Welcome to Virtual Desktop

What is VDI?

Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI) consists of a thin client device and a server that allows multiple user desktops to run as separate virtual machines while sharing underlying physical hardware resources such as CPU, memory, networking and storage.

 

Who should read this document?

Users on thin client devices that require a user name and password.

 

Tips

To help you get settled in, we have compiled a few tips that, we hope, will help make your life easier.

Logging in

Turn on the monitor. Ensure the light on your device is green. If not, press the power button. Wait for the prompt and enter your username and password.

Leaving Your Workstation

• Option 1: Turn off your device by holding the power button until it turns orange (monitor will automatically turn off). This option saves the most power. Your desktop, including unsaved work, will be restored the next time you sign on.
• Option 2: In a hurry? Press the power button once. (Do not hold it.) Like option 1, your session, including any unsaved work, is preserved until you log on again.

Logging Out

Every few days you should reset your vitual desktop by logging out by selecting Start->Log off. You can then leave your workstation by Option 1 or Option 2, above.

Automated logout

After 8 hours, you will be automatically logged off. 

USB Keys

USB keys can be used for external storage.  Insert the key and wait for acknowledgement that the system recognizes your key.  (If you are asked to reboot because Windows has detected a new device, ignore this message.)  The Kingston USB Keys available from the UBC Bookstore appear to be the most reliable in VDI.

Working from home

Working from home is easy from your Windows home computer.  On your home computer, go to https://myvdi.ubc.ca/ and download the 32 or 64 bit version of the view client.  (The first or third items.)  Once installed, use the myvdi.ubc.ca connection server and the same username/password as in the office.  If required, select EAD as the Domain. 

Available applications

Your Desktop has all Micrsoft applications pre-installed, including Visio and Project.  Other applications are available; some incur additional license fees. 

Use your U: Drive

Your U: drive is your primary VDI storage.  (Spring 2012 – your primary storage will be the H: drive, U: drive will still be available but is secondary storage.)  Both U: and H: are backed-up on a regular basis.

Microsoft Office Tips and Tricks

Word/Excel/Power Point can make PDFs
If you need to create PDFs in Word, Excel, or PowerPoint, just go to Office|Save As|PDF. 

Outlook: Improve overall performance
Outlook performance decreases when there are over 5,000 items in the ‘Critical Paths:’ Inbox, Deleted Items, and Sent Items.  Keep the number of items in these folders below that magic number by organizing your email into sub-folders, and Outlook will perform better for you.

Outlook: A faster way to search
There are two ways to search in Outlook: the easiest is simply by typing in your search terms in the search text box found on the top of the email listing pane.  The faster way is by using “Advanced Find,” accessible by pressing “Ctrl+Shift+F” or Tools|Instant Search|Advanced Find.  Advanced Find gives you more search options, and, best of all, it’s faster!

Addins for Excel, Word and others

Addins for applications can be downloaded and installed.  These addins however will not be available after you log off and login again unless the addin is reinstalled.