Amazon Workspaces is a VDI (Virtual Desktop Infrastructure) that allows a user to securely connect to a cloud compute instance. SEAS Computing has bundled Solidworks and Comsol as applications which authorized SEAS users may utilize, and have opened up the SEAS licensing servers to these instances. 

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Please note that workspaces auto-stop after 1 hour being disconnected. This means when you re-connect to your workspace, you will see that it is resuming, and you will have to wait a minute or less for the workspace to resume. You will automatically be connected to your workspace when it is ready.

Fig. 3: Workspace resuming message after successful logon

Once connected to your workspace, use it as you would any other computer. Solidworks and Comsol shortcuts are in the desktop and also in the start menu.  No setup is required.  

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Connection Difficulties (please read before you contact us)

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Problem: You did not receive an invitation email from Amazon

Solution: It may be in your spam folder. If you are using, for example gmail (including g.harvard.edu), check your spam folder. Once you locate the email in your

spam folder, then click the 'NT SPAM' button on top of the email. This  sends the email to your inbox and activates any links.

Problem: Invitation link does not work

Solution: Once you register with Amazon, the link does not work. At that point, you should be able to download the client and login with your userid and password.

Problem: I clicked "Forgot password?" button on my WorkSpaces desktop app, and it says that email was sent to me but I haven't received it.

Solution: Most likely, your email client has marked it as spam. We have noticed this with gmail. With gmail (includes g.harvard.edu), go to the spam folder, locate the email from Amazon,  click on the email and then click the 'NT SPAM'

button on top of the email.  This sends the email to your inbox and activates the link.  Click on the email and then click the active link 'reset password'.

Help on VDI

Please send an email to help@seas.harvard.edu for any issues you experience with Workspaces. Use "SEAS VDI difficulties" in your subject line. Please do not send COMSOL and SOLIDWORKS related questions to this address.

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