Create an MSI for your OS image

Aug 14, 2017

This section describes how to create a snapshot MSI of your OS image so you can then import it into AppDNA.

Note: Snapshot Manager uses the %SYSTEMDRIVE% environment variable to detect the drive where the OS is installed.

  1. From the AppDNA side bar, choose Import & Analyze > Operating Systems.

  2. On the toolbar in the Operating Systems screen, click Download Snapshot Manager.

  3. Save SnapshotManager.exe to a suitable location.

  4. If necessary, copy SnapshotManager.exe to the machine whose OS image you want to capture.

  5. In Windows Explorer, right-click SnapshotManager.exe and choose Run as administrator.

  6. Select the location to store the output files and click OK.

    This opens a command prompt and starts the creation of the OS image MSI. Depending on the OS and the size of the build, the process can take anywhere from 30 minutes to around 2 hours to complete.

  7. When the creation of the MSI is complete, a dialog box opens showing the name and location of the MSI snapshot file. Click OK to close the dialog.

  8. If necessary, copy the following files to the machine where AppDNA is installed:

    <os_image_name>.msi <os_image_name>.msi.xml <os_image_name>.msi_predumper.xml <os_image_name>.msi_predumper_output.xml

You can now import the OS image into AppDNA, as described in Import an OS image.