Opening, Closing, and Locking VDI
You can connect to VDI via the website or desktop app; to close VDI, you can close the website or app.
Importantly, after 1 hour of inactivity, VDI will automatically close - if you are going to stop using the computer for between 1 hour and 4 hours, lock the virtual desktop (if it’s locked, it won’t turn off).
You can use either the VMWare Horizon website or the VMWare Horizon desktop app. Either will work, but we recommend the desktop app. To use the desktop app, you need to have it installed on your machine. Tufts laptops have VMWare Horizon already installed on them; on your personal laptop or tablet, follow the instructions here to download and install VMWare Horizon.
Connecting to VDI via the Web app:
- Log in to https://vdi.it.tufts.edu/
- Double-click to open the TTS Virtual Lab.
Connecting to VDI via the Desktop app:
- Open your Virtual Horizons application, which may simply say "VDI".
- If you receive a message about Accessibility, choose “Not Now.”
- Log in to the VMware Horizon panel with your Tufts username and password.
- If you receive a message about a new version of VMware Horizon, choose “Remind Me Later”
- . Double-click to open the TTS Virtual Lab.
- If you receive a message about connecting your local hardware, check “Do not ask me again” and click “Deny
Important: After 1 hour of inactivity, VDI will automatically close. If you are going to stop using VDI for between 1 and 4 hours, lock the virtual desktop (if it’s locked, it won’t turn off).
It is highly recommended that you save any critical work to Box.
To lock the Windows computer:
- Click the Windows icon in the bottom left of the screen.
- Click the person icon.
- Choose Lock.
Closing VDI (Web App):
- Save your work in Box.
- Close the browser tab or window.
Closing VDI (Desktop App):
Save your work in Box. Logging out of the virtual desktop closes VDI.
- Click the Windows icon in the bottom left of the screen.
- Click the person icon.
- Choose Sign Out.