Microsoft Desktop Optimization Pack Explained

Author:Microsoft
Released:1 April 2008; 14 years ago
Latest Release Version:2015
Latest Release Date:17 August 2015; 7 years ago
Platform:IA-32 and x86-64
Genre:System software
License:Proprietary commercial software; available through volume licensing or MSDN subscription
Website:https://partner.microsoft.com/en-ca/solutions/mdop

Microsoft Desktop Optimization Pack (MDOP) is a suite of utilities for Microsoft Windows customers who have subscribed to Microsoft Software Assurance program.[1] It aims at bringing easier manageability and monitoring of enterprise desktops, emergency recovery, desktop virtualization and application virtualization.

Components

The MDOP suite is grouped into 3 overall technologies: Virtualize, Manage and Restore

Virtualize

Microsoft Application Virtualization (App-V)

An application virtualization and application streaming platform that allows clients to run applications locally via on demand streaming from a centralized server. This makes sure that all clients run the application with the same configuration. App-V also allows standalone virtualized applications to run locally on the client. Starting with Windows 10 Anniversary Update, this item became part of Windows 10 and is no longer included in MDOP.[2]

Microsoft User Experience Virtualization (UE-V)

A replacement for roaming profiles that will allow user preferences and settings to roam between different environments and types of devices.[3] Starting with Windows 10 Anniversary Update, this item became part of Windows 10 and is no longer included in MDOP.

Microsoft Enterprise Desktop Virtualization (MED-V)

A desktop virtualization solution: It allows a physical Windows 7 workstation to host one or more virtual machines that run their own operating systems on a Windows Virtual PC hypervisor, with some transparent integration of the Start Menu and desktop of the virtual machine into that of the host. Microsoft advertises MED-V as a compatibility solution that allows enterprises to run legacy applications that will not run natively on Windows 7 to be hosted on a legacy platform such as Windows XP, similarly to the consumer-oriented Windows XP Mode.[4]

Manage

Microsoft Advanced Group Policy Management (AGPM)

Provides enhanced management capabilities for group policy. It integrates with the Group Policy Configuration MMC snap-in and adds change control, offline editing, and delegation capabilities. Change control tracks and manages changes to Group Policy Objects (GPOs). It presents a virtual vault which houses the GPOs. To make any changes, a GPO must be checked out of the vault and the changed version checked in. The system enforces the latest version of the GPO and archives the older version, which can be restored back if need arises. Offline editing capabilities allow GPOs to be edited without a live connection to the network and Active Directory. The changes are merged on the next connection. AGPM also adds delegation capability, where the responsibility of managing the Group Policy can be divided among different administrators. Each administrator is concerned with only a certain set of GPOs, which can then be administered independent of others. Optionally, it can be configured so that changes are reviewed by other administrators before being applied. Advanced Group Policy Management is based on GPOVault, a product by DesktopStandard Corporation which Microsoft acquired in October 2006.

Microsoft BitLocker Administration and Monitoring (MBAM)

A tool for managing, enforcing and monitoring BitLocker drive encryption across an entire organization from a central location.[5] MBAM consists of administration console which can be accessed using a web browser, as well as an agent which must be installed on every computer in the organization, either manually or using Active Directory.[6]

Restore

Microsoft Diagnostics and Recovery Toolset (DaRT), formerly Emergency Repair Disk Commander (ERD Commander), is a set of tools that helps diagnose an offline copy of Microsoft Windows. It comes on a bootable disc and is run during computer startup. It can uninstall installed hotfixes, perform crash analysis, recover deleted files and access System Restore's restore checkpoints on the offline operating system in an environment similar to Windows graphical user interface.

Microsoft DaRT is a successor of ERD Commander, which was part of the Winternals Administrator Pack from Winternals. ERD Commander later became a Microsoft property with its acquisition of Winternals on 17 July 2006.[7]

Microsoft DaRT is based on the Windows Preinstallation Environment. The tool set includes:[8] [9] [10]

ERD Commander originally included more tools, including a web browser.[12]

Releases

Title Date
MDOP 2008 [13]
MDOP 2008 R2 [14]
MDOP 2009 [15]
MDOP 2009 R2 [16] [17]
MDOP 2010 [18]
MDOP 2010 Refresh [19]
MDOP 2011 [20]
MDOP 2011 R2 [21]
MDOP 2012 [22]
MDOP 2013 [23]
MDOP 2013 R2 [24]
MDOP 2014 [25]
MDOP 2014 R2
MDOP 2015

