The VMware OS Optimization Tool is a VMware Fling that helps optimize Windows 7/8/2008/2012/10 systems for use with VMware . The optimization tool includes customizable templates to enable or disable Windows system services and features, per VMware recommendations and best practices, across multiple systems. Because most Windows system services are enabled by default, the optimization tool can be used to easily disable unnecessary services and features to improve performance.
We have added a template specifically for VMware App Volumes. The VMware OS Optimization Tool Fling now contains a new template called App Volumes Packaging Machine.
This template is to be used by application packagers who are responsible for creating AppStacks, and should be used only on the App Volumes provisioning machine. This template is part of the standard download of the Fling.
The App Volumes template prevents unnecessary data from ending up in AppStacks. This way, the AppStacks contain only the necessary application data and no unnecessary components like Windows updates or antivirus updates.
Use this template along with any other OS optimization templates to keep the production master image and the App Volumes provisioning machine as similar as possible. For instance, you can apply the Windows 10 optimization template to the master image and to the provisioning machine, and apply this App Volumes optimization template, in addition, to only the provisioning machine.
Currently there is no out-of-the-box option in App Volumes to streamline optimization of the master image or provisioning machine specifically for App Volumes. Although we recommend in the documentation that the provisioning machine resemble the image used to deploy production virtual desktops, many administrators skip this recommendation. The consequence is that captured AppStacks contain unnecessary registry and file system entries from services and software running in the background. The new App Volumes template solves this problem.
Many organizations already use the VMware OS Optimization Tool for Horizon 7. To provide a low-effort, out-of-the-box solution for administrators to optimize their master images and provisioning machines, we are now including this App Volumes optimization template in the publicly available VMware OS Optimization Tool.
We hope that you will find the App Volumes Packaging Machine template useful if you are using App Volumes to deliver applications in your Horizon 7 environment.
