Student Desktop (VDI) Replacement
How is the Student Desktop (VDI) changing?
The previous Student/Staff Desktop (VDI) was provided as a full Windows desktop – in computer rooms/labs – known as Computer Assisted Learning labs (CAL labs)/Computer Resource Rooms (CRR) – or on your own computer via a web browser. This service is no longer available.
It has been replaced by a new service called “Apps at Otago”. Apps at Otago provides your required software applications via a web portal, using “application streaming” to deliver the software application to computers in the computer labs and your own computer
What has changed?
The previous Student Desktop automatically directed students and staff to a Citrix virtual environment known as Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI), which housed:
- 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. Affintity Photo Editor, EndNote, Stata statistics etc.
- Document files etc on Microsoft OneDrive
In computer rooms/labs:
- The desktop will be Windows 11.
- The Windows App has been added to lab computers to provide access to Apps at Otago
- 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 is 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 this 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 this 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 rooms/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 on H: Drive in Citrix will still be there, to find them see this 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.
Are my files in my mapped drives (e.g. Home drive, Research folders/Department shares, etc.) available in Apps at Otago?
Yes. If any files are unavailable, contact AskOtago.
Are existing Student Desktop (VDI) applications 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.
This is the apps availability page.