Side-Loading- For Windows LOB deployments

Sideloading allows the installation of apps without using the Windows Store.

Deploying Sideloaded apps –Pre-requisitesPreparing the app:• Meets the base technical expectations that are validated by the Windows App Certification

Kit• Is signed by a certification authority that is trusted on your PCs.

Preparing the PC/Tablet:• The PC is domain joined.• The group policy is set to Allow trusted apps to install.• Setting the group policy to Allow trusted apps to install.• Activating the product key for enterprise sideloading on each PC.

Deploying Sideloaded apps

Deploying the app: (manual)• Deploy using Windows PowerShell cmdlet. (Single User)add-appxpackage C:\ContosoApp\ExpenseApp.appx

• Deploy using windows image (All Users)Use the Deployment Image Servicing and Management (DISM) command-line tool.DISM /Add-ProvisionedAppxPackage /PackagePath:C:\App1.appx /SkipLicense

Enable Sideloading: Via Product Activation KeyAcquiring product activation key• Activation key can be acquired from the MS volume licensing mechanism:

http://www.microsoft.com/licensing/about-licensing/windows8-1.aspx

Add and Activate product key• Add the sideloading product activation key to the device by running the following command

from an elevated command prompt (where <sideloading product key> is the 25-digit sideloading product activation key):Slmgr /ipk <sideloading product key>

• Activate the sideloading product activation key by running the following command from an elevated command prompt:Slmgr /ato ec67814b-30e6-4a50-bf7b-d55daf729d1e

Automating Edvelop DeploymentFollowing MS Server side tools can be used for managing and automating the deployment/Sideloading of Edvelop

• System Center 2012 Configuration Managerhttp://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/dn613840.aspx• Windows Intunehttp://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/dn613839.aspx• Microsoft Deployment Toolkithttp://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/dn613830.aspx• Implement an Enterprise App Storehttp://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/dn613838.aspx

Depending on costing of server tools, customer specific needs and Edvelop deployment strategy any one of the above protocols can be used.

Windows 8.1Update: SideloadingEnhancements

• As part of Windows 8.1 Update, MicroSoft is enabling sideloading for all Windows 8.1 Pro devices that are joined to an Active Directory domain

• As of May 1, 2014 customers in the following Volume Licensing programs (regardless of what product they purchase) will be granted Enterprise SideloadingRights and provided with a sideload key at no additional license cost.

• Also starting May 1, 2014, other customers who want to enable sideloading will be able to purchase an Enterprise Sideloading key for $100 through the Open License program. An unlimited number of devices can be enabled for sideloading using this key.

References:

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-in/library/windows/apps/jj657971.aspxhttp://blogs.windows.com/itpro/2014/04/03/windows-8-1-update-sideloading-enhancements/

Thank YouAshish Agrawal