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Remote Access to LabConnect using Vmware Horizons

Modified on: Fri, 9 Feb 2024 1:44 PM

Introduction

 

This article outlines the VMware Horizon client options to access the LabConnect (labconnect.ualberta.ca) remote access service.

It will provide client installation, configuration, and login instructions, as well as international access, best practices and troubleshooting information.

 


Applicability

 

This document is for students and instructors who require remote access to specialized lab software on the LabConnect environment.

Students must be registered in a participating course by the instructor to be approved for remote access.

Instructors must request and be approved for remote access for their course by IST.

Once approved, the instructor must provide a class list containing the CCIDs of students/TAs/instruction that require remote access.

 


Procedure

 

There are two methods to connect to the LabConnect environment.

 

Vmware Horizons Client (Desktop Version)

The Horizons desktop client is the preferred option for accessing LabConnect from Windows and Apple computers.  The desktop client offers a robust experience and tends to be more responsive.

Users with older computers and operating systems may not be able to install the desktop client.  Users who have Windows 7 and OSX 10.12 and lower should use the Vmware Horizons HTML Access client option below.

 

Vmware Horizon HTML Access 

The Vmware Horizon HTML Access client is a universal client that will work in any compliant web browser. Students should use the HTML Access client when they are unable to install the desktop client to their personal devices.  

For more information on system requirements, please refer to the VMware Horizon HTML Access User Guide

Please be aware that the performance of the Horizon HTML access client is noticeably sluggish, in comparison to the Horizons desktop client. 

 


Selecting a Vmware Horizon Client Option

 

Use a web browser and connect to https://labconnect.ualberta.ca.  You will be presented with the following screen where you can decide to install the Vmware Horizon client or enter through Vmware Horizon HTML Access.

 

 

  • If you select the Install VMware Horizons Client Option, please continue to the Installing the Vmware Horizon Client Software (Desktop Client) section.
  • If you select Vmware Horizon HTML Access option, please jump to the Logging into a LabConnect session section.

 

 


Installing the Vmware Horizon Client Software (Desktop Client)

 

Before you begin...

 1.  Please ensure that you are installing the software using administrator rights on your computer.  User accounts or non-administrator accounts may not install or run the client correctly.

2.  After installation, please make sure you have permitted the Horizon client to allow access through any firewall, VPN, or other security software that is installed on your computer.  Access to the Lab Connect service may not operate if they are blocked by security software

3.  International students may experience difficulties (slow performance, cannot maintain a connection) when accessing the Lab Connect service due to slow network connections or firewalls from their country of origin.  

 

Installation Instructions (Desktop Client)

  • Go to https://labconnect.ualberta.ca
  • Download and install the Horizon client for your computer.
    • You will be directed to the correct client installer automatically.
  • Run the Horizons client installer for your operating system, Windows or Mac.
    • You will be required to reboot your PC for the installation to complete.
  • Once your computer has restarted, run the VMware Horizons client  and configure a New Server pointing to the labconnect.ualberta.ca connection server.
  • Double click on the new labconnect.ualberta.ca icon and you will be presented with the login dialog box.

 

 


Logging into a LabConnect session

 

Once you have successfully logged into the LabConnect client, you will be presented with either login dialog box.

Vmware Horizons Client for Windows

Vmware Horizon HTML Access 

 

  • Log in with your ualberta CCID and password
  • If needed, make sure you are connecting to the AD domain.  Do not log into the ualberta.ca or UADLS domains, if presented.
  • When you login successfully, one of two things can happen:
    • You will be automatically logged into a remote session
    • You will be asked to select an environment to log into, if you have access to more than one.
      • Double click the desired pool to launch a session.
  • Once LabConnect starts loading your session, the system is spinning up a session for your use in the same way when you are starting up a PC.  It may take several seconds to get past the Please Wait message and for the desktop to appear
  • Once you are logged in, you should have full access to all the software.
  • When you are done, sign out by double-clicking the Signout icon on the desktop and close your Horizon client.  See the Best Practices section for more information on correct sign out procedures.
  • If you want to access the environment again, just run the Horizons client.

 


Connecting from International Locations

 

Students who are located outside of Canada have direct access to labconnect.ualberta.ca.

In the event that you are unable to directly connect or experience a slow or unstable connection, you may wish to try connecting to the University VPN Service to see if your experience/performance improves.

IMPORTANT:  Due to the complex nature of connecting to remote systems across the globe, IST is unable to guarantee the stability, performance, or usability of the LabConnect service.  International students may experience slow network connections or firewall restrictions from their country of origin. Technical challenges of this nature may be outside of IST’s ability to resolve. 

 


Best Practices

 

  • Maximize your client or web browser window (or run it in a very large window if you have a large LCD screen) when you are using LabConnect.  Some software does not work well in smaller windows within the Horizons clients.
  • Once you have been granted access to LabConnect, log into the system to validate access as early as possible in order to reduce technical issues at project/assignment deadlines.
  • Connect to LabConnect for synchronous course instruction only during your scheduled class date/time.  LabConnect is available outside of business hours (8am to 5pm Mountain Time, Monday-Friday) and on weekends for homework and projects.
  • Sessions are limited to 4 hours.  You will receive a 10-minute warning before your session is shut down.  You may log back in immediately to obtain a new session, if available.
  • Sessions are set to automatically sign out after 2 hours of idle inactivity.
  • Signing out of your virtual session (IMPORTANT)
    • Do NOT close your sessions by closing the window or the web browser.
    • Save your work frequently to Google Drive/Google File Stream or removable media.
    • Data files left on the desktop will NOT be saved when you sign out
    • Exit all software applications before signing out
    • Use the yellow Sign Out icon on the desktop.  This will help your session to close successfully.

 


Having Trouble?

 

Difficulties with installing the VMware Horizons Client software

Please see this YouTube video that walks through the installations of the Windows Vmware Horizons client installation and login process.  This process can be easily adapted for Mac OSX users.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PoIordrgdOs&t= 

 

Not authorized to use the system?

This is a standard error message that indicated that you were not granted access to LabConnect.   Please verify with your instructor that your ccid has been included in their class list.

 

The View agent reports that this desktop is currently logging off a previous session. Please try again later.

This means that the last time you logged into LabConnect, your session failed to shut down correctly and still remains active.  In most cases, the session should reset itself within 4 hours.

In the event that the session does not clear within 24 hours, please contact ist@ualberta.ca to manually reset the session.

 

Your connection to labconnect.ualberta.ca times out or the host does not respond

This is also a very common error.  Most likely, you are located outside of Canada and you do not have direct access to labconnect.ualberta.ca.

Please see the Connecting from International Locations section above.

 


Keywords: VDI Vmware Horizons remote access LabConnect labconnect.ualberta.ca
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