AppSense Performance Manager v10.1
*This post originally appeared on the AppSense blog prior to the rebrand in January 2017, when AppSense, LANDESK, Shavlik, Wavelink, and HEAT Software merged under the new name Ivanti.
I am pleased to announce the release of version 10.1 of AppSense Performance Manager. This release continues our commitment to delivering new features, enhancements to existing functionality, and support for the latest Microsoft desktop, server and application delivery technologies.
AppSense Performance Manager helps IT teams deliver a highly responsive desktop to users while reducing hardware costs. Performance Manager does not require additional infrastructure, is easily installed, and, compared with servers without Performance Manager, demonstrates huge memory reduction and a dramatic increase in supported users.
Updated Microsoft Component Support for Windows 2016
Our Citrix XenApp and Remote Desktop Session Host/Terminal Server customers tell us that the October release of Windows Server 2016 promises to be the next big operating system refresh. With its refreshed and more user-friendly interface, Windows Server 2016 will be the operating system of choice for many of our published desktop and published app customers seeking a Windows 10 experience.
Performance Manager 10.1 has been upgraded to utilize the latest Microsoft technology stack, making it fully compatible with Microsoft Windows Server 2016 (with Desktop Experience Installation) and Microsoft Windows 10.
We will continue to leverage our relationship with Microsoft to ensure on-going support for their latest desktop and application delivery technologies.
Driver Retirement and Streamlined Installation
Performance Manager’s primary benefits, CPU Throttling and Memory Trimming, are highly valuable and relevant with Windows Server 2016 and are fully supported and functional in version 10.1
However, due to the new driver checks contained within Microsoft Windows Server 2016, we have retired specific legacy features that have been superseded by functionality built into Windows.
We’ve retired the following functionality to remain in line with best practices for the optimized use of server resources:
- Memory Optimizer
- User Memory control
- Disk I/O control
With the 10.1 release, Performance Manager now runs completely in user mode with no kernel mode components, delivering the following benefits:
- Drivers are no longer installed, resulting in an easier installation without the need for a reboot
- Fewer opportunities for conflict between Performance Manager and other drivers and applications
Performance Manager Console Updates
At AppSense, we are continually striving to keep our products current and streamlined, and our approach to Performance Manager is no different. To stay in line with the functionality changes noted earlier in this post, we have updated the Performance Manager Console as follows:
- User Memory tab has been removed
- Memory Optimizer and User Memory references have been removed from the Features Usage tab
- The Resource Configuration tree view has been updated to remove the “Global Resources – Memory Optimizer” node
- Memory Optimizer view has been removed
- Optimizer Monitor navigation bar has been removed
- Monitoring references within the Performance Manager ribbon have been removed