Veribest ISD Virtual Desktop Integration Installing vworkstation for Remote (Home) Use Section 1: Installing the vworkstation Gateway The convenience of home access to your school district desktop is going to serve each faculty member and student in a unique and strategic manner. The ability to work on projects at school, lock the session, go home and open it back up, right where you were working, makes for less stress of deadlines while adding to the comfort and convenience of home to complete work in the evenings or any free time available. An additional website URL has been added to the districts website address making this gateway easy to access and bookmark for future use. Let s get started Open your webpage browser (Internet Explorer, Chrome, Firefox it doesn t matter) and enter the following URL: https://mydesktop.veribestisd.net. Please note that the URL begins in HTTPS. This is a secure link and requires the addition of the S. When the site opens you will be presented with the following screen (below, Figure 1a): Figure 1a Quest s vworkstation Web Access Logon Screen 1 P a g e
Once the website s Logon Screen opens, you will see a link appear at the bottom of the screen stating: This website wants to install the following add-on: vasclient32 from Quest Software, Inc. Special Note: if the install link does not appear at the bottom of the screen, select the Downloads tab at the top right of the webpage screen. The install client will be listed there. Click on it to begin the installation of Client Application. Click the Install button (above, Figure 1a) to install the client that will connect you to the district servers and vworkstation s desktop. The following Security Warning Notice (below, Figure 2a) will appear to install the client application. Figure 2a Security Warning, Install Option Select Install to install the client application (above, Figure 2a). Once selected, a License Agreement will appear. Select I accept the terms of the license agreement and then select the Next button (below, Figure 3a). Figure 3a License Agreement 2 P a g e
Figure 4a InstallShield Wizard An InstallShield Wizard Screen will appear (above, Figure 4a). Select the Next button and proceed to the installation. Once the Customer Information screen appears, enter your name and organization as seen (below, Figure5a). Select the option Only for me (your initials or name here) as this indicates that only you can attempt to logon at this link. Select the Next button to continue. Important Note: only users registered in the Veribest s District Network (with a UserID and Password) will have access to the web connection to school district desktops. The District Acceptable Use Policy (AUP) DOES apply here since you will be directly on district desktops, just as if you are sitting at your desk in school and working on the computer terminal. [Veribest s District Acceptable Use Policy - AUP] Figure 5a Customer Information 3 P a g e
Figure 6a Destination Folder Keep the default Destination Folder (above, Figure 6a) and select the Next button. The next screen to appear is the Credentials Pass-Through option (below, Figure 7a). Place a check mark in the Enable Credentials Pass-Through (Legacy Mode) checkbox and Select the Next button (below, Figure 7a). Figure 7a Credentials Pass-Through Once selected, the Shortcut Options screen appears (below, Figure 8a) asking if you want to install a shortcut on your desktop for the AppPortal. This shortcut will create a link to a Portal that will always be available to select the desktop application you need to work with, allowing you to click on that desktop and log you straight into the district Network vworkstation. Additionally, an option is offered to automatically launch this portal every 4 P a g e
time you logon. Check the Automatically Launch AppPortal in Desktop-Integrated Mode on Startup checkbox if you intend to use this logon route regularly. Note: The AppPortal option as well as the option for Automatic Launch was designed PRIMARILY for internal use (inside the school district) to expedite connectivity for users using the internet interface. This option can be selected later if you choose to do so. Once the portal is created, a settings option can be found in the toolbar at the top of the portal screen to let you modify some settings and appearance of the AppPortal. (See Section 2 of this Guide) When you have completed your options, select the Next button in the lower right corner of the Shortcut Options box (below, Figure 8a). Figure 8a Shortcut Options The Ready to Install the Program option box now appears asking you to proceed to the installation with all of the previous options chosen. Select the Next button to proceed with the installation (below, Figure 9a). Figure 9a Ready to Install the Program 5 P a g e
A progress bar will appear as the vworkstation Client installation proceeds (below, Figure 10a). DO NOT interrupt this installation process or some links may become inoperative, and the installation process will have to be uninstalled from the computer and started again from the beginning. Figure 10a Installing vworkstation Connector for Windows When the installation has completed, a notification box will appear. Select the Finish button to complete the process (below, Figure 11a). Figure 11a InstallShield Wizard Completed 6 P a g e
