MSIX App Attach Resources List

Introduction

Microsoft announced the general release of MSIX app attach on the 13th of April 2021.

Microsoft’s statement “We’re excited to announce that MSIX app attach for Windows Virtual Desktop is now generally available! MSIX app attach in Windows Virtual Desktop builds on top of MSIX and existing Windows Virtual Desktop features to dynamically deliver MSIX packaged applications to users.”

You can read more here.

Press links:

Microsoft makes MSIX App Attach, a key Windows Virtual Desktop feature, generally available | ZDNet

MSIX app attach Summary Intro

MSIX app attach offers a new capability for delivering MSIX packages to a Windows Virtual Desktop environment. The best way to describe MSIX app attach is, “Its a vehicle of delivering applications dynamically to a desktop or remote session” You can now attach applications based on groups and requirements. This provides a slick on demand delivery capability also known as “Dynamic Application Delivery” I sometimes refer to the acronym “DAD”.

Native MSIX’s are installed for a user or all users. MSIX app attach attaches a VHD/VHDX/CIM which essentially a prepared expanded version of the MSIX ready for use. This removes the need to install the MSIX and rather completes the following two processes (1) notify the operating system that the package is available (Stage) and (2) making the app package available to the user (register).

If a user needs an application in session, it is now possible using MSIX app attach to deliver required MSIX applications on the fly.

Resources:

To help you get started with MSIX app attach, I have put together a comprehensive list of resources to help you on your way.

Microsoft Resources:

• MSIX app attach General Release (GA)
• Microsoft Docs MSIX app attach (Use MSIX app attach)
• Microsoft Learn – MSIX app attach
• Microsoft Docs – MSIX
• Microsoft Tech Community – set up Azure Netapp Files for MSIX app attach
• Microsoft Tech Community – Step by step guide on computer account auth for Azure Files
• Microsoft Tech Community – MSIX image creation with the MSIXMGR tool
• Microsoft Docs – MSIX app attach Glossary

Ryan Mangan’s IT BLOG Resources

• A Deep Dive into MSIX app attach
• MSIX app attach using VMware App Volumes
• Testing CIMFS
• Identifying CIMFS Mounted Images
• Understanding what’s General Release and what’s Supported for MSIX and MSIX app attach
• A Introduction to MSIX App attach – Ebook – Ryan Mangan’s IT Blog
• MSIX App Attach Community Tooling – Ryan Mangan’s IT Blog
• MSIX and MSIX app attach High-Level Performance Testing – Ryan Mangan’s IT Blog
• MSIX app attach – How To Manage CIMFS File Sprawl – Tips and Tricks – Ryan Mangan’s IT Blog
• MSIX App Attach Wiki – Ryan Mangan’s IT Blog
• WVD MSIX App attach Event Logs added to MSIX Log Tool – Ryan Mangan’s IT Blog

RMITBLOG WIKI

• Home
• Creating a self assigned code signed Certificate for MSIX packages
• Create MSIX Package using Microsoft’s Packaging Tool
• Getting started with MSIXAACT
• Creating CIMFS Cim images
• Mounting and Dismounting CIMFS Cim Images
• Troubleshooting errors using the MSIX event Log
• Testing out CIMFS using Powershell
• Using the Get mountpoints PowerShell Module for CIMFS
• WVD MSIX App Attach Azure Files Requirements
• WVD MSIX App Attach Add a MSIX package to a Host Pool
• MSIX App Attach WVD Assign MSIX packages to a Application Group
• Modifying the Default MSIX App Attach Package Check Interval Within Windows Virtual Desktop
• Handling CIMFS Sprawl scripts
• Common Troubleshooting Tips
• Deploying PFX Certificates to WVD Host Pools
• MSIX app attach terminology
• MSIX MGR Errrors
• Upload a MSIX image to Azure Files
• Other Tools
• MSIX app attach Vendors

eBook’s

A Introduction to MSIX App attach: Dynamic Application Delivery eBook

Azure Virtual Desktop Handbook: App Management | Microsoft Azure

MSIX app attach Community Tools

• MSIX and WVD MSIX App Attach Log tool – Download here
• MSIX App attach Image Creation tool – Download here
• MSIX app attach Cimutil for mounting CimFS – download here
• Mountpoints PowerShell module for CIMFS – Download here
• MSIXMGR – Download here

Videos

Welsh User Group July 2021 – MSIX app attach Lighting talk

MSIX App attach meet the Experts Event

MVPDays – Ryan Mangan Overcoming Application Delivery Challenges with MSIX app attach

WVD Tech Fest – Ryan Mangan MSIX App Attach

MSIX AppAttach Portal | Windows Virtual Desktop

MSIX app attach in WVD – Microsoft

MSIX Tricks – Microsoft

Using MSIX App Attach with Nerdio “Neil McLoughlin”

Other Community Resources

• Patrick Kohler (WVDLogix) Container up your applications: fast, secure & efficient with MSIX App Attach
• Tim Mangan (TMurgent) (no relation) Convert MSIXs to VHD or CIM for App Attach – Confessions of a Guru
• Stephan Vdkruis MSIX App Attach on Windows Virtual Desktop – stephanvdkruis.com
• Freek Berson MSIX app attach will fundamentally change working with application landscapes on Windows Virtual Desktop!
• Jason Samuel – How to use Microsoft WVD, Windows 10 multi-session, FSLogix, & MSIX app attach to build an Azure-powered virtual desktop experience
• Christiaan Brinkhoff – Learn how to configure MSIX app attach (via the Azure Portal) packages containers on Windows 10 Enterprise multi and single-session for Windows Virtual Desktop | christiaanbrinkhoff.com – Sharing Cloud and Virtualization Knowledge
• Guy Leech CIMFS PowerShell Script- Microsoft/cimfs.ps1

MSIX App attach Vendors

appCURE enables IT to accelerate application capture , migration and streamline the transformation process to MSIX and MSIX app attach. appCURE captures running applications on the endpoint without worrying about finding install media and instructions. The update, remediation and capability of creating PSF fixes ready to be added, thus creating the comprehensive step change in speed at which end-user environments can be executed.

appCURE Studio, built upon appCURE’s process, has the capability to create the most optimal and best utilised environments for your application estate by automating the creation of:

• MSI Packages
• MSIX packages
• MSIX App attach comprehensive tooling
• VHD/VHDX/VMDK/CIMFS
• Certification changes
• VHD to CIMFS conversion
• VMware App Volumes
• Basic smoke testing
• Reporting

You can find out more here

AppVentiX

” The AppVentiX solution is easy to implement and provides complete control and insight in the App-V and MSIX (+ app attach) deployment, no matter if it is on-premises, in the cloud or hybrid. AppVentiX supports Microsoft (WVD), Citrix (CVAD) and VMware (Horizon) environments and integrates very well with FSlogix and profile solutions from Citrix, VMware and Ivanti.”

You can find out more here

Rimo3

“Windows Virtual Desktop? VMware Workspace ONE? Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops? Amazon Workspaces? Legacy VDI environments? Rimo3 Cloud will understand and test any application workloads regardless of how the business delivers applications to end-users.”

You can find out more here

Nerdio

“Nerdio Manager for WVD simplifies and automates the process of storing and attaching MSIX applications packaged as VHD(X) files to WVD session hosts and users making applications available to assigned users “on-the-fly” as they log into their WVD session.” – See link

You can find out more here

Conclusion

The above resources list will be maintained as updated over the next couple of months. If you think something is missing, feel free to let me know and I will take a look. I hope this helps those on the MSIX app attach journey.