Windows 7 / Getting Started

Understanding the ACT

Figure illustrates the architecture of the ACT. The following list describes each component of this architecture:

Architecture ACT
  • Application Compatibility Manager A tool that enables you to configure, collect, and analyze your data so that you can triage and prioritize any issues prior to deploying a new operating system, updating your version of Internet Explorer, or deploying a Windows update in your organization.
  • Data Collection Package An .msi file created by the Application Compatibility Manager (ACM) for deploying to each of your client computers. Each Data Collection Package (DCP) can include one or more compatibility evaluators, depending on what you are trying to evaluate.
  • ACT Log Processing Service A service used to process the ACT log files uploaded from your client computers. It adds the information to your ACT database.
  • ACT Log Processing Share A file share, accessed by the ACT Log Processing Service, to store the log files that will be processed and added to the ACT database.
  • ACT Database A Microsoft SQL Server database that stores the collected application, computer, device, and compatibility data. You can view the information stored in the ACT database as reports from the ACM.
  • Microsoft Compatibility Exchange A Web service that propagates application compatibility issues from the server to the client and enables the client computers to connect to Microsoft via the Internet to check for updated compatibility information. This service does not automatically fix compatibility issues, as it is only an information sharing system.
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In this tutorial:

  1. Testing Application Compatibility
  2. Understanding Compatibility
  3. Why Applications Fail
  4. Choosing the Best Tool
  5. Program Compatibility Assistant
  6. Windows XP Mode
  7. Application Virtualization
  8. Understanding the ACT
  9. Support Topologies
  10. Compatibility Evaluators
  11. Planning for the ACT
  12. Choosing a Deployment Method
  13. Preparing for the ACT
  14. Sharing the Log Processing Folder
  15. Installing the ACT 5.5
  16. Collecting Compatibility Data
  17. Analyzing Compatibility Data
  18. Prioritizing Compatibility Data
  19. Assessing Application Compatibility
  20. Managing Compatibility Issues
  21. Filtering Compatibility Data
  22. Rationalizing an Application Inventory
  23. Testing and Mitigating Issues
  24. Modeling the Production Environment
  25. Using the Compatibility Administrator
  26. Deploying Application Mitigation Packages