VCM

This page will go through how to set up a Virtual Machine to do work for various classes in Spring 2018. It will be focused on the EGR 103L course which includes Python and App Inventor.

Multifactor Authentication

To use the virtual computers, you need to have multi-factor authentication set up; go to Multi-Factor Authentication and enroll. You will generally need a smart phone or access to email to log in.

Getting Started

To get started, go to Duke's Virtual Computing Manager and log in with your NetID. You will then want to "Reserve a VM" - this means that Duke will be setting up a virtual computer for you. You will be able to install and run applications remotely for just about any computer with an internet connection. Students in EGR 103 will be creating a Windows based VM for the semester.

• On the Virtual Computing Manager page, click on "Reserve a VM"
• In Application and Operating System dropdown of the New Virtual Machine Reservation page, pick "Windows Office 2019" (or whichever of the Windows options looks best to you) and then click Reserve
• Read the terms of use and if you agree to them, click Agree. If you do not agree with them, contact Dr. G as soon as possible. It may take a little time to set up the virtual machine - eventually you will go back to the VCM page and you should see a link under My Reservations.

Accessing your VM

• Click on the link for your virtual machine; this should bring up the VM Manamagement Tools page.
• In the General Information pane on the right, there should be a link for Remote Desktop; click that to download the remote desktop (rdp) file.
• Open the file; on Windows, this will bring up Remote Desktop Connection. On a mac, it should bring up RDC but if it does not, see Remote Desktop Connection (RDC) Clients for information on how to download the client.
• The desktop should be trying to connect with your Duke credentials (WIN\NetID). Enter your Duke password to finish connecting. Do not click "Remember Me" if you are on a public computer, even if you logged in as you!
• Read the note about unauthorized use, then click OK - the first time you start your VM, it may take some time "Preparing Windows."
• Once prepared, you should now have a Windows machine working in a window!
• The first time you connect, you may need to perform updates - this is a potentially hours-long process so it may be best to start it when you can leave the VM running but do not need to be using it.

Accessing your files from your VM

• For some people, their Duke (CIFS) folder should automatically be mounted to the windows machine. If you open the File Explorer (yellow folder at the bottom of the screen) and click on This PC, your NetID should be the name of one of the Network locations. You should always use this folder to store files -- these files get backed up every 12 hours. Do not use the Documents folder on the VM.
• If that is not the case, go to Duke's page on how to mount CIFS on Windows

Installing software on your VM

There are two ways to install software. There is a Software Center icon on the desktop - this contains ways to get commonly-installed programs and packages. The second way is to just install the software yourself. Depending on the class you are using the VM for, you may be using one or both mechanisms to install software.

For EGR 103 Spring 2018

• From Software Center:
  • ePrint
  • FileZilla
  • Firefox or Google Chrome (or you can use Edge)
  • MobaXterm
  • MATLAB
• From web sites:
  • Adobe Acrobat Reader DC: Download
    • Unclick the Optional offers.
    • Leave the "Install the Acrobat Reader Chrome Extension" clicked if you installed Chrome
    • Click on the "Install now" button
    • Once the executable has finished downloading, run it