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Wayne State University's virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI) allows students, faculty and staff to access a virtual Windows or Linux desktop from any device. Follow the steps below to access the VMware Horizon Client (recommended for full functionality). VDI requires Microsoft multi-factor authentication. Learn more at tech.wayne.edu/2fa.
Access via VMware Horizon client (recommended)
Step 1
Go to https://vlab.vdi.wayne.edu in your web browser.
Step 2
Choose Install VMware Horizon Client to use the native client. This option will give you the ability to attach local USB drives to the virtual machine you are accessing.
Step 3
Click the download link for your operating system and install the software following the standard installation process.
Step 4
Open the VMware Horizon Client.
Step 5
Click the + to add a new connection server. Type in vlab.vdi.wayne.edu and click Connect (you will only have to do this once).
Step 6
Log in with your AccessID and password.
Step 7
Once logged in, double-click on the virtual machine called vLAB Engineering to open it.
Access via web browser
Step 1
Go to https://vlab.vdi.wayne.edu in your browser.
Step 2
Click on VMware Horizon HTML Access to access the virtual machine from your web browser. USB drive access from the virtual machine is not possible with this method.
Step 3
Log in with your AccessID and password.
Step 4
Click on the virtual machine called vLAB Engineering.
Exiting vLab
Do not close the browser or Horizon Client. Click Sign Out from the start menu of the virtual machine. Save any work to your local computer, OneDrive, or email before signing out. Once you sign out, the virtual machine will be removed and its resources will be returned to the main cluster.
How to reset your desktop in VMware Horizon
There may be cases in which your virtual session experiences performance issues. When this occurs, C&IT recommends resetting your desktop. Please note that resetting your desktop will cause any unsaved data to be lost.
Step 1
Click the Options menu from the toolbar at the top of the screen and then click Reset Desktop.
Step 2
Confirm the prompt that states The desktop will be rebooted and any unsaved data will be lost. Are you sure you want to reset this desktop? Click Yes. Your virtual session will end, and a new VM will be assigned.
Accessing flash drives or shared folders in a Linux VM (VMware Horizon client)
This feature is only available through the VMware Horizon Client (not the HTML browser method).
Step 1
Once logged into the VDI client and before connecting to a virtual machine, click the settings gear (top-right corner) to open it.
Step 2
Click Sharing in the left panel.
Step 3
Check the box for Allow access to removable storage.
Step 4
To share a folder, click Add, select the folder you want to share, and click OK.
Step 5
Connect to your Linux VM.
- Ubuntu: Click Places, then open the tsclient folder
- CentOS: Open Dolphin, then open the tsclient folder
How to upgrade the VMware Horizon desktop client
Upgrade from the existing client
Step 1
Click the options drop-down and then click Software Updates.
Step 2
Follow the prompts to install the update. You may need to restart your computer once complete.
Download the client from the web
Use this method if the client is outdated and upgrading the existing client does not work.
Step 1
Go to https://vlab.vdi.wayne.edu and click Install VMware Horizon Client.
Step 2
Click Go to Downloads under VMware Horizon Client for Windows.
Step 3
Choose the latest version (default) or select an older version if needed. Click Download Now.
Step 4
Open the downloaded file, click Agree & Install, and follow the prompts.
Step 5
Restart your computer after installation.
Step 6
Open the VMware Horizon Client.
Step 7
Click Add Server, enter vlab.vdi.wayne.edu, and click Connect.
Step 8
Log in with your AccessID and password.
Troubleshooting: Keyboard and mouse do not work in vLab (macOS Ventura)
Users may find that their keyboard and mouse do not function within vLAB while using macOS Ventura. Follow the steps below to enable Input Monitoring and resolve this issue.
Step 1
Close the VMware Horizon Client.
Step 2
Open the System Settings app on your Mac.
Step 3
In the sidebar, click Privacy & Security, then click Input Monitoring.
Step 4
Find VMware Horizon Client and toggle on Input Monitoring.
If prompted, quit and reopen the VMware Horizon Client.