VDI services

VDI (Virtual Desktop Infrastructure)

The VDI project available for all CS populations, and only with your CS user account.

In case of a problem please open a service desk call, unless you are an undergradudate Student – in which you should refer to the advisor in the library desk.

You can connect to your desktop by using the VMware Horizon Client (preferred), or you can connect to your desktop through a browser (see Browser section).
The VMware Horizon Client offers better performance and features.

Also on this page:

VMware Horizon Client

Download VMware Horizon View Clients
In order to connect to the VDI (virtual machine) using a client, first needed to download and install VMware Horizon View Client. (ver 5.5.2)  – New.

Demonstration of installation and launching VMware Horizon Client 4.4.0 for Windows (newer version are much the same).

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Linux installation
Ubuntu

The VMware View Client is available in the Synaptic Package Manager.

  • Add “Canonical Partners” to the repository list
  • In Synaptic Package Manager select settings -> repositories -> Other Software
  • Check Canonical Partners
  • Close the Dialog box
  • Reload the repository
  • With the Quick Filter search for VMware-view-client
  • Select the client , and install (do not use the vmware-view-open-client)
  • In case of problem with Ubuntu 13.04 follow the instructions on vmware-view-client 1.7/2.0 on ubuntu 13.04 (i386/amd64)
Other distributions

For other distribution try the instructions on VMware VDI View client with PCoIP for Linux
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Working with VMware View

Run VMware View Client.

  • Press the Add Server button to add the connection server (only for the first time later on just dubble click on the server name).
  • On the popup windoes enter: evm.cs.technion.ac.il
  • OK
  • On the authentication screen enter the authentication information (chose Domain TD-CSF).
  • Press the Login button.
  • Your Authorized pools will be shown, double click on the pool icon you want to use.

That’s it…. Your Virtual PC is ready and you can use it.
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Browser

In order to connect by browser please browse by browser that support HTML5 to the VDI, and select VMware Horizon HTML Access.

Enter the authentication information (chose Domain TD-CSF), and Sign In.

Browse to your desktop.

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Some more useful information (Tips and Tricks)
Client

On the top of the VDI windows screen there is a bar that handle some of the options and the USB redirect.
At the left of the bar there is a pin for auto hide the bar.

In order to send Ctrl-Alt-Delete to the virtual machine, there are several options:

  • Use Ctrl-Alt-Insert.
  • At the top bar, select the Option, and from the drop down list select Send Ctrl-Alt-Delete.
  • For client version 5.1 only. At the top bar, use Send Ctrl-Alt-Delete button.

All local drive of the physical machine are not available on the virtual machine.
However one can connect a USB drive or device. At the top bar, there is a USB drop down menu that let you connect or disconnect USB devices, and change some other options.

All the printers that are installed on the physical machine are redirect to the virtual machine, and the default printer on the physical become the default of the virtual.

Drive C of the virtual machine refresh or recompose from time to time depending on the pool policy, therefor it highly recommended not to save and not to install anything on this drive.

However in most cases the user profile (Desktop, Documents, favorites, etc.) is not part of C drive. Usually user profile locate on the home drive (Z:) for students, and on drive D: for others.

If user profile drive is out of disk space it will lead to applications malfunction and in some cases to lack of memory errors. In those cases it is advice to clean unneeded stuff from the profile drive.

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Browser

To display the menu bar, click the down-arrow on the tab at the top-center of the
window

On the bar at the top right corner, when clicking on the username a small menu is open that enable to:

  • Paste text
  • Toggle Full Screen
  • Ctrl + Alt + Delete
  • Toggle High Resolution Mode

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CStore Computer Science Virtual Application Store

Some of the software used on the VDI are virtual application. It can be recognized by a few second popup at the right bottom corner of the screen when starting it.

On the first run of each virtual application it create a sandbox for the user profile, this process is one time creation per virtual application, saved in the user profile, and take few seconds.

For more information Virtual Applications.

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Outside use troubleshoot

Problem: Black screen while trying to connect to a virtual machine, after few seconds getting “The remote connection has ended”.

Solution: On Client open outbound firewall Port 4172 both for TCP and UDP.

With browser open outbound firewall TCP port 8443.

For domain computers and account, when trying to connect using non Technion network. One can’t use the checkbox “Log on as TD-CSF\<username>”, one mast enter the password when connecting from outside the Technion.

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This page is updating over time, so visit it again for more, and updated information.

For more information: yigal.m@cs.technion.ac.il.