Application Streaming

Computer application streaming is a form of on-demand software distribution.

Only specific parts of a computer program need to be available at any instance for the end user to perform a particular function. This means that a program need not be fully installed on a client computer, but parts of it can be delivered over a low bandwidth network as and when they are required.

Application streaming is usually combined with application virtualization, so that applications are not installed in the traditional sense.

Stream Server

An application is packaged and stored on a streaming server.

Packaging or sequencing produces an image of the application in a way that either orders delivery and/or predictively optimizes delivery to the client.

Launch & Streaming of Application

The initial launch of an application would be important for the end user and the packaging process might be optimized to achieve this.

Once launched, common functions would be followed. As these functions are requested by the end user, these may be streamed in a similar manner. In this case the client is pulling the application from the stream server. Otherwise, the full application might be delivered from the server to the client in background. In this case, the server pushes the application to the client.

Advantages

Given the complexity of modern applications, many functions are never or seldomly used and pulling the application on demand, is more efficient in terms of server, client and network usage.

• Simplified operating system migrations
• Accelerated application deployment
• Centralised application management, with local execution

Simplified OS Migrations

Application virtualization aims to improve application compatibility and manageability by encapsulating applications from the underlying operating system on which they are executed.

More on Application Virtualization

Application Streaming allows applications to run in environments that do not suit the native application (e.g. Wine allows Microsoft Windows applications to run on Linux).

AV may also protect the operating system and other applications from poorly written or buggy code.

Application Development

Application streaming uses fewer resources than a separate virtual machine. It supports:

Applications that are not written correctly, for example applications that try to store user data in a read-only system-owned location.

Iincompatible applications side-by-side, at the same time.

Centralized Management

Maintain a standard configuration in the underlying operating system across multiple computers in an organization, regardless of the applications being used, thereby keeping costs down.

Implement the security principle of least privilege by removing the requirement for end-users to have Administrator privileges in order to run poorly written applications.

Simplified operating system migrations

Accelerated application deployment, through on-demand application streaming.

Improved security, by isolating applications from the operating system.

Disadvantages

On the Con side, applications may need to be packaged (sequenced) for the virtualisation environment. This may require:

• Increased resource requirements (memory and disk storage)
• Client virtualization software
• New datacenter infrastructure

Next: Key Characteristics of SaaS Solutions

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