Browser (VMware Horizon) Instructions

This document will demonstrate how to connect to a virtual lab desktop from any computer with a web browser using the VMware Horizon View HTML Access Client. The HTML client allows the user to access a lab over the internet without the need to install the VMware Horizon View Client on the machine you are accessing it fro in a web browser. You can use this to access the lab machines you have been provisioned access to from anywhere.

System Requirements

Browser Requirements

  • Google Chrome 22 or later
  • Microsoft Internet Explorer 9 or later
  • Apple Safari 5.1.7 or later
  • Mozilla Firefox 16 or later
  • Apple Mobile Safari on iOS 6 or later

Operating Systems Supported

  • 32 or 64-bit Windows Vista, 7 or later
  • Mac OSX 10.6.8 or later
  • iPad with iOS 5.0 and later

Accessing vLabs using HTML Client

vLabs webpage screen with install the VMware Horizon View Client Application option and VMware Horizon View Client over HTML option

Figure 1

1. Point your browser to https://vlabs.uml.edu. You will see the vLabs webpage screen, as shown in figure 1.

  • The first option (on the left) is to install the VMware Horizon View Client Application, which will install the VMware Horizon View Client to your machine.
  • The second option (on the right) is to use the VMware Horizon View Client over HTML. This example will explain how to effectively use the VMware Horizon View HTML Access, so click on the monitor icon.
vLabs login page with username and password

Figure 2

2. You will then connect and be prompted for your username and password at the login window as shown in figure 2.

Enter uml student email for username and password to the vLabs login page

Figure 3

3. Enter your email address with the “@student.uml.edu” suffix into the username box, and password as shown in figure 3.

Click the Login button, and you will be shown any available labs you have access to

Figure 4

4. Click the Login button, and you will be shown any available labs you have access to. To connect, click on the monitor icon, as seen in figure 4, and you will automatically be connected and logged into the virtual machine you chose.

Product Limitations

Please note, there are also a few limitations of using VMware Horizon View HTML Access client instead of the VMware Horizon View client. The limitations are as follows:

  • Audio will not work if using the HTML access client
  • USB access and redirection is not supported
  • You cannot transfer clipboard contents from the client system and the View desktop
  • The mouse pointer may not change. For example, when highlighting text, the pointer will not change into a cursor. Also, when placing your mouse over a hyperlink, it will not change to a hand to denote it is clickable.
  • There are many keyboard shortcuts that do not work in the View client
  • Control + T
  • Control + W
  • Control + N
  • Windows key combinations
  • Command key (For OSX)
  • Alt + Enter
  • Control + Alt + <any key>
  • Caps Lock + <a modifier key>
  • Control + Alt + Delete will not work, you must use the “Send Ctrl+Alt+Delete” button from the drop-down menu in the client menu bar

If you need or want any of these features, UMass Lowell IT recommends using the VMware Horizon View Client. Documentation is available for installing the client specific to your operating system on the UMass Lowell IT vLabs website.

iOS Instructions

The following demonstrates how to install and use the VMware Horizon View Client from any iOS device. This client allows the user to connect to virtual lab machines that you have been provisioned access to from any iOS device with an internet connection. This information pertains to installing the VMware Horizon View Client version 2.1 from the Apple App Store, which is used by all iOS devices, to download and install applications. There is no cost to install the application. Please note, these instructions are for an iPad running iOS 6.1.3. The images shown will vary between devices and iOS versions.

System Requirements

UMass Lowell only supports using VMware Horizon View Client version 2.1 or higher since it works on any iOS device running iOS version 5.0 or later.

Settings Icon

Figure 1 (a)

If you do not know which version of iOS your device is running, go into your “Settings” shown in figure 1 (a).

In the settings menu, click General tan and then click About

Figure 1 (b)

Then under the “General” tab, click “About" as shown in figure 1 (b).

Version number

Figure 1 (c)

About halfway down the page, you will see “Version.” This is shown in figure 1 (c).

Installing the Client

You will need Adobe Acrobat Reader to view any pdf files. It can be download for free from the Adobe website.

Disconnecting from vLabs

There are a few different ways to close a virtual machine. You can either disconnect or log out.

  • Disconnecting will close the virtual machine and start a 1-hour timer. Disconnecting allows you to reconnect to the same session at a later point in time, as long as you do not exceed the one hour timer. After one hour, the user is logged out.
  • Logging out immediately disconnects the user and destroys the virtual machine. This removes any files that have been created since you have logged in.
Recent Desktops screen

Figure 2 (a)

First, you must disconnect from the desktop by using the “Disconnect” button explained earlier. You will then be brought to the “Recent Desktops” screen shown in figure 2 (a).

Click log off of the vLabs virtual machine

Figure 2 (b)

To log out, press and hold until the log off menu is displayed. Then click “Log off” to log off of the vLabs virtual machine as shown in figure 2 (b).

Android Instructions

The following demonstrates how to install and use the VMware Horizon View Client from any Android device. This client allows the user to connect to virtual lab machines that you have been provisioned access to from any Android device with an internet connection. These instructions are for installing the VMware Horizon View Client version 2.1 from the Google Play Store, which is used by all Android devices, to download and install applications. There is no cost to install the application. Please note, these instructions were written for a Motorola Droid Razr running Android version 4.1.2. The images shown will vary between devices and Android versions.

System Requirements

UMass Lowell only supports using VMware Horizon View Client version 2.1 or higher since it works on any Android device running version 3.0 or later.

Settings Icon

Figure 1 (a)

If you do not know which version of Android your device is running, go into your “System Settings” as shown in figure 1 (a).

From the System settings select About Phone

Figure 1 (b)

At the bottom of the options, you will find “About Phone.” Open the “About Phone” menu as shown in figure 1 (b).

Open the About Phone, and you will find the Android Version

Figure 1 (c)

You will find “Android Version.” Figure 1 (c) shows the steps to verify your version of Android.

Installing the Client

You will need Adobe Acrobat Reader to view any pdf files. It can be download for free from the Adobe website.

Disconnecting From vLabs

There are a few different ways to close a virtual machine. You can either disconnect or log out.

  • Disconnecting will close the virtual machine and start a 1-hour timer. Disconnecting allows you to reconnect to the same session at a later point in time, as long as you do not exceed the one hour timer. After one hour, the user is logged out.
  • Logging out immediately disconnects the user and destroys the virtual machine. This removes any files that have been created since you have logged in.
Recent Desktops screen

Figure 2 (a)

First, you must disconnect from the desktop by using the “Disconnect” button explained earlier. You will then be brought to the “Recent Desktops” screen shown in figure 2 (a).

Click log off of the vLabs virtual machine

Figure 2 (b)

To log out, press and hold until the log off menu is displayed. Then click “Log off” to log off of the vLabs virtual machine as shown in figure 2 (b).