VCL Best practices Lee Toderick Department of Technology

VCL Best practices Lee Toderick, Department of Technology Systems (toderickl@ecu. edu) Tony Miller, ITCS (millerf@ecu. edu)

Topics Covered • • • VCL Definitions Apache VCL Details Citrix VCL Details Incorporating VCL into Courses Conclusion and Questions

Virtual Computing Lab Providing computing resources without traditional physical lab space

Benefits • Increases availability to 24/7 • Reduces dependence on student owned equipment and software • Removes requirement to be on campus • Increases equivalence of D/E and on-campus student experience • Controls access to software for only actively enrolled terms

ECU VCL Options • Option 1 – Apache VCL – Presented by Lee Toderick • Option 2 – Citrix VCL – Presented by Tony Miller

APACHE VCL Reserved computers at your command

Apache VCL Overview Reference: https: //cwiki. apache. org/VCL/#Index-Conceptual. Overview

Apache VCL Features • Reservations for an entire computer are made for now or future date • Reserved computers are delivered in initial “known good” state • Students have admin control of computer during their session • Reservations that expire cause computer to reload

Apache VCL Features • Faculty can request one time or repeating scheduled reservations for their class • Reduces wait time and allows class to begin work right away

Apache VCL Features • Because Apache VCL reserved computers are trusted ECU machines, students can access network resources not otherwise available • Ex: Apache VCL reserved computers can directly access Pirate Drive

Apache VCL Labs (several)

Apache VCL Lab NSF/HP Grant

Apache VCL Statistics Reservations Unique Users Hours Used 4, 928 1, 101 9, 421 Top Five Reserved Images ECU Cisco Lab ICTN 4800 Fall 2010 RHEL RHA Windows XP with SAS, PASW, and Mathematica Windows XP with NI Circuit Design Data collected August 24, 2010 – March 18, 2011

Apache VCL Computer Access • Reservation for Microsoft Windows – Use an RDP Client to show remote desktop – (Optional: Use a VNC Client to access remote desktop) • Reservation for Linux – Use an SSH Client to access remote command line – Use a VNC Client to access remote desktop • All clients are available for Windows, Mac, Linux, and mobile devices

Apache VCL File Saving • Reservation for Microsoft Windows – User can access Pirate Drive as U: drive using desktop application • Reservation for Linux – User can mount Pirate Drive into their current file system

Apache VCL File Submission • Send files as e-mail attachments • Set Pirate Drive permissions to allow faculty to view files • Use faculty designated persistent storage • Use reserved computer’s web browser to upload to Blackboard / Moodle • **New for ICTN 4800, Fall 2010 - student-initiated automated grading and feedback!

Apache VCL Persistent Storage • Faculty can request additional storage for their classes • Faculty control their space and can create their own folder structure and file permissions

Individual Applications Delivered On Demand CITRIX VCL

Citrix VCL Features • Users use web browser with plugin to access Citrix VCL portal • Users choose application and click link to activate • Citrix web plugin is used to deliver application to users

Citrix VCL Features • Web plugin is available for Windows, Mac, Linux, and mobile devices • Web plugin allows access to local computer storage (if user desires) • Web plugin allows access to local printers

Citrix VCL Features • Because Citrix VCL servers are trusted ECU machines, students can access network resources not otherwise available • Ex: Microsoft SQL Server instance

Citrix VCL Statistics Total Number of Application Starts 6, 851 Top Five Applications Mathcad 14 SQL Server Management Studio Express 2008 Visio Pro 2007 Photoshop CS 5 PASW (SPSS) 18 Data collected August 24, 2010 – March 18, 2011

Citrix VCL File Saving • Citrix web plugin prompts for access to local disks • Servers have Pirate Drive automatically available

Citrix VCL File Submission • Local files → No different than usual submission policy

What Now? INCORPORATING VCL INTO COURSES

VCL Integration Steps • • • Determine software package information Obtain software Determine audience restriction (if any) Make VCL software request Test software in VCL Prepare course specific instructions

Determine Package Information • Operating system requirements • Vendor information • Software license information – Free? / Commercial? – Not all software vendors allow virtualized software • ITCS assists with licensing details

Obtain Software • Need to provide media or files to ITCS VCL team • Freely downloadable software only requires a pointer to download method

Determine Audience Restriction • • • Individual student(s)? One section? One course? One department? One college? No restriction - easiest

Make VCL Software Request • Choose one of: – E-mail vcl_help@ecu. edu with proposed software – Submit a Virtual Computing Lab Image request via http: //ithelp. ecu. edu

VCL Documentation • Detailed information – Apache VCL – Citrix VCL • Printable Adobe Acrobat documents – Via ITCS Learning Center

VCL Resources • VCL web site – http: //vcl. ecu. edu • VCL e-mail – vcl_help@ecu. edu • IT Help Desk – http: //help. ecu. edu

Checklist for Help E-mail / Ticket • • • What VCL am I using? What operating system am I using? What web browser am I using? What software / image am I using? What am I trying to do?

Course Repetition • VCL software remains in place unless removal requested

Conclusion and Questions • VCL / Citrix is EXTREMELY flexible! • ITCS support team is responsive (sense of urgency)! • Labs are scalable from a few students to a hundred students! QUESTIONS? ? ?

Contact Information • Lee Toderick (toderickl@ecu. edu) • Tony Miller (millerf@ecu. edu)