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Virtual Computing Lab (VCL)

Tagged with: VCL Virtual Computing lab

VCL is CCI's Virtual Computing Lab

Creating a reservation in VCL

  1. Go to https://vcl.cci.drexel.edu & click "CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE TO VCL".
  2. Click "Proceed to Login."
    (If you do not see "Proceed to Login" button, try skipping to step 5 and click "Reservations.")
  3. Enter DrexelOne or Drexel Connect userid and password.
  4. Click "Reservations."
  5. If prompted, click "Allow" to allow notifications.
  6. Click "New Reservation."
  7. In the "New Reservation" window:
          Choose VM, such as Ubuntu Desktop or Windows 7.
          Choose when you want to use the VM environment.
          If you choose "Now" you will have to wait one minute.
          Click "Create Reservation"
  8. When your VM is ready, click "Connect"
          You will also receive an email notifying you that your VM is ready

Before you can connect to your VCL VM you must be connected to Drexel VPN. 
Click here for instructions on how to connect to Drexel VPN.

Follow the instructions below for your operating system to connect once your VM is ready.

DO NOT DOUBLE-CLICK THE RDP FILE WITH LINUX VM's!!!

  • You will not be able to connect to your VM like this.
  • You will only see unlabeled buttons, no text, and will not be able to connect.

Also, you have a CHOICE between Ubuntu 12.04 & 18.04.

  • 12.04 is quite old. The Firefox web browser is version 52 or like. Firefox just hit version 100 in May 2022.
  • Use 18.04 unless the assignment specifically requires you to do otherwise.
  • Bb Learn does not work with the Firefox web browser in 12.04.

Instructions

  1. Download and install Microsoft Remote Desktop version 10 or above here 
    https://apps.apple.com/us/app/microsoft-remote-desktop-10/id1295203466?mt=12
  2. Once Microsoft Remote Desktop is installed open Applications > Microsoft Remote Desktop.
  3. Click the "+" icon and click "Desktop"
    Virtual Computing Lab or VCL image 1.png
  4. Enter "Remote Computer" IP address in the PC Name field & click "Save."
    VCL - Enter IP address of host PC name.png
  5. Now double check on the VM you just added and login with the User ID and Password from the VCL "Connect" window.
    If you are prompted with a warning like the one below, click "Continue".
    RDP Security Warning


DO NOT DOUBLE-CLICK THE RDP FILE WITH LINUX VM's!!!

  • You will not be able to connect to your VM like this.
  • You will only see unlabeled buttons, no text, and will not be able to connect.

Also, you have a CHOICE between Ubuntu 12.04 & 18.04.

  • 12.04 is quite old. The Firefox web browser is version 52 or like. Firefox just hit version 100 in May 2022.
  • Use 18.04 unless the assignment specifically requires you to do otherwise.
  • Bb Learn does not work with the Firefox web browser in 12.04.

Instructions

  1. Download and install Microsoft Remote Desktop version 10 or above here
    https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/p/microsoft-remote-desktop/9wzdncrfj3ps?activetab=pivot:overviewtab
  2. Open the "Remote Desktop" application on your windows computer.
    1sm.png
  3. Click the "Add" button.
    2.png
  4. Click "Desktop" under "Add."
    3.png
  5. Enter IP address in the "PC name" text box, and click "Save".
    This is the number that is next to the "Remote Computer" lines when you reserved in VCL.
    4.png
  6. Double-click the newly created saved desktop machine.
    5.png
  7. Login with the User ID and Password from the VCL "Connect" window.
  8. If prompted, click "Continue"
  1. Download and install Microsoft Remote Desktop version 10 or above here
    https://apps.apple.com/us/app/microsoft-remote-desktop-10/id1295203466?mt=12
  2. In the "Connect" pop-up window, note that the Userid and )in particular) Password. 
    This password is not the same as your DrexelOne or Drexel Connect Password
  3. In the "Connect" pop-up window, click the "Get the RDP File" button
    1.png
  4. Save ".rdp" or "RDP Connection File" to where you wish on your Mac or Windows computer.
  5. Double-click the "Windows7x64.rdp" file.
  6. If the .rdp file does work skip to step 7. 
    If the .rdp file doesn't work, or you need an alternative method,
    try the following:
          Open Applications > Microsoft Remote Desktop.
          Click the + or plus icon, and click "Desktop".
          Enter "Remote Computer" IP address in the PC Name field, and click "Save."
          Double-click the VM you just added in the Microsoft Remote Desktop application windows.
          Login with the User ID and Password from the VCL "Connect" window.
          If prompted, click "Continue"
  7. Click "Continue" when the security certificate is not verified alert is shown.
    4.png
  8. Enter your user id and password from https://vclweb.cci.drexel.edu or https://vcl.cci.drexel.edu
  9. And click "Done."


