Access Tropical Cloud Desktop from Any Device Tropical Business Solutions White Paper
Contents What is Tropical Cloud Desktop?... 3 Information you are going to need... 3 How to connect to the Tropical Cloud Desktop... 3 Windows Devices... 3 Windows 8 & 8.1, Windows 7 & Windows Vista Computers & Tablets... 4 Windows XP... 4 Apple Devices... 5 Apple Laptops & Desktop Computers... 5 ipads & iphones... 5 Android Devices... 6 Linux Devices... 7 Further Assistance... 8 Page 2 of 8
What is Tropical Cloud Desktop? The Tropical Cloud Desktop is a product that allows business to work from any or multiple locations and from any device. It allows business to save costs on infrastructure; and ensure data, applications & systems are protected and online 99.9% of the time all while keeping the exact same experience for all users. Essentially we combine desktop computers and servers into a single product which we host in our data centers allowing us to provide your company with better reliability and redundancy than in-house IT can generally achieve especially where you may have multiple offices. It is a great tool to allow staff to bring their own device aka BYOD (such as their laptops or tablets), or for business to purchase cheap thin clients or dumb terminals that only connect to cloud desktop and require little to no maintenance thus are significantly cheaper when compared to full-fledged computers. It also allows us to react to your needs faster and with more agility allocating more storage, processing power or users and applications can happen overnight with little stress; and we can scale back just as fast keeping your solution always best fit to your business and with reflective pricing. Information you are going to need There are three things you are going to need to know about your companies Tropical Cloud Desktop to be able to access it. The Cloud Desktop Name is individual to your company, and is usually a shortened name of your company (i.e. ace.tropicalcloud.com.au). Your personal username, usually your first name and last name (i.e. TROPICALCLOUD\firstname.lastname); and your password. Tropical Cloud Desktop Name (Computer Name): Your Tropical Cloud Username: TROPICALCLOUD\ Your Tropical Cloud Password. If you don t have the above information please call Tropical Business Solutions on 08 8922 0000 or email help@tropicalbusiness.com.au and we can assist. How to connect to the Tropical Cloud Desktop Often, after Tropical Business Solutions has deployed the Tropical Cloud Desktop to an organization, users are given a file that they double click. This file has all your settings pre-populated on it, and all you need to do is type in your password. This file works with all Microsoft Windows computers. However, one of the great things about the Tropical Cloud Desktop is that you can access it from ANY device. This document aims to show you HOW to access the Cloud Desktop from any main stream device. Windows Devices When you use Microsoft Windows Computers, you can manually connect to the cloud desktop even if you don t have the file that Tropical Business Solutions had given you with all the settings pre-configured for you. All Microsoft Windows Professional grade OS computers have remote desktop connection application pre-installed on the computer for you. If you don t have a professional grade computer you can download third party remote desktop tools from here: http://www.freerdp.com/ Page 3 of 8
Here is how to achieve access to Tropical Cloud Desktop from any Windows computer or tablet; Windows 8 & 8.1, Windows 7 & Windows Vista Computers & Tablets 1. Open start menu and type in Remote Desktop Connection and open the application. a. There are a number of options you can set at this stage before you actually connect to the Cloud Desktop. Click on Options on the application, and a number of items will come up. i. Display Tab Allows you to change the size of the screen (you can have full screen or a smaller screen so you can work both locally and on the cloud desktop). ii. Local Resources Connect Sound, Printers, Clip Board, and Local Hard Drives on your computer (via More Button ) to your cloud desktop. iii. Experience This is a great preconfigure setting to allow you to set the program to run better on slower internet connections or faster internet connections. 2. In computer name (on the main screen OR general tab), type the name of your cloud desktop. Usually it is a shortened name of your company (i.e. ace.tropicalcloud.com.au). This is an individual name specifically setup for your company. If you don t have this information please contact Tropical Business Solutions and we can give this to you. 3. You will next be asked for your username & password, this will be the same that you have used to login previously and should be formatted as (TROPICALCLOUD\*username*). The TROPICALCLOUD\ part of the username is important to remember to place in here. Your password again is the same as you usually use when accessing Tropical Cloud Desktop from your normal computer. 