VMware DEM – Configurations

Release date: March 22th 2022

Welcome to my VMware Dynamic Environment Manager series. On this page I will be posting my configurations. They are available, as is. I’m using these in my LAB and they work fine, but I’m aware that applications do change and registry- and file locations change. Therefore, I will supply which version the specific configuration files have been tested with.

Publisher	Product	Version	Configuration-file
Microsoft	Edge Chromium	92.0.902.84	EdgeChromium.zip
Google	Chrome	92.0.4515.131	Chrome.zip
Microsoft	OneNote	2016	OneNote2016.zip
7-Zip Org	7-Zip	19.00	7-zip.zip

In some cases there is a need to pre-define the user’s default applications and/or file type associations. Therefore I have created a separate page describing this, here: VMware DEM – Pre-define Default Apps & FTA’s

Checklist:

Also, I have made a little checklist with what tests I do after establishing Dynamic Environment configurations. This list isn’t necessary complete and will probably change as new issues arise in the future. If there are problems roaming these configurations, I create a txt-file in the user’s Logs-folder named FlexDebux.txt. This will trigger debug-logging during the users session and makes it that much easier to find and troubleshoot the issue.

Windows 10 User interface:

• Change Desktop Background
• Populate desktop with icons, adjust location/size
• Pin icons to Taskbar
• Change Systray config
• Populate Start Menu Tiles
• Change Windows Explorer default views

General Office configuration:

• Login to activate MS Office
• Change hardware acceleration settings in excel
• Change to dark mode in word

Outlook:

• Check Autocomplete cache functionality
• Add item to ribbon
  • MS Tutorial: Customize the ribbon
• Configure email signature
  • MS Tutorial: Create an email signature

OneNote:

• Create Notebooks – check roaming and caching
  • MS Tutorial: Create a new notebook in OneNote for Windows 10

Google Chrome:

• Sign In
• Change Start page
  • Google Chrome Tutorial: Set your homepage and startup page
• Add web-site to Bookmarks bar and display Bookmarks bar
  • Google Chrome Tutorial: Create, view & edit bookmarks
• Add extension (Ad Blocker etc.)
  • Google Chrome Tutorial: Install and manage extensions

MS Edge:

• Sign In
• Change browser home page
  • MS Tutorial: Change your browser home page
• Show Favorites bar
  • MS Tutorial: See your favorites bar in Microsoft Edge and Internet Explorer 11
• Add web-site to Favorites bar
• Add extension (Ad Blocker etc.)
  • MS Tutorial: Find, add, or remove extensions in Microsoft Edge

Redirection:

• Verify that files/folders are correctly redirected during sessions

Default Apps:

• Change Default browser
  • MS Tutorial: Change your default browser in Windows 10
• Set Outlook as default email client
  • MS Tutorial: Make Outlook the default program for email, contacts, and calendar

Finally, there are a number of community-created templates available for download here: IVANDEMES: DEM Templates

If there aren’t any template available for your specific application, use the VMware DEM Application Profiler to create a custom template. I have created a session about this topic here: VMware DEM – Capture Application using Application Profiler

Official VMware Dynamic Environment Manager Documentation

Disclaimer: Every tips/tricks/posting I have published here, is tried and tested in different it-solutions. It is not guaranteed to work everywhere, but is meant as a tip for other users out there. Remember, Google is your friend and don’t be afraid to steal with pride! Feel free to comment below as needed.