Further reading

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Software Assurance Add-on Delivers Dynamic Desktop . News Center . . 17 October 2006 . https://web.archive.org/web/20070311093119/http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/features/2006/oct06/10-17Desktop.mspx . 11 Mar 2007 . live.
  2. Web site: Foley. Mary Jo. Mary Jo Foley. Microsoft confirms App-V will be bundled with Windows 10 Anniversary Update. ZDNet. CBS Interactive. 5 July 2016.
  3. Web site: Microsoft User Experience Virtualization (UE-V) Release Candidate Now Available . . Springboard Series Blog . 6 September 2012 . Stephen . Rose.
  4. Web site: Planning for Application Operating System Compatibility. Microsoft TechNet Library. Microsoft. 21 November 2011. 10 March 2011.
  5. Web site: Getting Started With MBAM. MDOP Documentation Home. Microsoft. 14 November 2011.
  6. Web site: Microsoft BitLocker Administration and Monitoring Evaluation Guide. Microsoft. 14 November 2011. 4 August 2011.
  7. Web site: Microsoft Acquires Winternals Software. Microsoft News Center. Microsoft. 5 October 2011. 18 July 2006.
  8. Web site: Overview of the Tools in DaRT 8.0. TechNet Library. Microsoft. 25 July 2013.
  9. Web site: Microsoft Diagnostics and Recovery Toolset . Microsoft . 20 November 2007 . 16 November 2011.
  10. Web site: How to recover a non-bootable Windows installation – The Microsoft Diagnostics and Recovery Toolset . 4sysops.com . 29 October 2008 . 16 November 2011.
  11. Book: Introducing Microsoft Antimalware Technologies. Microsoft. 28 September 2011. 9. 22 June 2010.
  12. Web site: ERD Commander – Free Trial from Microsoft . Geek to go! . 5 October 2011 . 17 January 2009.
  13. News: Microsoft Desktop Optimization Pack 2008 Released . Windows Vista Team Blog . The Windows Blog . Microsoft . 1 April 2008 . 17 January 2012 . Chris . Flores .
  14. News: MDOP 2008 R2 Release to Manufacturing! . The Official MDOP Blog . TechNet Blogs . Microsoft . 15 September 2008 . 17 January 2012 . Jameel .
  15. News: Oelgiesser. Ran. Announcing MDOP 2009 to include MED-V 1.0, App-V 4.5 CU1 and AIS 1.5 Updates. 17 January 2012. The Official MDOP Blog. 1 April 2009. TechNet Blogs. Microsoft.
  16. News: MDOP 2009 R2 for Windows 7 is now available! . The Official MDOP Blog . TechNet Blogs . Microsoft . 20 October 2009 . 17 January 2012 . Ran . Oelgiesser .
  17. News: Protalinski. Emil. MDOP 2009 R2 with Windows 7 support released. 17 January 2012. Ars Technica. 20 October 2009. Condé Nast Digital.
  18. News: Windows 7 Desktop Optimization Pack 2010. 17 January 2012. Softpedia. 23 February 2010. SoftNews SRL. Marius. Oiaga.
  19. News: Oiaga. Marius. Download Windows 7 Desktop Optimization Pack Refresh. 17 January 2012. Softpedia. SoftNews SRL. 2 April 2010.
  20. News: Trupkin. Dave. App-V 4.6 SP1 and MED-V 2.0 are available as part of MDOP 2011!. 17 January 2012. The Official MDOP Blog. 9 March 2011. TechNet Blogs. Microsoft.
  21. News: Smith. AJ. MDOP 2011 R2 Generally Available, Get MBAM and DaRT 7.0 Today!. 17 January 2012. The Official MDOP Blog. 1 August 2011. TechNet Blogs. Microsoft.
  22. Web site: MDOP 2012 available for download: Now with more App-V version 5 and UE-V! . . The Microsoft App-V Team Blog . 7 November 2012 . J.C. . Hornbeck.
  23. Web site: Microsoft Desktop Optimization Pack 2013 Now Available . The Official Microsoft Blog . Microsoft . 10 April 2013 . 10 April 2013.
  24. Web site: Foley. Mary Jo. Microsoft Desktop Optimization Pack 2013 R2 now available. ZDNet. CBS Interactive. 3 December 2013. 2 December 2013.
  25. Web site: Improving your organization's security and performance with the Microsoft Desktop Optimization Pack . . Windows for Business . Stella . Chernyak . 1 May 2014.

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Microsoft Desktop Optimization Pack".

Except where otherwise indicated, Everything.Explained.Today is © Copyright 2009-2025, A B Cryer, All Rights Reserved. Cookie policy.