McCormick's Virtual Computer Lab (powered by VMWare Horizon) is available for academic use anywhere there is an internet connection and provides remote access to key engineering software using a full Windows desktop environment from your personal device. The Virtual Computer Lab is available 24/7 and enables access to the most commonly used software applications required in McCormick classes.

This is an on-campus service.  To access the virtual computer lab from off-campus, you will need to use the GlobalProtect VPN. Please visit the Northwestern IT Knowledge Base for VPN set-up and use instructions.

For the best experience, use a computer with a keyboard and the VMWare Horizon desktop client, though HTML access is also available.

Options for accessing the virtual computer lab are at: vdi.mccormick.northwestern.edu

Download the VMWare Horizon client appropriate for your device. High level instructions are below for Windows and MacOS, though clients are also available for Linux, iOS and Android.

Windows

1. Review the minimum system requirements for Windows clients.
2. Download and install VMWare Horizon Client for Windows.
3. When the installation finishes, you may be asked to restart your machine.
4. After the installation, launch the VMWare Horizon Client desktop app by double-clicking its desktop shortcut icon or by going to the Windows Start Menu and choosing VMware | Horizon Client.
5. Select Add Server and enter vdi.mccormick.northwestern.edu as the Connection Server name.
6. Go to Settings > Security and change the certificate checking mode to "Thumbprint or PKI Verification".

Mac OS

1. Review the minimum system requirements for Mac clients.
2. Download and install VMWare Horizon Client for macOS.
3. When the installation finishes, you may be asked to reboot your machine and may need to grant access to the VMWare Horizon client to receive keystrokes in System Preferences.
4. After the installation, go to your Applications folder and launch VMWare Horizon Client.
5. Select Add Server and enter vdi.mccormick.northwestern.edu as the Connection Server name.
6. Go to the VMWare Horizon Client Preferences > Security and select the certificate checking mode to "Do not verify server identity certificates".

HTML Access

Browser access is available, though should be used specifically on devices where the client is not compatible or not working properly.

Review the minimum system requirements for HTML Access.

• Install the latest .NET Framework: Go to the Microsoft .NET Framework download page. Click on the latest version. Click on Download .NET Framework under Runtime. Your browser will get a small installer file. Run the installer. Follow the instructions of the installer
• Install the latest Visual C++ Redistributables: Go to the Visual C++ Redistributables get page. Scroll to Visual Studio 2015, 2017 and 2019 and download both x86 and x64. Run the installers. If the installer states that there are newer version of Visual C++ Redistributables installed, go to the Control Panel and uninstall the latest version and run the installer again

• Disable antivirus protection TEMPORARILY: Open the taskbar tray and right click on your antivirus software. The tray is located at the bottom right of your desktop. Depending on your antivirus software, you will see different options. You need to look for “Dashboard”, “Temporarily Disable Active Protection”, “Exit” or similar keywords. You need to find a way to either temporarily disable Active Protection feature or exit the antivirus software completely (not minimize back to tray). Once the antivirus software is disabled, run the installer. Regardless of the outcome, please re-enable the antivirus

Client Not Loading or Loading Slowly

• Check your internet connection and speed: Your connection must be stable and fast enough to support your use of Northwestern online resources. Typically, 10-20 Mbps upload and get speeds will support typical work activities, though other devices on your network will impact your speed (such as streaming or online gaming). To test your connection, go to SpeedTest.net and click GO

• Review the size of the app: If using a tablet or mobile phone, check your respective app store to see how big the installation file is and how long it may take to load
• Run the latest version of the app: Go to the ellipses in the top right hand corner of the app and click on Software Updates

• Restart your device or the app: Doing so will reload all settings and functions and, if necessary, re-establish connections to the App Store

Certificate Errors

• Check your certificate checking mode: In the client, go to Settings > Security and ensure the mode is set to "Thumbprint or PKI Verification" on a Windows or Preferences > Security and ensure the mode is set to "Do not verify server identity certificates" on a Mac

Save Your Work

Be sure to save frequently to cloud storage using your virtual desktop’s web browser or your connected device. Links to Northwestern’s cloud storage options include

You will not be connected to the same desktop each time you log in and each desktop is refreshed upon session termination.

Before you close the app, go to the location on your computer where you saved the file, make sure it is there, and that you can launch it.

