Important:
For Existing Software Installations: Liquidware supports upgrades to existing ProfileUnity installations that are current on support contracts. However, it may be to your advantage to migrate to a new installation due to several architectural and feature changes. See the Upgrading to 6.8.6 R1 section below for more information on upgrade or migration options. See the Feature Updates Affecting Product Behavior Post Upgrade section below for more information on product changes that may affect your decision on whether to upgrade or migrate your currently installed version.
Product Updates
ProfileUnity Management Console
- Multi-Tenant Entra ID Group Lookup and Filter Support
- This enhancement allows administrators to add multiple Entra ID tenants (previously Azure AD) to the ProfileUnity console, facilitating the management of multiple environments at once. It also enables the creation of specific filters based on the targeted Entra ID tenants, providing more precise control and organization.
- Support for Multiple Azure SAS URLs for Blob Object Replication
- The new feature introduces the use of read-only Blob Object Replication for FlexApp and the ProfileUnity configuration file. It includes the integration of secondary paths with read-only Blob Object Replication, offering a fault-tolerant configuration for FlexApp and the ProfileUnity configuration file.
- MongoDB Version Update on ProfileUnity Console Upgrade
- The upgrade of the ProfileUnity console includes an update to MongoDB, moving to version 4.4.26. The console now installs with MongoDB version 4.4.26 on new installations, ensuring enhanced performance and smoother operations.
Client
- Updated Azure Storage Library
- The Azure storage library has been upgraded to the latest version. This update is aimed at achieving enhanced performance, contributing to faster and more reliable storage operations.
- Azure Performance Optimization
- Azure performance has been finely tuned to deliver optimal performance across various environments, ensuring users experience the best possible responsiveness and efficiency.
- Client License Service Update for Defaultuser0 and Defaultuser1
- The Client License Service has been improved to skip license requests for 'defaultuser0' and 'defaultuser1'. These accounts are typically used by Windows during a self-service password reset for machines joined only with Entra ID, streamlining the licensing process, and avoiding unnecessary license usage.
- LwL.ProfileUnity.Client.UserInit.exe Configuration for User Exclusion
- LwL.ProfileUnity.Client.UserInit.exe.config now features a "UsersExcludedFromProfileUnity" configuration file setting. This setting allows the exclusion of certain users from ProfileUnity, thereby conserving licenses. The client license service has been updated to recognize this configuration, ensuring that licenses are not requested for users specified in the “UsersExcludedFromProfileUnity”.
FlexApp Packaging Console
- Updated Runtimes in the Runtime Tool
- The Runtime Tool within the FlexApp Packaging Console and for the client OS have been updated to their latest versions.
- Enhanced Cleanliness for FlexApp Layers
- To achieve the cleanest FlexApp layers possible, a new set of ignored registry and file system paths has been incorporated into the process. These additions focus on excluding elements related to security software, anti-virus programs, and specific parts of Windows that are not suitable for capture within a FlexApp layer, enhancing the overall integrity and performance of the layers.
- Runtime Tool UI Improvement
- The user interface of the Runtime Tool has been improved for better usability. Now, the Install button becomes inactive when no run times are selected. This update prevents errors and enhances the user experience by guiding the user to make valid selections before proceeding with runtime installations.
Issues Resolved
ProfileUnity Management Console
- Fixed an issue where you were unable to upgrade a cluster node with the ProfileUnity installer where the host was NOT in standalone mode.
- Fixed an issue where HSTS was missing from the license service web server. (RFC 6797)
Client
- Fixed an issue where the client splash screen and client would launch when no configuration exists.
- Fixed an issue where portability to Azure blob storage would fail.
- Fixed an issue where the FlexApp One Module would fail for Azure blob storage.
- Fixed an issue where incomplete logoffs would cause left over token files.
- Fixed an issue where vhd.exe /FlexDisk would run indefinitely in all use cases, now vhd.exe will close after 2 mins unless running in FlexDisk mode.
FlexApp
- Fixed an issue where FlexApp encountered failures in layering due to conflict resolution problems. This issue arose when the target operating system already contained a top-level folder that needed to be shared between the native OS and the FlexApp layer. For instance, if the target OS had an existing C:\Program Files\Google directory, attempting to layer an application like Google Chrome, which requires the same directory, would previously result in a failure to layer. This fix ensures seamless integration and layering of applications even when overlapping directory paths exist.
FlexApp Packaging Console
- Fixed an issue where extending after creating package prompts for icon selection, then just ends the capture process.
- Fixed an issue where blank shortcut icons would occur when packaging a FlexApp One.
- Fixed an issue where unchanged files were not captured during edit, configure, and extend processes.
