The Arsenals in Microsoft Desktop Optimization Pack (MDOP)

The Microsoft Desktop Optimization Pack (MDOP) initiative from Microsoft touches every area of our virtual and physical computing environment. By the end of this year or before, MDOP will be what Windows administrator’s will be talking about. The MDOP model has taken a holistic view of customers computing environment, from desktop management, Active Directory, application deployment to inventory management.

Microsoft has made some key acquisitions over the last few years, which has now become part of the MDOP initiative. The acquisition of Softricity (2006) now rebrand as Softgrid now Microsoft Application Virtualization and the acquisition of Kidaro (2008) which played an integral part in the release of MED-V, they have all been combined to offer a comprehensive approach to your IT infrastructure.

The 6 technologies of Microsoft Desktop Optimization Pack
1. Microsoft Application Virtualization
Microsoft Application Virtualization 4.5 is the update for Microsoft SoftGrid Application Virtualization. It includes the Microsoft Dynamic Suite (ERP systems) Composition, Extended Scalability, Globalization and compliance with Microsoft Security Standards. All of these features will help you scale application virtualization across the Enterprise. It does this by transforming applications into virtualized, network-available services that are not installed on users' computers. Instead, they are automatically delivered as people need them.

2. Microsoft Asset Inventory Service
Asset Inventory Services is an online service that collects information about your installed software applications, compares them to a central software knowledgebase and translates the results into easily used business information. The service can also retrieve your volume license agreement information and compare it to installed quantities which greatly simplifies license management activities. The Asset Inventory Service helps you to identify applications that are out of date or that don't comply with corporate policy, it can also help your IT staff identify unapproved applications that may be causing conflicts.

3. Microsoft Diagnostics and Recovery Toolset
Microsoft Diagnostics and Recovery Toolset is a core component of the Desktop Optimization Pack for Software Assurance, a suite of advanced technologies designed to improve desktop manageability and security and decrease total cost of ownership (TCO). The toolset provides many options for recovery, even when Windows Safe Mode or normal boot will not function. The easy-to-use, offline boot environment helps your IT team quickly restart computers. They can recover deleted files and remove malware from infected systems while the computer is offline. This helps protect other computers on the network and reduces the amount of time the computer is unavailable.
 
4. Microsoft Advanced Group Policy Management (AGPM)
Unlike previous versions of Group Policy management, the AGPM that is part of the Microsoft Desktop Optimization Pack, take you a bit further hence the term “advance”, it allows you to work in a safe offline environment and add workflow and other levels of control. Version 3.0 is improved the archive, logging and integration within the total concept of Group Policy.
The archiving component in AGPM 3.0 allows administrator and other IT staff to configure and test their changes in a control environment before it is rolled out to users and their PCs.
5. Microsoft System Center Desktop Error Monitoring
If I am not wrong this looks like the error reporting tool that Microsoft been using for a while and has just decided to put it into the hands of the customers. The Microsoft System Center Desktop Error Monitoring identifies the crashes that occur most frequently and provides crash details and automated responses that can reduce the time it takes to resolve problems. “It also helps your staff triage patch deployments and updates and provides metrics for monitoring post-deployment effects”.
“Customers using Microsoft System Center Desktop Error Monitoring have the option of upgrading to System Center Operations Manager 2007. Doing so adds collective and business-critical monitoring capabilities to the crash monitoring solution, enabling complete application, desktop, and server monitoring”.

6. Microsoft Enterprise Desktop Virtualization (MED-V 1.0)
MED-V is still in its beta version and can be downloaded here. The Microsoft Enterprise Desktop Virtualization (MED-V) enhances deployment and management of Virtual PC images on a Windows Desktop while also providing a seamless user experience on a Virtual PC environment independent of the local desktop configuration and operating system. Application to operating System compatibility issues are minimized, OS migrations are accelerated. Delivery and reconstitution of corporate desktops are made easy, simplifying support tasks, business continuity and incorporation of heterogeneous IT environments.