Since we are still using a SoftGrid 3.x implementation in our Terminal Server environment, I was very anxious to see how this new release handles preloading of applications. With the old SoftGrid 3, we are using the Mobile client in a script to preload all the applications into the cache after our Terminal Servers have rebooted during it’s maintenance schedule.

The Mobile Agent method is not the most elegant way and error-prone.  While checking the SoftGrid HKLM registry keys, 2 entries caught my attention: AutoLoadTarget and AutoLoadTriggers.
After some digging in the documentation and on the Microsoft Technet Forum, the following surfaced:

AutoLoadTarget
This parameter indicates what will be autoloaded when a AutoLoadTrigger occurs
Values can be the following:
0×0 = None
0×1 = PreviouslyUsed (Default)
0×2 = All
PreviouslyUsed if any AutoLoad trigger is enabled, loads only the packages where at least one app in the package has been previously used by a user (i.e. launched or precached).

AutoLoadTriggers
These flags Indicate the events that initiate AutoLoading of applications.AutoLoad implicitly uses background streaming to enable the app to be fully loaded into cache.
Feature block 1 will be loaded as quickly as possible.
Feature block 2 will be loaded in the background to enable foreground operations (i.e. user interaction with applications) to take priority and provide optimal performance.
Values can be the following:
0×0 = Never
0×1 = OnLaunch
0×2 = OnRefresh
0×4 = OnLogin
0×5 = On Launch & Login (DEFAULT)
Never No bits are set (value is 0), no auto loading will be performed, as there are no triggers set
OnLogin Perform auto load for any application when a user logs in.
OnLaunch Perform autoload when a user launches an application
OnRefresh Perform autoload anytime a DC Refresh occurs.

I don’t yet understand the difference between OnLogin and OnRefresh because I thought the DCRefresh also occurs on login but I’m not sure about that. (please mail me if you know the difference)

Both keys can be found in the following location:
HKLM\SOFTWARE\MS\SoftGrid\Client\CurrentVersion\Configuration\

Anyway, it seems that putting a value of 2-2 or 2-4 can help preload all the applications on a Terminal Server without fancy scripting. Make sure all Terminal Servers don’t reboot at the exact same time. I wonder what would happen to the "VAS-Server" when you have 30 Terminal Servers asking to preload all applications at the same time.
I’m attending the Login Consultant App-V Unleashed course in September so I’ll ask there as well.
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TAGS: Howto, preload softgrid app-v 4.5