• I can’t log into the VDI, what could be wrong?
  • Make sure you are connecting with the latest client and connection server name: vdi.mccormick.northwestern.edu
  • Error: Timeout was Reached: If you are connecting from off campus, ensure you are on the GlobalProtect VPN
  • Unknown user name or bad password or You are not authorized to use this: Your username is just your Northwestern NetID. Ensure you typed in your NetID password correctly (you will be locked out of the environment after a number of failed login attempts). All McCormick students should have access to the virtual computer lab. If you are not a McCormick student but are registered in a McCormick class or belong to a McCormick-sponsored club / student group, contact labs@mccormick.northwestern.edu with proof of registration in order to be added to the permissions list
  • Connect desktop failed or The display protocol for this desktop is currently busy processing a request or Unable to allocate a desktop - pool refresh is in progress: Close your connection, wait a few minutes, and restart the VMWare View client or reconnect through the HTML access
  • The desktop source for this desktop are not responding. Please try connecting to this desktop again later, or contact your system administrator or Unable to Allocate Desktop, No Desktops Available. All desktops in pool are currently in use: The virtual computer desktop pool for the number of concurrent users may have reached its limit. Close your connection and try again in a few minutes
  • The Connection Server Authentication failed. The tunnel server presented a certificate that didn't match the expected certificate. Ensure the security settings in the client are set to allow "Thumbprint or PKI Verification"
  • Check that your connection has not timed out. Users will be logged out after 20 minutes of inactivity, so save frequently
  • Check that you aren’t trying to access the virtual computer lab during a scheduled/ emergency maintenance window. Weekly updates will occur on or after 11:00 am on Saturdays; Quarterly updates will be scheduled around academic breaks
• Can I print while logged into the virtual computer lab?
  • The virtual computer lab desktops are not currently integrated with NUPrint. However, you can print to a local printer from your virtual desktop
• Can I access my Northwestern email on a virtual desktop?
  • You can access your Northwestern email via a web browser on your virtual computer lab desktop on webmail
• How do I save and access files on my local machine?
  • Files saved to the Desktop or in This PC on a virtual computer lab desktop do not persist across sessions. You should save your files to a cloud storage solution like OneDrive or Google Drive via a web browser or using a USB drive
• How do I adjust display settings in the VMWare Horizon Client desktop application?
  • Application windows launched through the VMware Horizon Client can be resized just like application windows on your local computer. The screen can be resized by dragging a corner of the remote desktop window to the desired size. If you encounter issues with resolution or scaling check the display settings on your local computer

• Can I use the Virtual Computer Lab for research?
  • No. The software available in the virtual computer lab is licensed for academic use only

‘SaltStack will help us to complete our automation story, enabling us to extend our automation capabilities beyond infrastructure to the entire application stack,’ says VMware’s cloud leader, Ajay Singh.

At VMworld 2020 Tuesday, VMware unveiled plans to acquire software automation specialist SaltStack in a move to boost its vRealize Suite of products and address all customer automation needs both on-premises and in the cloud.

“VMware is acquiring SaltStack to significantly broaden its software configuration management and infrastructure and network automation capabilities,” said Ajay Singh, senior vice president and general manager for VMware’s Cloud Management Business Unit, in a blog post Tuesday. “SaltStack will help us to complete our automation story, enabling us to extend our automation capabilities beyond infrastructure to the entire application stack. This will include the software and packages inside virtual machines and containers.”

Singh said SaltStack’s software configuration management capabilities will help VMware address customer automation needs and strengthen businesses’ ability to automate the deployment and configuration of infrastructure platforms both on-premises and in the cloud with VMware vRealize Automation.

“SaltStack offers robust configuration compliance and vulnerability management capabilities, which will enable VMware vRealize to help customers address their SecOps practices,” said Singh.

[Related: VMware 2020’s 15 Biggest Product Announcements]

Financial terms of the acquisition were not disclosed.

SaltStack develops software used by IT and security operations teams to help businesses more efficiently secure and maintain all aspects of their digital infrastructure. SaltStack’s flagship offering is Salt, Python-based, open-source software for event-driven IT automation, remote task execution and configuration management, supporting infrastructure as code methodology.

