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. 

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.

Connecting to your virtual desktop 

Please follow the instructions below to connect to your instance and utilize the applications you need.

1. Update your user account (est. time: 3 mins.)

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. 

                                                             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           

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.

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.

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.

VPN:

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

Connection Difficulties (please read before you contact us)

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 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

                      able to download the client (unless you have already done that) and login. If you have not downloaded the client:

                     - download and install at https://clients.amazonworkspaces.com

                    - enter the registration and user name from the email with the expired link.

                    - 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

If you  already have the input (.inp) files, you can run them by opening a command window. To do so,

      --- go to the folder where you have the input files
      --- while pressing the shift key with left hand, press the right mouse button. 
      --- select "Open command window here" (screen shot vd-abaqus-02). 

You can run abaqus with the usual commands "abaqus job=..... input=..."

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.