Microsoft released Application Virtualization 4.5 to manufacturing at the start of September 2008. Following the RTM stage, the Microsoft rebranded SoftGrid downloads are starting to become available. The Redmond giant is already offering Microsoft Application Virtualization Management Pack for Systems Center Operations Manager 2007, and is gearing up for the availability of Application Virtualization 4.5 (App-V) for Terminal Services. App-V 4.5 is the successor of SoftGrid 4.2 which was launched in 2007, and the last release to bear the SoftGrid brand. The re-labeled Softgrid, now Application Virtualization 4.5, will be included in the Microsoft Desktop Optimization Pack and Microsoft Application Virtualization for Terminal Services.

App-V 4.5 “will be available on the Volume Licensing Pricelist and for download on VLSC as of November 1, 2008. App-V 4.5 is the first version available that supports both Windows Server 2003 and Windows Server 2008,” revealed a member of the Terminal Services team. “App-V 4.5 for Terminal Services provides new and easier ways to deploy and manage applications on terminal servers -- reducing cost and making your life much easier. By consolidating your applications to fewer terminal servers, you reduce application conflicts, reduce application deployment time by removing the need for regression testing, and best of all, deploy any app to a terminal server without having to reboot, log users off, or use change user /install mode!”

Ahead of App-V 4.5 for Terminal Services, the Microsoft Application Virtualization Management Pack for Systems Center Operations Manager 2007 bits are already live on the Download Center. The pack is designed to permit proactive monitoring of App-V 4.5 server systems. This is done via the System Center Operations Manager 2007. Both the Management Pack and Application Virtualization 4.5 are designed to play well with Windows Server 2003 and Windows Server 2008.

Microsoft Application Virtualization Management Pack for Systems Center Operations Manager 2007 is available for download here.