4. You may be prompted for confirmation to access the server, just click yes, connect or confirm when these windows come up. 5. That s it. You now have access to the Tropical Cloud Desktop from another computer (either from home, another office or while you are away on holidays!) and it should be exactly the same as your usual experience within the office. Windows XP The Tropical Cloud Desktop can work with Windows XP, but if you are using this operating system PLEASE contact Tropical Business Solutions ASAP so we can find you an alternative device. Windows XP is end of life and does pose a security threat to you online; and we cannot ensure complete safety of your data. 1. Open start menu and click on RUN. In in the run prompt box, type in MSTSC and press ENTER. a. There are a number of options you can set at this stage before you actually connect to the Cloud Desktop. Click on Options on the application, and a number of items will come up. i. Display Tab Allows you to change the size of the screen (you can have full screen or a smaller screen so you can work both locally and on the cloud desktop). ii. Local Resources Connect Sound, Printers, Clip Board, and Local Hard Drives on your computer (via More Button ) to your cloud desktop. Page 4 of 8
iii. Experience This is a great preconfigure setting to allow you to set the program to run better on slower internet connections or faster internet connections. 2. In computer name (on the main screen OR general tab), type the name of your cloud desktop. Usually it is a shortened name of your company (i.e. ace.tropicalcloud.com.au). This is an individual name specifically setup for your company. If you don t have this information please contact Tropical Business Solutions and we can give this to you. 3. You will next be asked for your username & password, this will be the same that you have used to login previously and should be formatted as (TROPICALCLOUD\*username*). The TROPICALCLOUD\ part of the username is important to remember to place in here. Your password again is the same as you usually use when accessing Tropical Cloud Desktop from your normal computer. 4. You may be prompted for confirmation to access the server, just click yes, connect or confirm when these windows come up. 5. That s it. You now have access to the Tropical Cloud Desktop from another computer (either from home, another office or while you are away on holidays!) and it should be exactly the same as your usual experience within the office. Apple Devices Apple computers and IOS devices work with Tropical Cloud Desktop as well. This is great for portability and for staff to be able to work from home who have apple devices. We also are able to leverage the use of Windows based programs on Apple products in this way, meaning the computer you have is no longer an obstacle when deploying software. Apple Laptops & Desktop Computers Apple has a great line up of computers, and while it doesn t have the application we need for the Tropical Cloud Desktop, we can download a small application to allow us to do this. Downloading Application for Remote Desktop 1. Google Microsoft Remote Desktop Connection Client for Mac ; the first link should be a Microsoft Website. 2. Click on Download, and Install. Running Application 1. Open the newly installed Remote Desktop Application. 2. Similar to the Microsoft Windows version, it will ask you for a computer name. Usually it is a shortened name of your company (i.e. ace.tropicalcloud.com.au). This is an individual name specifically setup for your company. If you don t have this information please contact Tropical Business Solutions and we can give this to you. Press connect. 3. The application will now ask you for your username and password. Your username will be formatted as (TROPICALCLOUD\*firstname.lastname*). The TROPICALCLOUD\ part of the username is important to remember to place in here. Your password again is the same as you usually use when accessing Tropical Cloud Desktop from your normal computer. ipads & iphones Downloading the Application 1. Search the app store for Microsoft Remote Desktop. Page 5 of 8
2. Ensure it is from the Microsoft Corporation before downloading & installing. Note: a great alternative to the Microsoft agent is Free RDP - http://www.freerdp.com/ - an open source software. Settings for getting it running a very similar to the below; you can download this for the Google Play store of from the link on their website. Running the Application 1. Open the application. Sometimes you will be taken to a Whats New Screen. Just press whats new at the top left of the screen to go back to the main screen. 2. At the main screen there will be a + at the bottom, press it to add a new saved setup for the Cloud Desktop. 3. Fill out the settings for the connection: a. Name the connection as something you will remember like Work Cloud Desktop or something similar. b. The PC name is the name of your companies Tropical Cloud Desktop. Usually it is a shortened name of the company (i.e. ace.tropicalcloud.com.au). c. Your credentials include your username, which is usually your first & last name eg: (TROPICALCLOUD\first.lastname). d. PLEASE don t save your password here. e. When you are finished press the tick at the top left of the screen. 