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Information Technology Services»Services»Service Desk»Getting Connected»Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI)

Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI)

Information about VDI at the School of Nursing

Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI) is defined as the hosting of desktop environments on a central server.  Desktops are run on virtual machines (VMs) and are delivered to users over the network to a Thin Client, Horizon desktop application or in a browser window.  Additionally, VDI can be used to provide applications, hosted on a virtual server, to users from any location.  Below you will find information and instructions about this service.

What is the difference between Remote Desktop and VDI?

Remote Desktop is a program or an operating system feature that allows a user to connect to a computer in another location; such as connecting to your desktop located within the School of Nursing from a laptop or home computer. Remote Desktop uses your computer’s assigned IP address or computer name to connect, after authenticating with your PennKey username and password.  Remote Desktop icons:

Windows

Mac

 

VDI is service provided by ITS to access a virtual machine (VM) hosted by one of our cloud vendors.  VMs will have all the same access to file shares, email and applications that you have with a physical desktop.  But can be accessed from a Thin Client, Horizon application, or web browser.  Instructions for using VDI continue below. 

Configuration Instructions for the School of Nursing VDI service

What applications are included in the VDI service?
  • Adobe Acrobat DC
  • Amos
  • Atlas.ti
  • Mplus Editor
  • NVivo
  • R - 32/64 Bit & R Studio
  • SAS
  • SPSS
  • Stata IC
  • Stat Transfer
  • Microsoft Access
  • Microsoft Excel
  • Microsoft PowerPoint
  • Microsoft Word
Using VDI for application access from your School of Nursing Desktop
  1. The VMware Horizon client is installed on all School of Nursing desktops.  Open the Horizon client by double clicking the icon on the desktop. The Horizon Client will automatically log you into the application. Once there you will see all the applications available for use.

    VMware Horizon Client

Using VDI for a Windows 10 desktop or application access from anywhere using a web browser
  1. Open your browser and enter the following in the address bar:  https://virtual.nursing.upenn.edu
  2. You will then see two options, Install VMware Horizon Client or VMware Horizon HTML Access

    HTML
  3. Select VMware Horizon HTML Access and this will take you to the log in page.  You will then be prompted to log in using your PennKey credentials.  The format is:

    User name: pennkey
    Password: your PennKey password

    HTML

Using VDI for a Windows 10 desktop or application access from anywhere
by installing the Horizon Client on your Windows device

***Note: The installation of the Horizon Client requires a reboot.  Please save your work.***

  1. Open your browser and enter the following in the address bar: https://virtual.nursing.upenn.edu

  2. You will then see two options, Install VMware Horizon Client or VMware Horizon HTML Access

  3. Click the link that says Install VMware Horizon Client

    html

  4. You will be directed to the VMware site.  Select Go to Downloads next to
    VMware Horizon Client for Windows, then click Download

    HTML

    HTML

  5. Once the installer has downloaded to your computer, double click to run it.  The VMware Horizon Client Setup window opens.  Click “Agree & Install”.

    HTML

  6. The Installing VMware Horizon Client window will open and install the client. Click “Finish” when the installation is complete.

    html html

  7. A window will pop up and ask you to restart the computer. Save and close all work, then select “Restart Now” to restart and complete the Horizon Client installation.

    html

  8. When the computer comes back up, you will see the Horizon Client shortcut on the desktop. Double Click the Horizon Client shortcut and the Horizon Client will open up.  Click on the “New Server” button in the top left corner to add the connection server.

    html           html

  9. A box pops up to “Enter the name of the Connection Server”.

    Type: https://nursing.desktop.upenn.edu then click “Connect”

    html

  10. The login box pops up next for you to log into the Horizon Client. The format is:
    User name: pennkey
    Password: your PennKey password
    html

  11. After you log in, a screen will pop up and ask if you would like to allow access to local files.
    This is your C:\ drive (Local Hard Drive). Check the “Do not show this dialog again” box (bottom left) then click the “Allow” button.
    html

  12. You will then see a Windows 10 desktop available Nursing VDI, and a list of available applications.
    Double click on any application to open.  Network drives and files can be accessed both from inside any application or by opening the Nursing VDI Windows 10 desktop.

    html

Using VDI for a Windows 10 desktop or application access from anywhere
by installing the Horizon Client on your Mac OS device

  1. Open your browser and enter the following in the address bar: https://virtual.nursing.upenn.edu

  2. You will then see two options, Install VMware Horizon Client or VMware Horizon HTML Access

  3. Click the link that says Install VMware Horizon Client

    html

  4. You will be directed to the VMware site.  Select Go to Downloads next to
    VMware Horizon Client for macOS, then click Download

  5. Once the installer has downloaded to your computer, go to your downloads and double the file to begin the install. The user license agreement will open, click “Agree”.