  1. In the "Connect" pop-up window, not the Userid and Password. 
    This password is not the same as your DrexelOne or Drexel Connect Password.
  2. In the "Connect" pop-up window, click the "Get the RDP File" button.
    1.png
  3. Save the RDP Connection file to your computer.
  4. Locate and double-click the "Windows7x64.rdp" file.
  5. If you are prompted, open the .rdp file with the "Remote Desktop Connection" app, which is built into Windows by default.
  6. If prompted, click "Connect", even though the publisher of this remote computer cannot be verified.
    winrdp.png
  7. When prompted enter your user id and password from the https://vclweb.cci.drexel.edu or https://vcl.cci.drexel.edu website.

This is only for use with Ubuntu Linux.
And this is only for command line prompt access via a terminal window,
rather than use of an actual Virtual Machine (VM).

  1. Use the IP address from the "Remote Computer" and login credentials in an SSH Client,
    like Putty (Windows) or the Terminal application.
    1.png

On a Mac

  1. Go to Applications > Utilities > Terminal.
  2. Type in "ssh xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx" without quotes.
    The x's represent your IP address.
  3. Hit enter and when prompted login with the User Id and Password from the VCL "Connect" window.

On Windows

  1. Download & install Putty. 
    Go here if you need help installing Putty
  2. Use the "Remote Computer" IP address as the "Host" address in the PuTTY client.
  3. Login with the User ID and Password from the VCL "Connect" window.


NordVPN or any other VPN users:

Windows 11 Users: Ensure Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) is allowed in the Windows 11 firewall. 

  • But first make sure your remote desktop connection is enabled in Windows 11 "Settings" & "Control Panel."
    Skip the cmd.exe & Powershell sections (if any).
  • https://pureinfotech.com/enable-remote-desktop-windows-11/
  • Also, completely close & quit ANY other VPN's aside from Drexel's CiscoAnyConnect VPN.
  • Right-click & quit any other VPN app icons in the lower right system tray menu, next to the date/time.
  • And click the ^ there & right-click & quit any other VPN apps in that part of the lower right system tray, too.
Alternate Instructions: Allow RDP in through the Windows 11 firewall.
  • See "Block or Allow Programs through the Windows Firewall" section at link below for help in allowing RDP through.
    Disregard it saying Windows 7 in URL below.
    Link is for Windows 10 & 11 as well, not just 7.
  • https://www.thewindowsclub.com/how-to-configure-windows-7-firewall
  • Then be sure to follow the VCL instructions in the sections above this troubleshooting section on this page.

If you still have issues, try disabling the Windows 11 firewall completely.

Use Drexel's Cisco VPN AnyConnect app or program.

"/dev/sda# contains a file system with errors, check forced" error

  • If you get error screens like the screenshots below,
    and it could say /dev/sda1 or /dev/sda2 or /dev/sda3 etc:
  • Type in the command below on the command prompt on the error screen,
    but specify the correct sda# (sda1, sda2, sda3, sda4, sda5, etc).

    fsck -f /dev/sda#

    Where sda# is the sda1 or sda2 or sda3 or sda4 or sda5 or so on mentioned in the error screen as the "file system with errors."

1st of 2 Screenshots showing /dev/sda# requiring manual fsck error:

vcenter CT382-SEED Screen Shot 2022-04-25 at 4_19_24 PM


2nd of 2 Screenshots showing /dev/sda# requiring manual fsck error:

vcenter CT382-SEED Screen Shot 2022-05-04 at 10_27_12 PM

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