ProfileUnity Component Versions
| Component | 6.8.6 R1 |
|---|---|
| Console UI | 6.8.6.8805 |
| FlexDisk Service | 6.8.6.8637 |
| Client.NET | 6.8.6.8805 |
| VirtFS | 6.8.6.8805 |
| LWL UserApp Player | 6.8.6.8805 |
| LWL UserApp Service | 6.8.6.8805 |
| LWL Elevation Service | 6.8.6.8805 |
| LWL License Service | 6.8.6.8805 |
| FPC | 6.8.6.8805 |
| FPC Player | 6.8.6.8805 |
| FPC VirtFS | 6.8.6.8805 |
Known Issues and Limitations
Important: End-of-Life for ProfileUnity versions 6.8.3, 6.8.3 R2, and 6.8.4
Effective 12/31/2024, Liquidware will be discontinuing all sales and technical support of the ProfileUnity versions listed in the knowledge base article entitled "End-of-Life for Versions of ProfileUnity." We encourage all customers who might still be utilizing these versions to upgrade to a more recent version to take advantage of the numerous technologies & feature enhancements as well as resolved support issues. For a Full list of End-of-Life date refer to this URL: https://liquidwarelabs.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/articles/13403791806989-End-Of-Life-For-Versions-of-ProfileUnity.
- FlexApp on AppStream leveraging the dynamic application framework is not supported in this release, it will be supported in 6.8.7 due out later in 2024. Publishing a Full Desktop using FlexApp normally is supported without the dynamic application framework to publish the application.
- There is a known issue where you cannot upgrade a ProfileUnity cluster, where the cluster nodes have a valid IPV6 address from a valid IPV6 DHCP scope. For more information, see Clustering - Error adding third cluster node.
- There could be an issue upgrading the ProfileUnity Console that was deployed by the Amazon AWS Marketplace or the Azure Marketplace, you will have to contact support@liquidware.com for assistance.
- The following features no longer support 32-bit Windows, FlexApp, FlexApp packaging console, ProfileDisk, Custom Folder redirection using a Hard Redirect and Registry Redirection.
- Client-side Amazon S3 credential free option (IAM) is not functional in this release but Console and FPC work.
- Using Internet Explorer to manage the ProfileUnity console is no longer supported.
- Windows 7, Windows Server 2008 R2 and 2012 R2 are not supported.
- Outlook file previewer does not work in a FlexApp version of Office 365. Double-clicking the file works fine.
- Performance collection is unavailable in developer tools on Internet Explorer 11 and Legacy Edge when ProfileDisk is enabled.
- Audit Management —Changing No Filter To Filter shows internal filter ID, not friendly name.
- Files that have more than 260 characters are not processed by the Portability engine.
- If the customer has automatic root certificate updates disabled, the ProfileUnity Management Console install might fail with data1.cab certificate error.
- FED and some commercial accounts following federal STIG guidelines could have automatic root certificate updates disabled causing them to not have the latest root certificate. Our installer code was compiled with the latest root certificates.
- Using Folder Redirection on all of Appdata Local can cause Windows 10/11 and Windows Server 2016/2019/2022 issues.
- Using Portability on all of Appdata Local can cause long logins for Windows 10.
- When using Portability, Windows 10 that is pinned and Start Menu items do not migrate to Windows 11.
- ProfileDisk from Windows 10 does not work correctly on Windows 11. Portability must be used to migrate to a new Windows 11 ProfileDisk.
Upgrading to 6.8.6 R1
The procedures and requirements for upgrading ProfileUnity & FlexApp differ based on certain factors, such as your existing version and whether or not you have multiple ProfileUnity Console nodes configured in a cluster. For information and procedures for your specific upgrade scenario, refer to the ProfileUnity & FlexApp Upgrade Guide.
Feature Updates Affecting Product Behavior Post Upgrade
Before upgrading to the latest version, be aware of the following product changes if you are not already running 6.8.5.
- Disabled features and retaining enabled features
- On upgrade, each configuration will have Printer Refresh, Restart Spooler, Mapped Drive Refresh and Retain User File Associations checked. This gives you the same behavior as prior releases.
- If you are leveraging the ability to disable the Print Spooler Restart feature, you will apply this option with the new Windows Options, as the old method is no longer honored.
- After upgrading and before deploying the new 6.8.6 R1 configuration, go into the Windows Options configuration module and uncheck Restart Spooler.
Note: Any workarounds for Refresh.exe and Refresh Visual Style (PUPThemes) are no longer needed as they do not run by default any longer.
- If you are leveraging retaining Volume Level, Number Lock State, Caps Lock State, Scroll Lock State, User Installed Fonts and/or System Installed Fonts you will have to do the following.
- Enable the corresponding feature in the Windows Options module in your configuration. Then add the corresponding portability rule to your configuration before deploying your configuration.
- Multiple INIs and Require Group Membership for Execution
- On upgrade of the ProfileUnity Client to 6.8.5 or later, the client will honor older INIs and 6.8.6 R1 INIs that restrict INI execution to group membership. However, once you uncheck the option in the Main configuration module for Require Group Membership for Execution, you can NOT use this option again. It is permanently disabled. It is suggested to transition using the Require Filter for Execution setting to build the filter you need to restrict INI execution and then apply it to the configuration.
- Multiple INIs with User Defined Scripts
- By default in prior versions, ALL User Defined Scripts would execute regardless of Require Group Membership for Execution or Require Filter for Execution settings in the Main module. In 6.8.5 and up, User Defined Scripts will only execute if the configuration applies to the user or the User Defined Scripts filter applies to the user. For most customers, no action is required. However, if scripts that were applied from unattended configurations were helping, these scripts would need to be duplicated from configuration to configuration.