SaltStack CEO Marc Chenn said in a blog post that for the past eight years, his company has worked to build intelligent, scalable and future-proof automation offerings that help organizations control and secure their IT infrastructure.

“As VMware paves the way for the multi-cloud future, automated cross-cloud orchestration and configuration management will be an integral part of multi-cloud’s strategic advantage,” said Chenn. “VMware and SaltStack, together, will forge a more robust foundation for the future of cloud innovation, which starts today with this thrilling announcement.”

SaltStack has raised approximately $28 million in private funding, according to Crunchbase.

VMware said SaltStack’s open-source software promises faster time to market, expanded access to innovation, and increased developer productivity.

“Open source powers innovation,” said VMware’s Singh. “VMware invests in, contributes to, and builds on open source so that customers can deploy more innovative, interoperable, scalable, and secure solutions with confidence. VMware is committed to continuing SaltStack’s work on their projects after close and, with the help of SaltStack’s community leadership, VMware will support and invest to help grow the community.”

The announcement of its intent to acquire SaltStack came just hours before VMware kicked-off its virtual VMworld 2020 conference. VMworld 2020, at which a general pass is free of charge, runs from Sept. 29 to Oct. 1.

‘The acquisition of Nyansa will accelerate VMware’s delivery of end-to-end monitoring and troubleshooting capabilities for LAN/WAN deployments within our industry-leading SD-WAN solution,’ says Sanjay Uppal, vice president and general manager for VMware’s VeloCloud Business Unit.

VMware is acquiring network analytics specialist Nyansa to boost its flagship SD-WAN by VeloCloud platform through new artificial intelligence and machine learning capabilities.

“The acquisition of Nyansa will accelerate VMware’s delivery of end-to-end monitoring and troubleshooting capabilities for LAN/WAN deployments within our industry-leading SD-WAN solution,” said Sanjay Uppal, vice president and general manager for VMware’s VeloCloud Business Unit, in a statement. “Nyansa is a proven solution that solves many of the shortcomings of today’s vendor-specific solutions.”

Nyansa analyzes user network traffic from more than 20 million client devices across thousands of customer sites at companies including Tesla, Uber, Lululemon, Rooms To Go, GE Healthcare, SF International Airport, Stanford and the Northeast Georgia Healthcare System, to name a few.

[Related: WWT CEO Jim Kavanaugh’s 10 Boldest IT Bets And Myths For 2020]

Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. The transaction is expected to close in VMware’s first fiscal quarter 2021.

VMware said it will add Nyansa’s artificial intelligence and machine learning capabilities to VMware’s existing network and security portfolio to help customers operate and troubleshoot the Virtual Cloud Network and further VMware’s ability to enable what it dubs, “self-healing networks”.

“Joining forces with VMware provides an amazing platform for Nyansa to continue executing on the vision of a new networking paradigm: an analytic-powered and software-defined virtual cloud network that connects clients to containers in dynamic and distributed enterprises,” said Nyansa CEO Abe Ankumah, in a statement. “Nyansa and VMware are perfectly aligned in technology, products and culture. Following the close of the acquisition, we will continue to advance our AI-driven multi-vendor network analytics platform and double-down on end-to-end user experience and IoT operational assurance.”

Nyansa’s flagship Voyance is a vendor-agnostic, cloud-based AIOps platform. The solution consolidates key functionality within conventional network monitoring tools into a single, multifunction analytics platform to deliver visibility into and behavioral analysis of critical device performance across the entire infrastructure.

VMware’s acquisition of Nyansa comes less than one month after its blockbuster acquisition of Pivotal Software for $2.7 billion.

In a nutshell: Users and customers of VMware products have one less reason to worry about the future after the Broadcom acquisition. The Workstation line of desktop hypervisors will not be discontinued, or "divested" as the voracious technology conglomerate likes to say, and users will be able to access their fair share of local virtual machines the same way they have done for the past few years.

Soon after completing the much-sought acquisition of VMware, Broadcom began laying off thousands of people and dismantling entire product units, such as the End User Computing (EUC) line. Fear and uncertainty are causing long-time VMware clients to worry about the future, especially considering that Broadcom has made it crystal clear that it aims to transition much of VMware's business into a subscription-based model.

