Connecting Folders Between Your Device and VDI

You can temporarily connect storage locations on your local computer to the Tufts VDI so that content syncs between the two. This gives you a way to move content back and forth and can be used as a way to save work that you are doing on the VDI.

Through the Omnissa Horizon native client, you can connect either your entire local storage or selected folders to the Tufts VDI. (Note: This connection will only be available to YOU while you are using the VDI!)

Otherwise, there are other storage options, including Box.

Connecting Storage on the Native Client

  1. Open the Omnissa Horizon native client.
  2. Open the Settings page. This can be done before launching a virtual desktop or while a virtual desktop is open.
    • Before – Before launching a virtual desktop, click the Settings option in the lefthand menu.native client, settings option
    • During – Click the Options button in the top toolbar and select Settings.native client settings option
  3. Click into the Drive & Folder Sharing tab.
  4. Find the Share your local files option and click on the toggle to turn it ON. Your local storage (C: drive) will be added to the Global Sharing list.sharing C: drive
  5. Close the Settings window.
  6. If you haven’t already, launch one of the virtual desktops.
  7. While in the virtual desktop, open the File Explorer.file explorer icon
  8. The storage you shared will be available as a Network Drive on the VDI. You can open content from here to work on it, download and upload, etc. Changes you make to content through the VDI will sync to your local storage and vice versa. (Be careful about deleting files or folders! Remember this will impact the content stored on your local device!!)examples of connected storage on native client

If you don’t want to connect your entire local storage to the VDI, you can connect specific folders.

  1. Open the Omnissa Horizon native client.
  2. Open the Settings page. This can be done before launching a virtual desktop or while a virtual desktop is open.
    • Before – Before launching a virtual desktop, click the Settings option in the lefthand menu.native client, settings option
    • During – Click the Options button in the top toolbar and select Settings.native client settings option
  3. Click into the Drive & Folder Sharing tab.
  4. In the Global Sharing section, click Add.
  5. Select the folder(s) you want to connect.
  6. Close the Settings window.
  7. If you haven’t already, launch one of the virtual desktops.
  8. While in the virtual desktop, open the File Explorer.file explorer icon
  9. The storage you shared will be available as a Network Drive on the VDI. You can open content from here to work on it, download and upload, etc. Changes you make to content through the VDI will sync to your local storage and vice versa. (Be careful about deleting files or folders! Remember this will impact the content stored on your local device!!)examples of connected storage on native client
  1. While using the Omnissa Horizon native client on macOS, go to the top menu bar and click Omnissa Horizon Client.
  2. Select Settings.
  3. In the Preferences window that opens, click into the Drive Sharing tab.
  4. From here, you can:
    • Connect all of your local storage by checking the box next to "Allow access to [username]".
    • Add/remove individual folders to connect.Connecting folders on macOS native client

       

  5. The storage you shared will be available as a Network Drive on the VDI. You can open content from here to work on it, download and upload, etc. Changes you make to content through the VDI will sync to your local storage and vice versa. (Be careful about deleting files or folders! Remember this will impact the content stored on your local device!!)examples of connected storage on native client

Connecting Storage on the Web Client

  1. Follow the steps to access the Omnissa Horizon web client via your browser.
  2. Open the Settings page. This can be done before launching a virtual desktop or while a virtual desktop is open.
    • Before – Click Settings icon in the top toolbar.web client settings option
    • During – Open the lefthand panel, select Open Menu, then Settings.web client settings option
  3. Find the Enable Folder Sharing setting an make sure it is turned ON. Then, click Select.web client option to enable sharing and select specific folders
  4. Click Add. To select local folders to connect to the VDI. Multiple folders can be connected, but they must be added one-at-a-time.managing and adding folders
  5. When you’re ready, click OK.
  6. If you haven’t already, connect to a virtual desktop or application.
  7. Within the VDI, each of the connected storage locations will be available as a Network Drive (e.g., Z:, Y:, X:,…). You can open content from here to work on it, download and upload, etc. Changes you make to content through the VDI will sync to your local storage and vice versa. (Be careful about deleting files or folders! Remember this will impact the content stored on your local device!!)web client example of connected folders visible in VDI

Rather than connecting local storage to the VDI so that it can automatically sync as you work, you can perform manual uploads and downloads between your local device and the VDI.

  1. Follow the steps to access the Omnissa Horizon web client via your browser.
  2. Access your desired virtual desktop (e.g., TTS Virtual Lab).
  3. While in the virtual desktop, open the lefthand panel and select the File Transfer option.web client file transfer option
  4. The File Transfer panel will open. Click into the appropriate tab and follow the directions to upload/download copies of files between your local device and the virtual desktop.web client transfer window