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Difference between revisions of "VCPortal"

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== ODU Computer Science | Virtual Desktop Lab User’s Guide ==
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== ODU Computer Science | Virtual Computer Lab User’s Guide ==
  
The Computer Science Department is providing a new VDI solution which aims to be a replacement for VCLab. Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI) allows ODU faculty and remote students to access lab machine images over their network. Our users can interact with the remote operating system and its applications as if they were running locally.
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The Computer Science Department provides a Virtual Computer Lab as a remote computer solution. "VCPortal" allows ODU faculty and students access to a virtual computer lab machine through a supported browser or RDP. Our users can interact with the remote operating system and its applications as if they were running locally. This includes the use of peripherals such as USB drives and microphones.
  
The new Virtual Desktop Lab will feature major improvements from VClab:
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The Virtual Computer Lab features:
Up-to-date operating system
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* Up-to-date operating system
Up-to-date applications
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* Software development applications including IDEs and database tools
Modern look and feel
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* Modern look and feel
HTML5 web browsers as a VDI client
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This document is divided into the following sections
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== Accessing VCPortal from Web Browser ==
* Accessing Virtual Desktop Lab from a web browser
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* Accessing Virtual Desktop Lab with a native RDP client
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== Accessing VDLab from Web Browser ==
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* ''Adblockers must be disabled for functionality''
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## Navigate to [https://vdportal.cs.odu.edu] 
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## At the login screen, provide your CS credentials 
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[[File:Vdportal_login.png|400px]]
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# Connect to the CS Forticlient [[VPN Services]]
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# Navigate to https://vcportal.cs.odu.edu
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# At the login screen, provide your CS credentials.
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#: [[File:VCPortal signin2.png|400px]]
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# Connect to the remote computer lab by clicking '''Any Available Machines'''<sup>1</sup> <!--Changed from VCLab-->
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#: [[File:VCPortal_MainPage.png|400px]] <!--Took a screenshot and can provide this as well -->
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# Your remote desktop connection will start in your web browser <sup>2</sup>
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#: [[File:Student machine Zdrive.png|400px]]
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== Remote Desktop Client ==
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# Connect to the CS Forticlient [[VPN Services]]
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# Navigate to https://vcportal.cs.odu.edu
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# At the login screen, provide your CS credentials
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# Locate and navigate to the "Settings" icon at the top right-hand corner
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#: [[File:04-settings.png|400px]]
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# Select the "Settings" icon to open the drop-down window
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#: [[File:05-rdpfile.png|400px]]
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# Select the "Download the rdp file" radio button
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#: [[File:06-rdpfile.png|400px]]
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#: Download the pre-configured RDP file by ''clicking'' '''Any available Machines''' <sup>1</sup> <!--Changed from VCLab-->
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#: [[File:02-homepage.png|400px]]
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# You will be prompted to save a pre-configured RDP file
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#: [[File:07-save.png|400px]]
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# This file can be renamed and saved for future sessions. <!--This--> In the example below, the file is renamed and saved to the Downloads folder.
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#: [[File:VCPortal_rdpfile.png|400px]]
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# Double clicking the icon will launch your RDP Client
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'''Note''': You must be connected to the CS VPN, to gain access. Details can be found at: ([[VPN Services]])
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#: [[File:09-client.png|400px]]
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# For Windows users, opening the RDP file will launch the native RDP client
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# All MacOS users will first have to install the free Microsoft Remote Desktop 10 app from the Apple Store
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# All Linux users can use Remmina as their RDP client
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# When prompted for your CS credentials, you will need to prepend your username with 'CS\'
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#: [[File:10-login.png|400px]]
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#: [[File:11-domain.png|400px]]
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^1 For Students this should be titled ''Student Machines'', and for Staff it should be titled ''Faculty Machines''. <br>
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^2 Users can access their Documents via the '''Z:\''' Drive on the VCPortal Machine.

Latest revision as of 21:18, 26 July 2022

ODU Computer Science | Virtual Computer Lab User’s Guide

The Computer Science Department provides a Virtual Computer Lab as a remote computer solution. "VCPortal" allows ODU faculty and students access to a virtual computer lab machine through a supported browser or RDP. Our users can interact with the remote operating system and its applications as if they were running locally. This includes the use of peripherals such as USB drives and microphones.

The Virtual Computer Lab features:

  • Up-to-date operating system
  • Software development applications including IDEs and database tools
  • Modern look and feel

Accessing VCPortal from Web Browser

  • Adblockers must be disabled for functionality
  1. Connect to the CS Forticlient VPN Services
  2. Navigate to https://vcportal.cs.odu.edu
  3. At the login screen, provide your CS credentials.
    VCPortal signin2.png
  4. Connect to the remote computer lab by clicking Any Available Machines1
    VCPortal MainPage.png
  5. Your remote desktop connection will start in your web browser 2
    Student machine Zdrive.png

Remote Desktop Client

  1. Connect to the CS Forticlient VPN Services
  2. Navigate to https://vcportal.cs.odu.edu
  3. At the login screen, provide your CS credentials
  4. Locate and navigate to the "Settings" icon at the top right-hand corner
    04-settings.png
  5. Select the "Settings" icon to open the drop-down window
    05-rdpfile.png
  6. Select the "Download the rdp file" radio button
    06-rdpfile.png
    Download the pre-configured RDP file by clicking Any available Machines 1
    02-homepage.png
  7. You will be prompted to save a pre-configured RDP file
    07-save.png
  8. This file can be renamed and saved for future sessions. In the example below, the file is renamed and saved to the Downloads folder.
    VCPortal rdpfile.png
  9. Double clicking the icon will launch your RDP Client

Note: You must be connected to the CS VPN, to gain access. Details can be found at: (VPN Services)

  1. 09-client.png
  2. For Windows users, opening the RDP file will launch the native RDP client
  3. All MacOS users will first have to install the free Microsoft Remote Desktop 10 app from the Apple Store
  4. All Linux users can use Remmina as their RDP client
  5. When prompted for your CS credentials, you will need to prepend your username with 'CS\'
    10-login.png
    11-domain.png

^1 For Students this should be titled Student Machines, and for Staff it should be titled Faculty Machines.
^2 Users can access their Documents via the Z:\ Drive on the VCPortal Machine.