     

  6. When the VMWare Horizon Client window appears, drag the “VMWare Horizon Client icon” to the Applications folder.

  7. Within the applications folder, locate the installer and double click to open it.

  8. The first time you launch the VMWare Horizon Client, you may see a security popup asking if you want to open the file. Click the “Open” button.

  9. When you open up VMware Horizon Client click “New Server” or ”+” and the connection server box pops up. Type in the connection server name “https://nursing.desktop.upenn.edu”.  Make sure “Always connect at launch” box is checked. Then click “connect”.

    html html

  10. The login box pops up next for you to log into the Horizon Client. The format is:
    User name: pennkey
    Password: your PennKey password 

    html

  11. After you log in, a screen will pop up and ask if you would like to allow access to local files.
    This is your C:\ drive (Local Hard Drive). Check the “Do not show this dialog again” box (bottom left) then click the “Allow” button.
    html

  12. You will then see a Windows 10 desktop available Nursing VDI, and a list of available applications.
    Double click on any application to open.  Network drives and files can be accessed both from inside any application or by opening the Nursing VDI Windows 10 desktop.

    html

Using VDI on iOS (iPhone, iPad) devices
  • Search for the free VMware Horizon Client in the App Store
  • Install the app
  • Enter the hostname: nursing.desktop.upenn.edu and click Connect
  • User name: pennkey
    Password: your PennKey password
Using VDI on Android devices
  • Search for the free VMware Horizon Client in the Google Play store
  • Install the app
  • Launch the app and enter the server name: nursing.desktop.upenn.edu
  • Click Connect
  • User name: pennkey
    Password: your PennKey password
Set the Horizon Client to auto-connect (Windows or Mac)

Completing this step will eliminate the need to double click on the connection server (nursing.desktop.upenn.edu) every time you want to access the horizon client applications. Instead, you will only be prompted to log in.

  1. To set up the connection server to automatically connect within the Horizon Client, open up the Horizon Client and the connection server window will open up.

    html

  2. Right click on the “nursing.desktop.upenn.edu ” server name and a 3 option menu will open, choose the last option “Autoconnect to this Server”. The menu will close. If you right click on the server name again, the menu will open back up and you will now see a check box next to “Autoconnect to this Server”. Click anywhere on the screen to close the menu box.

    html

    html

  3. Double click the server and the login box will open up and you will be prompted to log back into the client. You will then be brought back into the Horizon Client with the available applications visible. The next time you log out of the Horizon Client and back in, it will bypass the need to double click on the server name to connect, and you will be brought right into the applications screen.

If you have been assigned a virtual desktop by the ITS Service Desk, please follow the instructions below

Your dedicated virtual desktop is available in a browser by following the steps below
  1. Open your browser and enter the following in the address bar:  https://virtual.nursing.upenn.edu
  2. Click VMware Horizon HTML Access (on the right).  It will take you to the screen in step 3.nursing_desktop_1
  3. You will then be prompted to log in using your School of Nursing credentials.  The format is:

    Username: pennkey
    Password: your PennKey password


    nursing_desktop_2

Your dedicated virtual desktop is available by installing the Horizon Client on your Windows Device

***Note: The installation of the Horizon Client requires a reboot.  Please save your work.***

  1. Open your browser and enter the following in the address bar: https://virtual.nursing.upenn.edu

  2. You will see this box appear, click Install VMware Horizon Client (on the left) to navigate to the downloads page. nursing_desktop_2

  3. You will be directed to the VMware site.  Select Go to Downloads next to
    VMware Horizon Client for Windows, then click Download Now (bottom right)

    HTML

    nursing_desktop_3

  4. Once the installer has downloaded to your computer, double click to run it.  The VMware Horizon Client Setup window opens.  Click “Agree & Install”.

