How can applications be loaded in AOK?
To import applications into AOK with the following formats, there is a single-step process of simply dragging a root/source directory on to AOK and pressing the “Load-IT” button:

1. MSI’s (and any combination of MST’s (transforms) and MSP’s (Patches) are dynamically loaded with the source MSI package
2. WSI, WSC, WSE and Wise Setup Executables
3. Microsoft App-V (SFT) sequenced packages
4. Symantec Virtualization Packages (SVS)
5. SYSDIFF INF Installation Packages
6. Microsoft SETUP Executables

For applications that are not shipped in this format; we have two options:

1. AOK will create a custom loader for the client specific environment
2. Using freely available tools (UNIEXTRACT) we can extract the installation information from application packages and then load into AOK

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How can large software portfolios be structured?
We have had the benefit over the past few years of loading several tens of thousands of applications into AOK. The process is generally as simple as dragging the "root" or top-level application or distribution source folder onto AOK and then pressing the "Load-IT" button. Other bulk loading options are also available. Please contact your ChangeBASE representative for more information.
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Can AOK be setup in a multi-user environment?
AOK is designed to be used across multi-user environments with support for multi-user package loading, reporting and fixing.  A central AOK database can be setup and a number of different users can connect to it
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To what extent will the tool be able to reflect my local packaging standards?
One of the great benefits of the AOK Quality Assurance Plugin module is that the client packaging and distribution standards can be documented, codified and then integrated into AOK for automated analysis and remediation. In our past experience, we or our cllients have been able to automate the vast majority of the their packaging standards including requirements for transforms, Self-Healing and multi-target/purpose packages.
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Can I automatically migrate from XP to Windows 7 if I use these tools? 
Obviously when moving from one operating system to another there are many considerations and it is almost certain that you will want to implement and deploy your applications conforming to a set of standards that will differ from that of your previous platform. However, under test conditions we and members of our client base have remediated and successfully deployed whole portfolios of applications after remediating them using AOK Fix-It! 
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How would AOK deal with a migration from Windows 2000?
The ChangeBase AOK Platform Integrity and Best Practices reports and automated fixes are ideally suited for the migration from Windows 2000 platforms (desktop and server environments) as they automatically identify and remediate compatibility issues, security issues and packaging best practice issues in a single tool-set. The AOK tool-set is designed to manage the journey from NT4 systems onward to Windows XP (and SP2, SP3) and on to Vista, Windows server 2003, 2008, Windows 7 and virtualization platforms such as App-V and Citrix XenApp. The existing collection of Windows XP plugins can easily be expanded to cover the entire Microsoft redistributable list (Merge Modules) which would then deliver an enhanced "clean-up" process for each application package in preparation for deployment to Windows Vista or Server 2008. In addition, the ChangeBase AOK product supports the main formats such as MSI, MST, WSI. It now supports the importing and subsequent reporting of legacy Sysdiff files (INF files) and Wise script packages (WSE files) in the event that a customer does not currently have a complete MSI package portfolio. 
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What sort of testing do you do for middleware technologies (Java, .NET framework, MSI, etc)? 
A number of our clients and service provider partners have recently requested middleware dependency reports. The ChangeBase AOK client currently supports automated dependency analysis as part of the import process. Clients are able to generate their own middleware reports by simply loading the applications into AOK and right clicking to turn them into middleware reports specific to their own environment.
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How easy is it to maintain the database? 
The ChangeBase AOK databases (both local and remote) are automatically created, configured and updated through the AOK client. Creating, repairing and renaming databases is as simple as "right-clicking" on each database "Tab" presented at the bottom of the main AOK tree-view. The AOK client also supports 2-levels of security enabling administrators to enable or disable functions such as create and delete reports or delete databases. This security functionality is made available on a database by database basis. This ensures that users may have full control over their private or local databases, and administrators are able to maintain control over their central or shared databases. 
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What about new application updates? How are they discovered and added? 
The AOK product is delivered as .NET client-server application with all reports, fixes and updates delivered as discrete Plugin modules. All of the existing reports are within 20-60 Kb in size and can be easily downloaded from the ChangeBase secure portal. In addition, all database and patch updates are made available in the CBP file format which enables easy database-by-database updating and control. 
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Is this a pre sales tool to help win consultancy services?
As a technology platform, the AOK product is not intended as a pre-sales tool for later sales and consultancy services but is designed to easily integrate into a customer's existing processes and platforms and to support our service provider partners in simplifying and reducing the cost of Vista migrations and on-going application management services. 
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What is our support model? 
We will be selling our product through partners who will provide first line global support on AOK to their clients. We have an accreditation process to ensure they will have the appropriate skills in place. We will provide second line support to our partners. 
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Can we create client specific rule-sets? 
For simple and medium checks and minor additions to existing Plugins, yes - you can modify and create your own Plugins via the built in plugin generation wizard. For more complex business logic issues, you may need our assistance initially unless you have skilled SQL developers in which case you will be able to write your own more complex plugins. 
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How would it reduce manual testing? 
It is estimated to reduce manual testing by between 50-90%. The product can adapt to even the most unique environment by allowing you to create your own rule sets and add to it, increasing the effectiveness of the tool. 
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What about Citrix support? 
As an essential component of the Citrix (streamed and hosted) packaging and deployment process, AOK will analyse each application for compatibility and best practice compliance ensuring correct installation and execution on the Citrix and Remote Desktop Services platform. In addition, as patches are continuously released by Microsoft, ensuring that Citrix servers are regularly updated raises the issue of change impact assessment on a complex system with hundreds or thousands of users. Using the ChangeBASE Workbench tool-set changes to Citrix delivered applications reduces risk, facilitates security compliance, and delivers faster application deployments. AOK 4.1 adds a new set of Citrix XenApp Hosted/Remote Desktop Services plugins which provide more accurate application compatibility reporting.
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Can AOK help me Virtualize my applications?
The answer to this is "definitely". Whether your intended destination is AppV (formerly Softgrid) Symantec Workspace Virtualisation (formerly SVS), VMWare Thinapp, Citrix Application Streaming or another virtualisation target, AOK can assist in testing and readying your applications. When you wish to virtualize an application you will still need to get it working on the target host platform. For this you would first run it through the relevant operating system checks and fixes and optionally the quality checks. 

Once your application has been prepared for a "clean" deployment it can then be tested using AOK's Virtualize-IT suite to identify any potential remaining issues that would prevent it from working successfully in a virtualized environment.

Finally, using the new vReady-It functionality you will be able to directly convert applications, automatically and in bulk, to your chosen virtualisation format
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What is new in AOK 4.1? 
The new version of the AOK workbench comes packed with new and improved features. Here are just a few examples:

• AOK VReady-It – automates virtual conversion
• AOK Test-It & AOK Fix-It - new Citrix Hosted/RDS Report Group
• AOK Assess-It – FREE tool to provide high level application compatibility reporting
• AOK Report-It - provides easy access to AOK reports to anyone in an organization
• AOK Convert-It – now reads ANY install format into the AOK workbench
• AOK Browse-It – now with AUTO LOGON and improved CSC (browsing experience monitoring and compatibility reporting).
   

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