Introduction

Large companies are continually faced with new technologies and shorter technology cycles which render their trusted applications obsolete. Migrating an application from one technology to another is expensive and the timeframe required to carry it out is prohibitive for most companies. In 2010, Nektra developed software which allows old technologies such as Internet Explorer 6 to run on Windows 7. Symantec uses it in their Endpoint Virtualization Suite, but it can be used to virtualize many other applications as well.

The Challenges

Symantec Vision 2010 conference was approaching and Symantec was eager to implement IE6 virtualization in Windows 7, a feature already offered by some competitors. Symantec workspace virtualization also has to support many other technologies that are part of the IE6’s ecosystem: Java, Adobe Flash, and Acrobat Reader, and their updates.

Desktop virtualization products work successfully with the majority of applications but some applications require above-average application packaging skills and a few require tailored solutions.

Solution

Nektra’s Application Packaging Services Team used its SpyStudio and Deviare Interception technologies to virtualize IE6. SpyStudio pinpointed the gaps left by Symantec Workspace Virtualization, while Deviare filled in these gaps enabling IE6 to run in Windows 7. Brian Madden celebrates this new functionality in his blog and includes a video demo.

Nektra also provided third level escalation support, support for updated browser plugins, and fixes for the IE6 virtualization.

More recently, Nektra successfully tackled the issues related to virtualizing Microsoft Office with volume licensing for all versions of Windows up to 8.1.

Accomplishments

Adding a key feature to a product that leveraged Symantec’s position in the virtualization market Delivery in time for Symantec Vision 2010 conference The 3rd level escalation support service was able to handle all requests successfully

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