Figure 12a vworkstation Connector for Windows Installer Information A final information box will pop-up on your screen (above, Figure 12a) indicating a system reboot is required for configuration changes to be completed. Select the Yes button and reboot your system for installation completion. Congratulations you have now moved into Virtual computing with the completion of your Virtual Desktop Integration (VDI). Section 2: Installing the vworkstation AppPortal The AppPortal is a convenient way of accessing the vworkstation desktop without a lot of logons and screen delays. When a user logs onto their computer/laptop, the AppPortal awaits with a small window (that can be minimized so as not to clutter your desktop) that offers the links to your Veribest District desktop and all of the most current windows sessions and Office suite applications. Your logon and password are already inserted (and Encrypted for security) allowing the user to simply select a desktop version from the choice offered and hit the desktop right away! This installation process is especially important for students who may have a Windows or MAC laptop and want the access to school district vworkstation Desktops immediately while working at school. The connection is quick and convenient. SPECIAL Note: as indicated in the previous note located above (Figure 8a); the AppPortal was designed PRIMARILY for internal use (inside the school district) to expedite connectivity for users using the internet interface. Settings for home use will vary slightly and will be noted within this setup/installation guide as needed. Let s start our AppPortal installation First, let s understand the terminology of the Virtual Network system so it may shed some light on the process as you begin the configuration. Server Farm - also referred to as server cluster, computer farm or ranch. A server farm is a group of networked servers that are housed in one location. A server farm streamlines internal processes by distributing the workload between the individual components of the farm and expedites computing processes by harnessing the power of multiple servers. The farms rely on load-balancing software that accomplishes such tasks as tracking demand for processing power from different machines, prioritizing the tasks and scheduling and rescheduling them depending on priority and demand that users put on the network. When one server in the farm fails, another can step in as a backup. 7 P a g e Combining Installing servers vworkstation and processing for Remote power (Home into Computer\Laptop) a single entity has Use been Last relatively Modified: common 20130624 for many years in research and academic institutions. Today, more and more companies are utilizing server farms as a way of handling the enormous amount of computerization of tasks and services that they require.
In Section 1 of this guide, (Figure 8a) presented an option to place an AppPortal icon on your desktop. If you chose this option, you will need to configure the AppPortal using the following guidelines: When you double click on your desktop AppPortal icon, a Welcome box will appear (below, Figure 1b) indicating (under Farms section) that There are no connections defined. Click here to add a new connection. Select Click here to add a new connection. Figure 1b Welcome Screen An box will appear requesting the server name, URL, or file path to allow connectivity to the vworkstation Virtual network (below, Figure 2b). Select the link: Click this link to set up connection manually. Figure 2b Server Name, URL, or file path 8 P a g e
A screen will appear (below, Figure 3b) asking for several configuration options to be completed. Select the option Modify existing farm and place a check in the box for Automatically connect to this farm on startup. SPECIAL Note: Do NOT select the OK button in the lower right side of the Farm Connections window while you are still modifying configuration options. This will close the entire window without allowing you to complete all configurations. In the event that you inadvertently select OK, simply go to the Actions dropdown on you menu bar of the AppPortal and select Manage Connections to return to the Farm Connections window. Figure 3b Farm Connections When you select the next option from the left sub-menu, a pop-up information box will appear indicating At least one location in the farm (New Farm 1) must have a TCP Port and Server(s) specified (below, Figure 4b). Select the OK button in the pop-up box to proceed with the configuration. Now select Connectivity, the next option from the sub-menu on the left side of the Farm Connections window to be modified. 9 P a g e
Figure 4b Farm Connections As the screens progress into the configuration, the next screen displayed will be the Connectivity configuration screen (below, Figure 5b). Note that the selections skipped over the Farm Type. This information will be fulfilled once location is defined and the Farm Type is accessed from that location. Figure 5b Connectivity Location Selection On Left side of the screen, in the options sub-menu, the option Connectivity is highlighted (Selected). To the right of the Location input box, select the Rename button (above, Figure 5b) and enter the location name mydesktop.veribestisd.net. Select the OK pop-up button to proceed (below, Figure 6b). 10 P a g e
Figure 6b Connectivity Location Name Figure 7b Connectivity Internet Protocol Next, select the drop down arrow on the right side of the Protocol input box and select HTTP for a protocol link type (above, Figure 7b). Now, select TCP Port 8080 and select the ADD button to add Connection Broker Servers (below, Figure 8b). In the pop-up box, enter VDI-QUEST1.veribest-isd.org as a Connection Broker Server name. 11 P a g e
