Forum Discussion
How to run Client Server application with MSIX
I am trying to make an MSIX run with a client/server application. Why, we want to run multiple versions with different network share next to each other. They use the same registrykeys and therefor w...
Hi Rudi,
Thanks for reaching out, can you please clarify your scenario. What are you trying to achieve? Why do you need the .exe to be on a network share and not inside the MSIX package? You can create a separate MSIX package for each version and run them in parallel.
Regards,
Vlad
Hi Vlad,
Sorry for the late response but I had an issue with signing on from our company.
The application is installed according to the supplier’s rules. Which means that the main application is on a network share folder like \\server\share\applicationfolder. This contains a small client installation which only installs a few dll’s, fonts, shortcuts to the server-side exe’s and registrykeys on the client machine.
The exe file is on the server share and moving this to the client side is no option because of the way it works (multiuser, locking) and support from the vendor. For different departments in our company we have a few different versions running from different shares. And there are also a few people that need both versions. Now we have a switch mechanism for these people to adjust the registry each time.
What do I want to achieve. Create an MSIX that installs the client side so we can run them parallel. This part is clear and no problem to achieve that.
But the fact that the server-side exe is outside the container means it has no access to the registry and files in the container. And my guess is that there is no solution for at the moment. At least I can’t find it. I need a way to give the exe outside the container access to the registry/files in the container.
Kind Regards,
Rudi
Hi Rudi,
Thanks for the details, few more clarification please;
Do you know how the .exe on share is launched from the client application? (e.g. CreateProcess)
Do you have the code for the application or have an ability to change it? (I know typically the code is not available but I want to make sure here)
Thanks again,
Vlad
Hi Vlad,
I do not have the code since it is a third party product we use. The exe on the share is started with a simple shortcut that is locally on the pc. I put the shortcut into the MSIX file.
Maybe it makes sense that an external exe has no access to the containers registry or files in terms of security.
/Rudi
Hi Rudi,
Thanks for clarifying, we don't support it via a shortcut today, can you please share how do you run the shortcut from within the MSIX package?
As an FYI - We do support running an .exe from outside the package within the container via CreateProcessAsUser function via the PROC_THREAD_ATTRIBUTE_DESKTOP_APP_POLICY attribute but it is more of a developer scenario - https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/windows/desktop/ms686880(v=vs.85).aspx
Vlad