A conversation with Rick Mack about terminal server application compatibility tricks

Written on Oct 16 2006 Filed under: Microsoft Remote Desktop, App Virtualization 19,241 views, 9 comments

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by Rick Mack

In this interview recorded at BriForum Europe 2006, Brian Madden talks to Rick Mack about terminal server application compatibility. They focus on how you can test applications to figure out whether they'll work in a terminal server environment, and how you can change the behavior of applications that don't quite work right.

Rick also talks about how Microsoft's focus on security in Vista can help you with application compatibility issues today on Windows Server 2003 terminal servers. Rick also mentions some great ways to roll your own hotfixes with your custom application changes, and how to apply custom changes via Group Policy.

Here's a listing of the tools that Rick talks about in this conversation.

• Microsoft Application Compatibility Toolkit
• Wireshark to look at SMB traffic
• Russell Osterlund's Tools
• Reshacker (Resource Hacker)
• SysInterals Strings Utility
• RegShot
• Reg2ADM (Part of NUTS package)
• The ADM Template Editor (SysProSoft)
• Desktop Standard Registry Extensions

Comments

Guest wrote Rick's Microphone

on Tue, Oct 17 2006 4:52 AM

I know that those Oztralian accents are hard to understand but it would probably be a little easier if someone had turned on Rick's microphone.

Guest wrote RE: Rick's Microphone

on Tue, Oct 17 2006 7:45 AM

There is nothing wrong with our accents :)
 

Rick Eilenberger wrote Application Verifier Download

on Tue, Oct 17 2006 10:22 AM

Looking for the Application Verifier download.  Thanks.

Brian Madden wrote RE: Application Verifier Download

on Tue, Oct 17 2006 12:22 PM

It's in the list right there in the program notes.. the first one. Like Rick said, it's part of the MS App Compatibility Toolkit.

Brian

Rick Eilenberger wrote RE: Application Verifier Download

on Tue, Oct 17 2006 12:55 PM

DOH!....

Rick Eilenberger wrote Hotfix creation

on Tue, Oct 17 2006 3:17 PM

Rick,
 
Can you lend a little more insight into the hotfix creation process?  Thanks.

Rick Eilenberger wrote RE: Application Verifier Download

on Tue, Oct 17 2006 3:20 PM

I believe I mispoke.  I am looking for the Application Verifier.  Thanks.

Peter Ghostine wrote RE: Application Verifier Download

on Tue, Oct 17 2006 8:30 PM

Here's the link to the App Verifier:

http://www.microsoft.com/technet/prodtechnol/windows/appcompatibility/appverifier.mspx
 
Using it alongside WinDbg and a few other tools, I was recently able to assist a high-profile customer in streamlining their apps to run reliably under Terminal Server. This obviated the need to engage Citrix Consulting Services for 60 days to rebuild an entire farm and implement AIE.
 
By the way, Rick Mack's contributions to this community are unmatched.
 

Anthony Yates wrote RE: Application Verifier Download

on Thu, Oct 26 2006 12:22 PM

Rick mentioned that he had different/older version of Application Verifier that was in some cases more useful than the current version. He also said it was available for download from the briforum website but it seems only attendees can download anything from the site. How can I obtain the older versions of Application Verifier?
Cheers.
 

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