Question : What is softgrid in Windows 2008.Will it support all softwares.?

Hi,

What is softgrid in Windows 2008.Will it support all softwares.?
Can i have asome layman explanation on this please...

Regards
Sharath

Answer : What is softgrid in Windows 2008.Will it support all softwares.?

Softgrid in Windows Server 2008 is essentially a software package which allows applications to be virtualised and stored on remote servers.

When a user needs to run an application, they run the application from a server on the network which is running Softgrid. The package is streamed down to the local workstation from the remote server and the user can use it remotely, yet the software never requires installation to the local PC.

For large corporate networks with thousands of users and workstations like yours, this could potentially solve a lot of problems since very little would need to be installed to the local workstation when a new PC is deployed. All the applications would be virtualised and run from the remote Softgrid server, wherever the user is. It's also a good way to track license usage and ensure you are still within your licensed limits for particular applications.

Softgrid is a part of the Systems Center suite, so is a bit similar to packages like SCCM and SCOM.  As far as I'm aware, almost all applications can be passed through Softgrid, since you have to build a special Softgrid package in order to deploy a software to a Softgrid server. This procedure is known as Softgrid Sequencing, and requires you to reinstall the OS on the PC you are using as your sequencing station after EVERY application which you create a package for.

Please see http://www.microsoft.com/systemcenter/softgrid/evaluation/guidedtour.mspx and http://support.microsoft.com/kb/932137 for further information.

Matthew
-tigermatt