RACS - Computing Documentation Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI)

Log into CEOAS VDI Session:

  • Open a web browser and go to the OSU Citrix page. You will see the screen below.
    VDI Screen 1

     

  • Enter your ONID username in the page above using the format “onid\<username>”. (e.g., onid\langhofc. Then enter your ONID password.
     
  • Send a DUO push to your mobile device or enter a passcode from your DUO token. If you have any trouble up to this point, please contact the OSU Helpdesk to get access.
    VDI Duo
  • You will then see the blank homepage for the OSU Citrix page; click on the Desktops icon at the top of the page (highlighted here in blue). Do not uses the Apps icon here, the apps do not work well.
    VDI Desktop

     

  • When in the Desktops window, you should see the following. Click on the CEOAS Desktops icon to activate a new Windows Virtual Desktop. Do not use the OSU Virtual Campus Labs for GIS work. They are not powerful enough.
    VDI CEOAS Desktop

     

  • Once the VDI sessionis started this is what the Windows 10 Virtual Desktop will look like:
    VDI Desktop Open

     

  • At the top of the screen there is a small black bar that can be expanded to give some control over the Virtual Session, see below:
    VDI Toolbar

     

  • Please remember to log out of the computer when you are done so the instance can be used by others as needed:
    VDI Logout

     

Best Practices for CEOAS VDI Session:

  • When using the CEOAS Virtual Desktops, please remember to save ALL of your projects and data to your student class folder on the R:\ drive. Information on how to set up your R:\ drive access.
     
    • If you save anything to your profile (Desktop, Documents, Pictures, Downloads folders etc…) it will cause performance issues when logging out and back into the Virtual Desktop Systems.
       
    • As long as you move everything from your profile to the R:\ drive you will be fine.
       
    • If you do happen to work locally, there is a 64GB data storage limit in your profile, if you exceed that the Virtual Desktop will cease to function properly.
       
  • There are timeouts set with the VDI session.
     
    • Currently the Virtual Desktop system is set to disconnect the session after 8 hours of idle time.
       
    • One hour after that the session will be logged out of automatically and anything saved locally will be lost.
       
    • If you reconnect to your session within one hour of getting disconnected your session will still be how you left it. After one hour it will be lost.
       
    • Anything saved to the R:\ drive will be fine.