4. Back at the main screen you will see the connection details you just defined under the name you gave it in step 3a. To connect, simply press on it. 5. You will be asked for your username and password after starting a connection. Enter everything required. 6. You may be asked to confirm the certificate depending, if you are press always trust. 7. That it, you can connect with your phone or tablet. Android Devices Android devices are everywhere, and naturually being able to access Cloud Desktop from them is a big plus especially when you consider all the forms that Android comes in (Desktops, Tablets, etc.) Downloading Application for Remote Desktop 1. Open the Google Play Store and search for Microsoft Remote Desktop Connection Client. 2. Confirm this is published by Microsoft before downloading & installing. Note: a great alternative to the Microsoft agent is Free RDP - http://www.freerdp.com/ - an open source software. Settings for getting it running a very similar to the below; you can download this for the Google Play store of from the link on their website. Running the application. 8. Open the application. Sometimes you will be taken to a Whats New Screen. Just press whats new at the top left of the screen to go back to the main screen. 9. At the main screen there will be a + at the bottom, press it to add a new saved setup for the Cloud Desktop. 10. Fill out the settings for the connection: Page 6 of 8
a. Name the connection as something you will remember like Work Cloud Desktop or something similar. b. The PC name is the name of your companies Tropical Cloud Desktop. Usually it is a shortened name of the company (i.e. ace.tropicalcloud.com.au). c. Your credentials include your username, which is usually your first & last name eg: (TROPICALCLOUD\first.lastname). d. PLEASE don t save your password here. e. When you are finished press the tick at the top left of the screen. 11. Back at the main screen you will see the connection details you just defined under the name you gave it in step 3a. To connect, simply press on it. 12. You will be asked for your username and password after starting a connection. Enter everything required. 13. You may be asked to confirm the certificate depending, if you are press always trust. 14. That it, you can connect with your phone, tablet or any other device now. Linux Devices Another major platform is Linux computers; which can provide cheap physical devices to connect to the Tropical Cloud Desktop; and is often the OS powering thin client computers. Downloading the App 1. Free RDP is a great open source project for Remote Desktop client s. You can download the actual files from here: http://www.freerdp.com/ 2. Install the software as described in the website. Running the application 1. Similar to all the other instances of Remote Desktop clients; In computer name (on the main screen OR general tab), type the name of your cloud desktop. Usually it is a shortened name of your company (i.e. ace.tropicalcloud.com.au). This is an individual name specifically setup for your company. If you don t have this information please contact Tropical Business Solutions and we can give this to you. 2. You will next be asked for your username & password, this will be the same that you have used to login previously and should be formatted as (TROPICALCLOUD\*username*). The TROPICALCLOUD\ part of the username is important to remember to place in here. Your password again is the same as you usually use when accessing Tropical Cloud Desktop from your normal computer. In some versions of the application you will also be able to move the domain Tropicalcloud under its own domain field. (i.e. domain: tropicalcloud username:firstname.lastname). 3. You may be prompted for confirmation to access the server, just click yes, connect or confirm when these windows come up. 4. That s it. You now have access to the Tropical Cloud Desktop from another computer (either from home, another office or while you are away on holidays!) and it should be exactly the same as your usual experience within the office. Page 7 of 8
Further Assistance Thank you for reading this white paper on accessing the Tropical Cloud Desktop on any device. If you have any comments or further questions regarding this document or the support it renders, please email help@tropicalbusiness.com.au. If you need direct assistance with setting up a device, call our office for support on 08 8922 0000. Note: Commercial in Confidence Information. This document, including any associated elements, documents or files; remain the intellectual property of Tropical Business Solutions Pty Ltd. Any information contained within this document should be considered privileged and confidential; and should not be used for any purpose other than the sole purpose for which you received it. Disclosing, copying, distributing or taking any action in reliance on the contents of this information is strictly prohibited, unless approved in writing by Tropical Business Solutions Pty Ltd. If you have any further questions regarding the above statement, please email help@tropicalbusiness.com.au for more information. Page 8 of 8