Figure 8b Connectivity Internet Protocol Once the server name appears in the Connection Broker box; select the ADD and then add the second server name VDI-QUEST2.veribest-isd.org. Select the OK pop-up button and review your choices to ensure the connection options are as desired (below, Figure 9b). Figure 9b Connectivity Review Completed Selections Once the Connectivity options screen information is complete, select the Test Connection button in the upper right of the screen to validate the connectivity information. 12 P a g e
At the Logon Credentials input box, enter your User Name (just like at school; Faculty would use First Name and Last Name [i.e. William Merry]; Students would use Graduation Year, Last Name, First Initial [i.e 14merryw]). Enter your Password in the same fashion, remembering the password is always CASE SENSITIVE. Now, enter the Domain name (veribest-isd.org). Place a check in the Save Credentials (Encrypted) checkbox, and select the OK pop-up button (below, Figure 11b). Figure 10b Logon Credentials Figure 11b Logon Credentials, Completed If all of the information was properly entered, a screen will be displayed indicating Connection succeeded (below, Figure 12b). Select the OK button inside the pop-up box. When you select OK, notice the name of the Farm has changed in the header bar of the configuration box, to vworkstation Farm. This is now the new farm name. Figure 12b Connection succeeded 13 P a g e
On Left side of the screen, in the options sub-menu, select the option Firewall/Proxy Traversal. (Note the Location is now mydesktop.veribestisd.net). Put a check in the Enable NAT checkbox. Also, put a check in the Enable RDP over SSL/TLS checkbox and enter the SSL Gateway Server address VDI-GATEWAY.VERIBEST-ISD.ORG. Keep all other default settings (below, Figure 13b). Figure 13b Firewall/Proxy Traversal Now select Credentials in the configuration option sub-menu on the left side of the Farm Connections window. Note that the Username, Password, and Domain are already filled in from (Figure 11b) above. Do NOT check Automatically populate the domain field using the computer s domain, because when away from the school district your default domain may be [Suddenlink, Verizon, etc.]. Keep all other default settings (below, Figure14b). 14 P a g e
Figure 14b Credentials Now select Display in the configuration option window on the left side sub-menu options of the Farm Connections box. These setting can be adjusted as you begin to use the remote desktop and get a feel for what you want to do on your own computer/laptop. They can be modified later using the settings link at the top of the AppPortal once it is on your desktop. At this time, let s keep all other default settings (below, Figure 15b). Figure 15b Display Settings 15 P a g e
Now select Local Resources in the sub-menu option window on the left of the Farm Connections box. Put a check in the printers, clipboard, (EOP - Experience Optimized Protocol) Printers, and EOP USB checkboxes (below, Figure 16b). Figure 16b Local Resources Local Devices and Resources Now, select the More button (below EOP USB ) and choose the drives and devices that you choose to access (below Figure 17b). Keep all other default settings (Do NOT put a check in the Smart Cards or Ports checkboxes). Select the OK pop-up button to configure. Figure 17b Local Devices and Resources Checkbox selection 16 P a g e
Now, select Experience in the sub-menu options window on the left side of the Farm Connections window (below, Figure 18b). Ensure the drop-down box for Choose your connection speed to optimize performance is selected as Detect connection quality automatically. Keep all other default settings. Figure 18b Experience Now, select Password Management in the sub-menu options window on the left side of the Farm Connections window. Select the Quest Password Manager (recommended) option input the Server URL as https://mydesktop.veribestisd.net. Keep all other default settings (below, Figure 19b). Figure 19b Password Management 17 P a g e
Now, select Desktop Integration in the sub-menu options window on the left side of the Farm Connections window. Put a check in the (Desktop and Start Menu\Programs) checkboxes and keep all other default settings (below, Figure 20b). Figure 20b Desktop Integration Now, select Auto-Launch in the sub-menu options window on the left side of the Farm Connections window. This is where a user can select their desktop application to autolaunch when they logon (below, Figure 21b). Figure 21b Auto-Launch 18 P a g e
Keep all other default settings in the Auto-Launch options window. Select the OK button in the lower right corner of the Farm Connections window to complete the AppPortal configuration. Once the configuration is complete, an AppPortal will appear. (below, Figure 22b). Figure 22b Completed vworkspace AppPortal To modify the Personalize the appearance and options, select Settings on the top menu bar and add additional toolbars and personalized settings (below, Figure 23b). Figure 23b Select Settings to Personalize your AppPortal 19 P a g e
Your Portal should have fewer Application Icons then the administrator portal as shown (below, Figure 24b). Figure 24b Network Administrator s AppPortal Note: You can drag the corner of the portal to minimize the foot print of the AppPortal on your desktop, like so: Figure 25b Re-Sizing the Foot-Print of your AppPortal That s it, now you are setup! Just click on the Application Icon (Admin Support, etc.) that you have been given access to and enter right into your new Virtual Desktop Environment. 20 P a g e