How is the Student Desktop (VDI) changing?
The existing Student/Staff Desktop (VDI) is provided as a full Windows desktop – either on computers in the Computer Resource Rooms (also called CAL Labs) or on your own computer via a web browser. This service will no longer be available after 28 December 2024.
It is being replaced by a new service called “Apps at Otago”. Apps at Otago will provide your required software applications via a web portal, using “application streaming” to deliver the software application to computers in the Computer Resource Rooms and your own computer.
The rollout
The Apps at Otago rollout to:
- Computer labs – often known as Computer Assisted Learning labs (CAL labs)/Computer Resource Rooms (CRRs) – has already started and should be finished by the end of 28 December.
- Staff and students who access the Student Desktop from their own laptops/computers/cell phones etc will starting using Apps at Otago on 29 December.
What is the change?
The Student Desktop automatically directs students and staff to a Citrix virtual environment known as Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI), which houses:
- A Windows 10 style desktop
- Document files etc on H: Drive
The new service is in Microsoft’s Azure virtual cloud environment, which houses:
- The app streaming service Apps at Otago e.g. Affinity Photo editor, Stata statistics etc.
- Document files etc on Microsoft OneDrive
In computer rooms/labs:
- The desktop will be Windows 11.
- Apps at Otago can be accessed through the Windows App being rolled out now, which should be on all the computers by the end of 28 December.
- For other changes on computer lab/room computers, please see this Knowledgebase article – sign into the Knowledgebase first to see this article.
On personal devices e.g. laptops, desktop computers and cell phones:
- Remote access will no longer be available to computer rooms/labs, instead we recommend installing the Windows App for the most seamless experience with Apps at Otago. Please see Knowledgebase article.
Apps at Otago can also be accessed via this link apps.otago.ac.nz, which is also on the University of Otago website. Please see Knowledgebase article.
What are the advantages?
- OneDrive has much more storage space for files than H: Drive.
- Laptops/desktop computers/cell phones etc using the streaming service still do not need high specifications because they are not downloading the apps onto them.
- Cost effectiveness.
Note: Streaming involves apps being run directly from a central location (the cloud) over a network, instead of being installed on a laptop/desktop computer/cell phone etc.
How will I access Apps at Otago?
Using your own laptop/desktop computer/cellphone, see Knowledgebase article.
In computer labs – known as Computer Assisted Learning labs (CAL labs)/Computer Resource Rooms (CRR) – see Knowledgebase article.
Where will my files be and how do I access them?
1: Any files you had already created will on H: Drive in Citrix will still be there, to find them see Knowledgebase article, however any new files you create using Apps at Otago will be automatically saved to OneDrive.
Please move all your files from H: Drive to One Drive, which has more storage capacity and is also a Microsoft product, the same as the new virtual desktop Apps at Otago.
To access OneDrive please see our Knowledgebase.
The many options for moving files include drag and drop, copy and paste and move to. If you are not familiar with these, please contact AskOtago.
2: Files in drives – home drive, research folders,department shares etc – will be available on Apps at Otago. If any are not available, please contact AskOtago.
Will my current Student Desktop (VDI) settings (e.g. web browser bookmarks/favourites, shortcuts and downloads folder files), be migrated to Apps at Otago?
No.
- Bookmarks – Please save your bookmarks.
- Chrome: Import Chrome bookmarks & settings – Google Chrome Help
- Edge export: Back Up Favorites, Passwords, and More | Microsoft Edge
- Edge import: Import your favorites in Microsoft Edge – Microsoft Support
- Firefox export: Export Firefox bookmarks to an HTML file to back up or transfer bookmarks | Firefox Help (mozilla.org)
- Firefox import: Import Bookmarks from an HTML file | Firefox Help (mozilla.org)
- Shortcuts – These will need to be re-established.
- How to make shortcuts: How to Create a Desktop Shortcut: Windows 10 & 11 (wikihow.com)
- Download folders – Please copy any files from here to your OneDrive. Contents in this folder are your responsibility.
- How to load files into OneDrive: Add or share a file in OneDrive – AskOtago Service Portal
Contact AskOtago if you need assistance with any of these.
Will my files in my mapped drives (e.g. Home drive, Research folders/Department shares, etc.) be available in Apps at Otago?
Yes. If any files are unavailable, contact AskOtago.
Will existing Student Desktop (VDI) applications be available?
Yes, applications currently installed on the Student Desktop (VDI) will still be available.
Note: Some University computer labs/rooms will have specialised apps that have limited licences and others will not e.g. GIS geospatial mapping app will be in the Central Computer Assisted Learning lab (CAL lab) in the Richardson Building.
These are the specialised apps:
- Google Earth Pro (Central CAL)
- ArcGIS Desktop (Central CAL)
- Garmin BaseCamp (Central CAL)
- Kuda Cloud (Pharmacology Labs)
- Power BI (OBS118)
- GraphPad Prism local (Pharmacology Adams building)
A list of their locations will be provided once available.
How do I request new applications?
Please advise us of your software requirements as soon as possible if you have not already done so. There is a lead time of 10 working days.
Raise a ticket with AskOtago with the following information included:
- Name of the software required. Include a link to the application website.
- Course Paper code the software is required for
- Date your course begins.
