UMass Amherst Information Technology (IT) now offers the Windows Virtual Desktop (WVD) service which enables students & faculty to remotely access an extensive list of high-performance and specialized software on their own devices at no additional cost. If you require software or features that are not available through WVD, you can request remote access provided via VMware Horizon to an on-campus Windows workstation. 

Please note that quality of the connection to the classroom desktop will depend on the network strength used to connect your device. Remote desktop connection will be made with a random computer in the lab, please do not save any work to the desktop and instead use online storage such as OneDrive, Google Drive, or Box. For support please contact IT User Services. 

 

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Request Access

To request access to VMware Horizon, please submit this form. 

Note: You must be logged in to your UMass Amherst Google account to view the form. Sign in at apps.umass.edu with your NetID and password. 

 

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Using VMware Horizon Web Browser Client 

Connect to the Web Client

1. In your web browser, go to https://vdi.it.umass.edu.
2. Enter your NetID and password, and click Login. 
   
3. In the Horizon portal, click on the assigned classroom workstation cluster indicated by ITCC-Location-Phys icon.
   
4. A login screen will appear. This may take a few moments.
   
5. Once you are logged in, you can use the remote computer as you would in a computer classroom. 

 

Sign Out of the Web Client

1. Open the Start menu by clicking the Windows icon in the lower left and click on the person icon and then Sign out.
   
2. Once you are signed out of the remote computer, a confirmation message will appear. Click on the Close button
3. To log out of the VMware Horizon client, click the bulleted list icon in the upper right, and select Log out. 
   

 

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Using VMware Horizon Client - Mac OS

Download the VMware Horizon Client

1. Go to the VMware Horizon client download page and select VMware Horizon Client for Mac.
2. Click Go to Downloads, and then Download Now. Follow the installation instructions. 

Connect to a Workstation

1. On your Mac, open the VMware Horizon Client application.
2. Click on the + New Server button to connect to a workstation. 
3. In the Enter the name of the Connection Server field, enter vdi.it.umass.edu and click Connect. 
   
4. In the Login dialog, enter your NetID and password. In the Domain dropdown menu, select *DefaultDomain*.
   
5. In the VMware Horizon Client, click on the assigned classroom workstation cluster indicated by ITCC-Location-Phys icon.
   
6. A login screen will appear. This may take a few moments. 
   
7. Once you are logged in, you can use the remote computer as you would in a computer classroom. 

 

Sign Out of the Remote Session

1. Open the Start menu by clicking the Windows icon in the lower left and click on the person icon and then Sign out.
   
2. Once you are signed out of the remote computer, close the VMWare Horizon client application. 

 

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Using VMware Horizon Client - Windows 

Download the VMware Horizon Client

1. Go to the VMware Horizon client download page and select VMware Horizon Client for Mac.
2. Click Go to Downloads, and then Download Now. Follow the installation instructions. 

Connect to a Workstation

1. On your computer, open the VMware Horizon Client application.
2. Click on the + New Server button to connect to a workstation. 
3. In the WMware Horizon Client dialog box, in the Enter the name of the Connection Server field, enter vdi.it.umass.edu and click Connect.
   
4. In the Login dialog, enter your NetID and password. In the Domain dropdown menu, select *DefaultDomain*.
   
5. In the VMware Horizon Client, click on the assigned classroom workstation cluster indicated by ITCC-Location-Phys icon. 
6. A login screen will appear. This may take a few moments. 
   
7. Once you are logged in, you can use the remote computer as you would in a computer classroom. 

Sign Out of the Remote Session

1. Open the Start menu by clicking the Windows icon in the lower left and click on the person icon and then Sign out.
   
2. Once you are signed out of the remote computer, close the VMWare Horizon client application.