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

Before you start using the Virtual Desktop (VD), please take note of the following:

• The VDs are to be used for the intended purposes only, i.e. class work if the VD is for a class.
• All commercial software made available on the VD should be used only for academic course work in the class for which the VD is made available. They may not be used for thesis work.
• All the VDs will be decommissioned at the end of class. Please transfer any material you want to keep out of the VD. Otherwise, it will be lost.
• Please close any licensed applications (comsol, solidworks, abaqus, etc.) once you are done with your work. That way the licenses will become available for other users.

Connecting to your virtual desktop 

Please If your class is given access to SEAS Virtual Desktops (VD), follow the instructions below to connect to your instance and utilize the applications you need.

1.

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AWS will send you an email when your instance is ready. It will let you know your user name and your registration code. Click on the link inside that email to be taken to a page where you can update your password for your user. Take note of the user name, password, and registration code.

 Make sure you check the email address associated with your class, which could be your @college.harvard.edu email address. 

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                                                             Fig. 1 Sample Workspace Email

In the above sample email, I note:

a.- my registration code is SLiad+RRXU3W (This is the same registration code all SEAS users will receive)

b. - my user name is jdeanetest  (your user name will be different.  You will use this to log into the client)

c. - After I click on the link inside the email (labelled 1.), I will set up my password.

2. Install the Workspaces client (est. time 5 mins.)

After you update your user account, you will be asked to download the Workspaces client. Choose the correct download for your system. Once downloaded, install the program.

Clients can be downloaded at: https://clients.amazonworkspaces.com/

                                                       Fig. 2: Workspaces client download page           

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Login to your class Canvas site.

2. Look for  a VDI button (VDI_AWS or VDI_AWS-Workspace or SEAS_VDI) on the canvas landing page for your class and click on it.

3. Follow the instructions on the new page that opens. 

As the instructions say, you can either use  a client for your operating system (only for Mac and Windows) or login from the web (only Chrome and Firefox). If you are using web access, you need the registration code. You can get it by going to your class canvas and following step (2) above. 

For linux, Web Access is the only viable option. Web Access can also be used on Mac (not on Safari) or Windows.

3. Connect to your Workspace (est. time 3 mins)

Once you first run the Workspaces client, you will be asked for your registration code, which was included in the email sent to you. Enter your registration code. You will then be taken to a user logon box. This is where you enter your user name and password you created in step 1. If everything is correct, you will connect to your instance and be presented with your Workspaces desktop.

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.

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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.  

When you log back in, your storage and applications are the same as when you left.

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Note: First time provisioning of a machine can take as much as 30 minutes. Try to get yourself setup well before the first class.

4. Please make sure to check your spam folders in case Amazon AWS informs you that a mail has been sent and you did not receive it.

For any password difficulties, you should be able to click on "Forgot Password?" that appears on the login page and follow the instructions. 

A note about email: The email where you will receive notification is the one you use for Harvard Key. If you do not have a Harvard Key, it depends on the nature of your association with Harvard and the email in Harvard records. If you have XID, then the email is the one you used for obtaining XID.

5. Once you are done with your work on the machine, close any commercial software and log out of the machine.

File Transfers

You cannot transfer files from the VD to your local machine directly. You can transfer files as attachments to your email. You can also use Google Drive/OneDrive/Dropbox. You should be able to install Dropbox client or work via a browser. Please try to transfer files as soon as you can. If the machine is decommissioned or has to be recommissioned for a user due to technical difficulties, all the files on the machine may be lost.

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You do NOT have to be on VPN to access any license servers for Solidworks/Comsolany commercial software. We built the VDI infrastructure to already have access to the license servers. Use your workspace as you would any lab machine.

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A. 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 NOT SPAM' button on top of the email. This  sends the email to your inbox and activates any links.

 B. Problem: Invitation link does not work

     Solution:  The link expires when you clicked on it earlier and set up your password.  If you have done that and remember your password, you should be

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                    - enter the password (if you do not remember the password, see below)

C. Problem: I don't remember my password

     Solution: You should have the client downloaded and installed. If not, see Problem B above. Once you have the client installed:

      - click 'forgot my password' on the workspaces client 

Abaqus Instructions for ES 128

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Other than email related difficulties already discussed, you should generally not have much difficulty with the VDI. If you encounter difficulties with VDI, you should contact your TFs or instructor.