed.
• Thread & Process Management. The VOS is responsible for keeping track of all processes and threads created inside the virtual machine including out-of-process COM and utility applications.