VMware managers have now provided some reassuring news about the fate of Workstation. According to Michael Roy, product line manager for desktop hypervisor products, Hypervisors will continue to exist, and Broadcom seems committed to the platform, both today and "into the future."

Roy explained on VMware's official blog that a new chapter is now beginning for Workstation. Users will continue to be able to purchase their favorite desktop hypervisor Workstation (Pro) applications in the same way they have been for the past few years. "Free for personal use" VM managers Fusion Player (macOS) and Workstation Player (Windows, Linux) will continue to be available as well.

VMware's Workstation products offer IT professionals, power users, and companies the capability to run "hundreds" of 32-bit and 64-bit guest operating systems on local host PCs, without the need to pay for a cloud subscription. Workstation Pro/Player provides one of the fastest VM experiences on the market, with a specific focus on graphics performance that can transform virtualized Windows environments into viable gaming setups – both on PCs and Apple Silicon-based Macs.

The type-2 desktop hypervisor embedded in Workstation shares the same code as the enterprise-class, type-1 native hypervisor ESXi, Roy explained, and they continue to mutually enhance each other. Workstation enables ESXi to support an "immeasurable number" of scenarios and use cases, allowing VMware to test new capabilities. Simultaneously, ESXi contributes to making Workstation the "leading desktop hypervisor," leveraging more than 20 years of investment in enterprise reliability built into the platform.

VMware Workstation relies on a small team that has achieved great results despite facing "all kinds of challenges," as Roy remarked, and it won't be discontinued by the new Broadcom owners anytime soon. The VMware hypervisor platform will continue to Improve with new virtual hardware capabilities, enhanced security features, and crucial updates to support new versions of Windows and Linux operating systems.

Broadcom has moved forward with plans to transition VMware, a virtualization and cloud computing company, into a subscription-based business. As of December 11, it no longer sells perpetual licenses with VMware products. VMware, whose $61 billion acquisition by Broadcom closed in November, also announced on Monday that it will no longer sell support and subscription (SnS) for VMware products with perpetual licenses. Moving forward, VMware will only offer term licenses or subscriptions, according to its VMware blog post.

VMware customers with perpetual licenses and active support contracts can continue using them. VMware "will continue to provide support as defined in contractual commitments," Krish Prasad, senior vice president and general manager for VMware's Cloud Foundation Division, wrote. But when customers' SnS terms end, they won't have any support.

Broadcom hopes this will force customers into subscriptions, and it's offering "upgrade pricing incentives" that weren't detailed in the blog for customers who switch from perpetual licensing to a subscription.

These are the products affected, per Prasad's blog:

• VMware Aria Automation
• VMware Aria Suite
• VMware Aria Operations
• VMware Aria Operations for Logs
• VMware Aria Operations for Networks
• VMware Aria Universal
• VMware Cloud Foundation
• VMware HCX
• VMware NSX
• VMware Site Recovery Manager
• VMware vCloud Suite
• VMware vSAN
• VMware vSphere

Subscription-based future

Broadcom is looking to grow VMware's EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization) from about $4.7 billion to about $8.5 billion in three years, largely through shifting the company's business model to subscriptions, Tom Krause, president of the Broadcom Software Group, said during a December 7 earnings call, per Forbes.

"This shift is the natural next step in our multi-year strategy to make it easier for customers to consume both our existing offerings and new innovations. VMware believes that a subscription model supports our customers with the innovation and flexibility they need as they undertake their digital transformations," VMware's blog said.

With changes effective immediately upon announcement, the news might sound abrupt. However, in May, soon after announcing its plans to acquire VMware, Broadcom CEO Hock Tan signaled a “rapid transition” to subscriptions.

At the time, Tan pointed to the importance of maintaining current VMware customers' happiness, as well as leveraging the VMware sales team already in place. However, after less than a month of the deal's close, reports point to concern among VMWare customers and partners.

Customer and partner concerns

VMware's blog said "the industry has already embraced subscription as the standard for cloud consumption." For years, software and even hardware vendors and investors have been pushing IT solution provider partners and customers toward recurring revenue models. However, VMware built much of its business on the perpetual license model. As noted by The Stack, VMware in February noted that perpetual licensing was the company's "most renowned model."

VMware's blog this week listed "continuous innovation" and "faster time to value" as customer benefits for subscription models but didn't detail how it came to those conclusions.