    HTML

  5. The Installing VMware Horizon Client window will open and install the client. Click “Finish” when the installation is complete.

    html html

  6. A window will pop up and ask you to restart the computer. Save and close all work, then select “Restart Now” to restart and complete the Horizon Client installation.

    html

  7. When the computer comes back up, you will see the Horizon Client shortcut on the desktop. Double Click the Horizon Client shortcut and the Horizon Client will open up.  Click on the “New Server” button in the top left corner to add the connection server.

    html           html

  8. A box pops up to “Enter the name of the Connection Server”.

    Type: https://nursing.desktop.upenn.edu then click “Connect”

    nursing_desktop_4

  9. The login box pops up next for you to log into the Horizon Client. The format is:
    User name: pennkey
    Password: your PennKey password

    nursing_desktop_5
  10. After you log in, a screen will pop up and ask if you would like to allow access to local files.
    This is your C:\ drive (Local Hard Drive). Check the “Do not show this dialog again” box (bottom left) then click the “Allow” button.
    html

  11. You will then see a Windows 10 desktop available Nursing VDI, and a list of available applications.
    Double click on any application to open. Network drives and files can be accessed both from inside any application or by opening the Nursing VDI Windows 10 desktop.

    nursing_desktop_6

Your dedicated virtual desktop is available by installing the Horizon Client on your Mac OS device

  1. Open your browser and enter the following in the address bar: https://virtual.nursing.upenn.edu

  2. You will see this box appear, click Install VMware Horizon Client (on the left) to navigate to the downloads page.nursing_desktop_1

     

  3. You will be directed to the VMware site.  Select Go to Downloads next to
    VMware Horizon Client for macOS, then click Download

  4. Once the installer has downloaded to your computer, go to your downloads and double the file to begin the install. The user license agreement will open, click “Agree”.

     

  5. When the VMWare Horizon Client window appears, drag the “VMWare Horizon Client icon” to the Applications folder.

  6. Within the applications folder, locate the installer and double click to open it.

  7. The first time you launch the VMWare Horizon Client, you may see a security popup asking if you want to open the file. Click the “Open” button.

  8. When you open up VMware Horizon Client click “New Server” or ”+” and the connection server box pops up. Type in the connection server name “https://nursing.desktop.upenn.edu”.  Make sure “Always connect at launch” box is checked. Then click “connect”.

    html nursing_desktop_4

  9. The login box pops up next for you to log into the Horizon Client. The format is:
    User name: pennkey
    Password: your PennKey password

    nursing_desktop_5

  10. After you log in, a screen will pop up and ask if you would like to allow access to local files.
    This is your C:\ drive (Local Hard Drive). Check the “Do not show this dialog again” box (bottom left) then click the “Allow” button.
    html

  11. You will then see a Windows 10 desktop available Nursing VDI, and a list of available applications.
    Double click on any application to open.  Network drives and files can be accessed both from inside any application or by opening the Nursing VDI Windows 10 desktop.

    nursing_desktop_6

Set the Horizon Client to auto-connect (Windows or Mac)

Completing this step will eliminate the need to double click on the connection server (nursing.desktop.upenn.edu) every time you want to access the horizon client applications. Instead, you will only be prompted to log in.

  1. To set up the connection server to automatically connect within the Horizon Client, open up the Horizon Client and the connection server window will open up.

    html

  2. Right click on the “nursing.desktop.upenn.edu ” server name and a 3 option menu will open, choose the last option “Autoconnect to this Server”. The menu will close. If you right click on the server name again, the menu will open back up and you will now see a check box next to “Autoconnect to this Server”. Click anywhere on the screen to close the menu box.

    html

    html

  3. Double click the server and the login box will open up and you will be prompted to log back into the client. You will then be brought back into the Horizon Client with the available applications visible. The next time you log out of the Horizon Client and back in, it will bypass the need to double click on the server name to connect, and you will be brought right into the applications screen.

Claire M. Fagin Hall
418 Curie Boulevard
Philadelphia, PA 19104-4217

Telephone: (215) 898-8281
Admissions: (215) 898-4271