VMware App Volumes is the application management and streaming solution for virtual desktop environments (VDI / EUC). It dynamically delivers applications to Horizon (Omnissa Horizon since 2024) or Citrix desktops without having to install applications in the base image. ITTA offers a VMware vSphere, Citrix CVAD catalogue and a virtualisation sub-domain. Sessions delivered in Geneva, Lausanne and interactive virtual classroom.
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VMware App Volumes is the dynamic application management and delivery solution for virtual desktop environments. The principle consists of packaging applications in virtual containers (Application Packages, formerly AppStacks) stored on a share, and dynamically attaching them to user desktops at logon time rather than installing them statically in the virtual desktop base image. Result: a light base image (OS only + agents), applications mounted on the fly according to user profile and rights, and an application update cycle decoupled from the OS image update cycle. App Volumes was acquired by VMware in 2014 (CloudVolumes) and became a major building block of VMware Horizon EUC offering. Since the divestiture of VMware’s EUC activity to KKR in July 2024, App Volumes is marketed under the Omnissa brand.
Technically, App Volumes relies on App Volumes Manager (orchestration), App Volumes Agent installed on virtual desktops, and SMB / NFS shares for package storage. The product supports two models: Application Packages (formerly AppStacks) which are read-only containers containing applications, and Writable Volumes which are read / write containers for user data persistence in non-persistent desktops. App Volumes is typically combined with VMware Dynamic Environment Manager (DEM, formerly User Environment Manager) for user personalisation, and with VMware Horizon (Omnissa Horizon) or Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops for the desktop delivery dimension. Typical uses cover non-persistent VDI environments (Horizon Instant Clones, Citrix MCS / PVS), training labs, multi-tenant environments, seasonal desktops (call centres, students).
ITTA does not currently offer a dedicated VMware App Volumes course in the EN catalogue. The App Volumes offering is mainly carried by partner Omnissa / Broadcom training centres and by VMware integrators specialised in EUC. The App Volumes training need is generally handled within a complete VMware Horizon training or broader EUC training including application streaming.
For profiles interested in virtualisation and EUC, ITTA offers a VMware catalogue structured around server and datacenter virtualisation. Our offering fits into the root VMware catalogue, with a main focus on VMware vSphere which is the reference hypervisor and the technical foundation on which Horizon and App Volumes rely. For the EUC dimension, the VMware Horizon publisher covers the VMware VDI foundation (with context notes on the 2024 Omnissa transition), and the Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops (CVAD) publisher is a cross-vendor alternative covering the competing VDI / EUC segment. The virtualisation sub-domain regroups all virtualisation courses.
Profile packaging applications in Application Packages, updating versions, assigning permissions, troubleshooting volume attachments. Requires mastery of Horizon (Omnissa) or Citrix CVAD, and a vSphere foundation. Our VMware vSphere and VMware Horizon catalogue provides the base foundation.
Senior profile designing App Volumes architecture: choice between App Volumes, Microsoft FSLogix App Masking, MSIX App Attach, Citrix App Layering. Sizing, storage, performance, Horizon or Citrix integration. The VMware Horizon and Citrix CVAD catalogue forms a solid foundation.
Profile managing Microsoft Azure Virtual Desktop (AVD) or Windows 365 environments using FSLogix for profile persistence and App Masking for application streaming. App Volumes concepts are transferable. The Microsoft Azure catalogue provides the cloud foundation.
Profile intervening on EUC projects at various clients: tool choice, deployment, support. Requires multi-vendor vision (App Volumes, FSLogix, MSIX App Attach, Citrix App Layering). Complementary VMware and Citrix training.
Several trends shape EUC application streaming in 2026. The divestiture of VMware’s EUC activity (Horizon, App Volumes, Dynamic Environment Manager, Workspace ONE) to KKR in July 2024 gave birth to Omnissa, which now carries these products. This evolution modifies the publisher context for App Volumes customers, without breaking product continuity in the short term. On the competition side, Microsoft strongly pushes the combination FSLogix (Profile Container) + MSIX App Attach + Application Masking in Azure Virtual Desktop and Windows 365 environments, with a native Microsoft ecosystem integration argument. Citrix offers App Layering as an alternative in its CVAD / DaaS environments. The application streaming topic remains structuring for non-persistent VDI environments (Instant Clones, MCS / PVS) where decoupling between OS image and applications is economically attractive. Generative AI gradually arrives in EUC management (predictive analysis of user issues, tuning recommendations, packaging automation). DaaS models (Citrix DaaS, Omnissa Horizon Cloud, AVD, Windows 365) progressively modify application streaming practices, with an orientation toward more turnkey models.
Does VMware App Volumes still exist after the Omnissa divestiture?
Yes. App Volumes is marketed under the Omnissa brand since the divestiture of VMware’s EUC activity to KKR in July 2024. The product continues to evolve in the Omnissa Horizon suite, with its own roadmap. Existing customers can maintain their deployment, in coordination with Omnissa.
App Volumes or Microsoft FSLogix App Masking: which choice?
The choice depends on context. App Volumes is generally chosen by organisations that have historically built on VMware Horizon (Omnissa Horizon since 2024) and value application packaging maturity. Microsoft FSLogix App Masking is generally chosen by Microsoft-first organisations on Azure Virtual Desktop or Windows 365. The choice is made according to the chosen VDI / DaaS platform, internal expertise and cloud roadmap. Our VMware Horizon and Microsoft Azure catalogue provides a useful foundation to evaluate the choice.
Does ITTA offer an App Volumes course?
Not currently in the EN catalogue. For App Volumes specifically, Omnissa or partner centre training is better sized. Our pedagogical team can study custom in-house requests with external EUC specialists. For the vSphere and Horizon base, our VMware catalogue offers an entry door.
Does App Volumes work with Citrix?
Historically yes. App Volumes long supported Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops environments in addition to VMware Horizon, which created its appeal on mixed architectures. The Omnissa roadmap may evolve on this point; it is useful to check the up-to-date compatibility matrix with Omnissa for new Citrix projects. For Citrix, the native Citrix App Layering alternative exists.
For profiles interested in EUC virtualisation and application streaming, here are the key resources:
VMware vSphere, Citrix CVAD and virtualisation sessions take place in Geneva and Lausanne in person, and in interactive virtual classroom with a live trainer. For organisations steering an App Volumes project or a broader EUC application streaming project (with Omnissa, Microsoft FSLogix or Citrix App Layering components), we organise custom in-house sessions with external EUC specialists and content adapted to the technology choice.
ITTA offers a structured virtualisation and VDI catalogue covering VMware vSphere, VMware Horizon, Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops, Microsoft Azure and a complete virtualisation sub-domain. This continuity is valuable for profiles steering an EUC project and wanting a multi-vendor vision (Omnissa, Citrix, Microsoft) on components such as App Volumes. Our virtualisation and EUC trainers are consultants and integrators active on real projects in French-speaking Switzerland, able to share concrete cases on the choice of an application streaming tool according to VDI context. Sessions in Geneva, Lausanne and interactive virtual classroom, in-house and inter-company.
Monday to Friday
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ITTA
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Monday to Friday, from 8:30 am to 06:00 pm.