"Predictable investments" is also listed, but it's hard to imagine a more predictable expense than paying for something once and having supported access to it indefinitely (assuming you continue paying any support costs). Now, VMware and its partners will be left convincing customers that their finances can afford a new monthly expense for something they thought was paid for. For Broadcom, though, it's easier to see the benefits of turning VMware into more of a reliable and recurring revenue stream.

Additionally, Broadcom's layoffs of at least 2,837 VMware employees have brought uncertainty to the VMware brand. A CRN report in late November pointed to VMware partners hearing customer concern about potential price raises and a lack of support. C.R. Howdyshell, CEO of Advizex, which reportedly made $30 million in VMware-tied revenue in 2022, told the publication that partners and customers were experiencing "significant concern and chaos” around VMware sales. Another channel partner noted to CRN the layoff of a close VMware sales contact.

But Broadcom has made it clear that it wants to "complete the transition of all VMware by Broadcom solutions to subscription licenses," per Prasad's blog.

The company hopes to convince skeptical channel partners that they'll see the way, too. VMware, like many tech companies urging subscription models, pointed to "many partners" having success with subscription models already and "opportunity for partners to engage more strategically with customers and deliver higher-value services that drive customer success."

However, because there's no immediate customer benefit to the end of perpetual licenses, those impacted by VMware's change in business strategy have to assess how much they're willing to pay to access VMware products moving forward.

SAN ANTONIO, Dec. 12, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Rackspace Technology^® (NASDAQ: RXT), a leading end-to-end hybrid, multicloud technology solutions company, today announced the launch of SDDC (Software Defined Data Center) Enterprise and Business for SAP with VMware virtualized compute, storage, networking, and cloud management. The single-tenant VMware solutions power mission-critical SAP and SAP HANA (High-performance Analytic Appliance) environments with fully integrated hardware and software stack for private cloud. The enterprise-grade solution and SAP-certified pre-configuration based on Dell VxRail is a turnkey experience ready to power innovation.

The Rackspace SDDC Enterprise and SDDC Business offer numerous add-on services ranging from VMware vRealize^® Suite, physical and virtual ops management, and Rackspace Data Protection to manage Disaster Recovery (DR) and VMware Hybrid Cloud Extension (HCX) interconnect services. In addition, SDDC Enterprise and Business for SAP utilizes either shared, dedicated, or virtual storage area network (VSAN) based human-computer interaction (HCI) storage designed to meet the stringent requirements put forward by SAP for the latest SAP HANA database, including the current generation S/4 HANA release.

“SAP customers on SDDC will benefit from high levels of performance delivered by an SAP-certified solution that runs on dedicated hardware and the latest VMware software-defined networking and storage technologies and Rackspace Private Cloud,” said Kevin Carroll, General Manager of Rackspace's ERP Business. “The SDDC for SAP infrastructure solution leverages deep expertise and partnership service authorization with SAP to deliver flexible SAP certified solutions to run highly critical customer Enterprise workloads.”

The SDDC infrastructure solution extends Rackspace Private Virtual Cloud (PVC) product and solution offerings and now provides certified options for SAP customers with this solution. Rackspace’s ERP Application Services and 20+ years of SAP expertise can extend the core capabilities and services of SDDC for SAP to help customers architect, migrate, and manage their SAP applications.

• Designated SAP Service Authorized Partner: Offers customers consultants or systems integrators to provide strategic consulting, system design, solution integration and implementation of SAP solutions.
• Combines Rackspace certified capabilities to deliver SAP application, hosting, and infrastructure services.
• Leverages alliance partnerships with Dell and VMware to deliver the SDDC Enterprise and Business for SAP with VMware virtualized compute, storage, networking, and cloud management.
• Delivery of a configured solution productized to meet SAP certification requirements.

Click here for more information on SDDC Enterprise and Business for SAP with VMware.

About Rackspace Technology
Rackspace Technology is a leading end-to-end hybrid, multicloud technology services company. We design, build and operate our customers’ cloud environments across all major technology platforms, irrespective of technology stack or deployment model. We partner with our customers at every stage of their cloud journey, enabling them to modernize applications, build new products and adopt innovative technologies.

Media Contact: Natalie Silva, publicrelations@rackspace.com