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Virtual Lab Set-up and Access

Access

There are two ways to access the Virtual Lab: by downloading the Omnissa Horizon client, or by logging in through your web browser.

Which method should I use?

Use cases for access decisions

Use Case Possible with the Horizon Client? Possible with a Web Browser?
Use multiple monitors Yes Yes - but must be manually set.
Saving to external drive(s) Yes Yes
Keyboard shortcuts Yes Some unavailable
Use multiple computers No Yes



Windows Horizon Client Download

1. For a video walk-through of the download and installation process, click here.

2. Begin by going to Virtual Lab start page. Click on the Download the Horizon Client for Windows link near the bottom of the page. Do not enter your credentials to log in.


Screenshot of page: Download the Horizon Client for Windows

4. On the products list, find Omnissa Horizon Clients and click View Download Components.

Screenshot of products list window.

5. Identify the product for your specific operating system (Windows), and select Go to downloads.

Screen clipping of highlighting where to click to "go to downloads."

6. Click on Download Now for the appropriate client.

Screen clipping of "download now" button.

7. In Windows File Explorer, double-click on the Horizon Client application file located in the Downloads folder to launch the installer.

Screen clipping of Horizon Client application file icon.

8. If prompted to allow changes to be made to your computer, click Allow

9. Read and agree to the Horizon terms and conditions, then click on Agree & Install or Upgrade if you've previously installed the Horizon Client. Statuses will then be displayed while the installer works.

Screenshot of "agree and upgrade" button.

Screenshot of uploading client progress.

10. When the installer completes, click on Finish to close it.

click finish

11. Restart your computer when prompted by clicking Restart Now to finalize installation.

Screen clipping of "Restart Now" button.

12. To sign in, find the Omnissa Horizon icon on your desktop or search from installed Applications

Screen clipping of Omnissa Horizon desktop icon.

13. The first time you launch the Omnissa Horizon client, you will have to add the UW-Extended Campus server. Click on + New Server, or double-click on the Add Server icon

screenshot of Horizon Client highlighting where to click to add server.

14. Enter in virtuallab.wisconsin.edu into the "Enter name of connection server" field, and click Connect.

Screen clipping of entry box for the name of the connection server.

15. Enter your UWEX-provided Lab credentials (sent to you via email at the start of Preview Week) and click Login.

Screen clipping of entry field for username and password.

16. Double click on the tile labeled with your program name to launch your Omnissa Horizon desktop machine. A status message will inform you that the Virtual Desktop is being prepared.

Please Note: the first time you log into the Virtual Lab, you may need to wait for your account to be provisioned. This usually takes less than five minutes.

Screen clipping of showing where to click to launch virtual machine.

17. Once fully logged in, you should see a standard desktop layout. For optimal performance, make sure your virtual machine's information is displayed in the top right corner of the screen. This confirms that your profile has fully loaded and is ready for use.

wait for VM info to display



Mac Horizon Client Download

1. For a video walk-through of the download and installation process, click here.

2. Go to the Virtual Lab start page. Click on the Download the Horizon Client for Mac OS X link located near the bottom of the page. Do not enter your credentials to log in.


Screenshot of virtual lab start page with where to click to download Horizon Client for Mac highlighted.

3. From the list of products, find Omnissa Horizon Clients and click View Download Components.

Screenshot of products list with Omnissa Horizon Client download components highlighted.

4. Identify the product for your specific operating system (macOS), and select Go to Downloads.


Screen clipping of product downloads with macOS download highlighted.

5. Click on Download Now for the appropriate client.

screen clipping of download now button for Omnissa Horizon Client macOS.

6. Depending on your web browser, you may be prompted to allow downloads from "customerconect.omnissa.com". Click Allow.

7. From your downloads, open Omnissa Horizon Client to begin installation.


screen clipping of downloads with Omnissa Horizon Client highlighted.

8. A new window will appear. Click on Omnissa Horizon Client installer.

screenshot of Omnissa Horizon Client installer, highlighting where to click to bein installation.

9. Click on Continue to begin the installation process.

Screen clipping highlighting the "continue" button to begin installation.

10. Select a destination for how you want to install the software and click Continue

screen clipping of installation process.

11. The installation process description will display. Click Install.

screen clipping highlighting where to click install.

screen clipping of successful installation.

12. You should now see the Omnissa Horizon Client application icon in your Applications folder.

installer progress Omnissa Horizon Client desktop icon

13. To sign in, find the Omnissa Horizon icon in your dock or search for it in installed applications.

Omnissa Horizon Client desktop icon

14. The first time you launch the Omnissa Horizon client, you may see a warning about opening applications from the internet. Click Open.

15. Add the UWEX-Extended Campus server by double-clicking the New Server button if it does not automatically open.

double-click on new server button

16. Enter in virtuallab.wisconsin.edu into the "Enter name of connection server" field, and click Connect.

screen clipping of entry box for new server.

17. Enter your UWEX-provided Lab credentials (sent to you via email at the start of Preview Week) and click Login.

screen clipping of entry box for username and password

18. Double click on the tile labeled with your program name to launch a connection to your VM desktop machine. You will see a status message informing you that the Virtual Desktop is being prepared

Please Note that the first time you log into the Virtual Lab, you may need to wait for your account to be provisioned. This usually takes less than five minutes

screenshot of Omnissa Horizon Client dashboard

19. Once fully logged in, you should see a standard desktop layout. For optimal performance, make sure your virtual machine's information is displayed in the top right corner of the screen. This confirms that your profile has fully loaded and is ready for use.

wait for VM info to display



Web Browser Access

Note! There are some limitations to the browser version of the Virtual Lab. Check out the Which access method should I use? table above for more information.

1. Begin by going to the Virtual Lab log-in page

2. Enter in your lab credentials and click Login


screen clipping of Horizon Client login page.

3. Click on your program tile to launch a connection to the Lab


Screenshot of Omnissa Horizon Client dashboard

4. Once fully logged in, you should see a standard desktop layout. For optimal performance, make sure your virtual machine's information is displayed in the top right corner of the screen. This confirms that your profile has fully loaded and is ready for use.

wait for VM info to display


Keywords:
virtual, lab, vlab, setup, set-up, download, install, installation, access, vmware, horizon, client 
Doc ID:
123413
Owned by:
Christy S. in Wisconsin Online Collaboratives
Created:
2023-01-12
Updated:
2025-02-07
Sites:
Wisconsin Online Collaboratives