Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI) Guide

To make software more readily available to current SIU students, faculty and staff, we have virtualized that software to be accessible from personal devices.

Instructions

Use the VMware Horizon Client to access a virtual desktop or virtual application from your personal device.  Entitlement varies by affiliation, role, department, courses, etc.

1. Install VMware Horizon Client

Download and install the VMware Horizon Client for your personal device.

2. Connect to VDI Server

Open the VMware Horizon Client, click Add Server, and enter Connection Server https://vdi.siu.edu, then click Connect.

3. Login to VDI Server

Enter your SIU Network ID (SIU85xxxxxxx) or e-mail address (somebody@siu.edu) and password, then click Login.

4. Use Duo Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)

Enter a Duo passcode or select a listed option, then click Login.

5. Select Virtual Desktop or Virtual Application

Double-click a virtual desktop or virtual application. Standard virtual desktops include:

IT-CLCLabs:

• Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, etc.)
• miscellaneous common software

Geospatial Analysis: Each academic term, this virtual desktop is automatically assigned to all instructors of record and enrolled students.

• ArcGIS CityEngine
• ArcGIS Desktop
• ArcGIS Pro
• Microsoft Office
• Julia
• Python
• R / RStudio Ddesktop
• Visual Studio Code

Statistical Analysis: Each academic term, this virtual desktop is automatically assigned to all instructors of record and enrolled students.

• JMP Pro
• Mathematica
• MATLAB
• SAS
• SPSS Amos
• SPSS Statistics
• Microsoft Office
• JAGS
• Julia
• Python
• R / RStudio
• Visual Studio Code

6. Save Files to Persistent Storage

Save files to persistent storage like the following. Files saved to non-persistent virtual desktops and virtual applications will be lost upon logout and irrecoverable.

• cloud storage like OneDrive
• network storage like a file share
• local device storage at Network Drive (Z:)
• removeable storage like a USB drive

7. Logout

Sign out of the virtual desktop or close the virtual application, then disconnect from the connection server.  Idle sessions automatically disconnect at ~20 minutes of inactivity, then logout at ~60 minutes of inactivity.

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