1. VCL Best practices
Lee Toderick, Department of Technology Systems
Tony Miller, ITCS

2. Topics Covered VCL Definitions Apache VCL Details Citrix VCL Details
Incorporating VCL into Courses
Conclusion and Questions

3. Providing computing resources without traditional physical lab space
Virtual Computing Lab
Providing computing resources without traditional physical lab space

4. Benefits Increases availability to 24/7
Reduces dependence on student owned equipment and software
Removes requirement to be on campus
Increases equivalence of D/E and on-campus student experience
Controls access to software for only actively enrolled terms

5. ECU VCL Options Option 1 – Apache VCL Option 2 – Citrix VCL
Presented by Lee Toderick
Option 2 – Citrix VCL
Presented by Tony Miller

6. Reserved computers at your command
Apache VCL
Reserved computers at your command

7. Apache VCL Overview
Reference:

8. Apache VCL Features
Reservations for an entire computer are made for now or future date
Reserved computers are delivered in initial “known good” state
Students have admin control of computer during their session
Reservations that expire cause computer to reload

9. Apache VCL Features
Faculty can request one time or repeating scheduled reservations for their class
Reduces wait time and allows class to begin work right away

10. Apache VCL Features
Because Apache VCL reserved computers are trusted ECU machines, students can access network resources not otherwise available
Ex: Apache VCL reserved computers can directly access Pirate Drive

11. Apache VCL Labs (several)

12. Apache VCL Lab NSF/HP Grant

13. Apache VCL Statistics Reservations Unique Users Hours Used 4,928 1,101
9,421
Top Five Reserved Images
ECU Cisco Lab
ICTN 4800 Fall 2010
RHEL RHA
Windows XP with SAS, PASW, and Mathematica
Windows XP with NI Circuit Design
Data collected August 24, 2010 – March 18, 2011

14. Apache VCL Computer Access
Reservation for Microsoft Windows
Use an RDP Client to show remote desktop
(Optional: Use a VNC Client to access remote desktop)
Reservation for Linux
Use an SSH Client to access remote command line
Use a VNC Client to access remote desktop
All clients are available for Windows, Mac, Linux, and mobile devices

15. Apache VCL File Saving Reservation for Microsoft Windows
User can access Pirate Drive as U: drive using desktop application
Reservation for Linux
User can mount Pirate Drive into their current file system

16. Apache VCL File Submission
Send files as attachments
Set Pirate Drive permissions to allow faculty to view files
Use faculty designated persistent storage
Use reserved computer’s web browser to upload to Blackboard / Moodle
**New for ICTN4800, Fall student-initiated automated grading and feedback!

17. Apache VCL Persistent Storage
Faculty can request additional storage for their classes
Faculty control their space and can create their own folder structure and file permissions

18. Individual Applications Delivered On Demand
Citrix VCL

19. Citrix VCL Features
Users use web browser with plugin to access Citrix VCL portal
Users choose application and click link to activate
Citrix web plugin is used to deliver application to users

20. Citrix VCL Features
Web plugin is available for Windows, Mac, Linux, and mobile devices
Web plugin allows access to local computer storage (if user desires)
Web plugin allows access to local printers

21. Citrix VCL Features
Because Citrix VCL servers are trusted ECU machines, students can access network resources not otherwise available
Ex: Microsoft SQL Server instance

22. Citrix VCL Statistics Total Number of Application Starts 6,851
Top Five Applications
Mathcad 14
SQL Server Management Studio Express 2008
Visio Pro 2007
Photoshop CS5
PASW (SPSS) 18
Data collected August 24, 2010 – March 18, 2011

23. Citrix VCL File Saving
Citrix web plugin prompts for access to local disks
Servers have Pirate Drive automatically available

24. Citrix VCL File Submission
Local files → No different than usual submission policy

25. Incorporating VCL into courses
What Now?
Incorporating VCL into courses

26. VCL Integration Steps Determine software package information
Obtain software
Determine audience restriction (if any)
Make VCL software request
Test software in VCL
Prepare course specific instructions

27. Determine Package Information
Operating system requirements
Vendor information
Software license information
Free? / Commercial?
Not all software vendors allow virtualized software
ITCS assists with licensing details

28. Obtain Software Need to provide media or files to ITCS VCL team
Freely downloadable software only requires a pointer to download method

29. Determine Audience Restriction
Individual student(s)?
One section?
One course?
One department?
One college?
No restriction - easiest

30. Make VCL Software Request
Choose one of:
with proposed software
Submit a Virtual Computing Lab Image request via

31. VCL Documentation Detailed information
Apache VCL
Citrix VCL
Printable Adobe Acrobat documents
Via ITCS Learning Center

32. VCL Resources VCL web site VCL e-mail IT Help Desk http://vcl.ecu.edu
IT Help Desk

33. Checklist for Help E-mail / Ticket
What VCL am I using?
What operating system am I using?
What web browser am I using?
What software / image am I using?
What am I trying to do?

34. Course Repetition
VCL software remains in place unless removal requested

35. Conclusion and Questions
VCL / Citrix is EXTREMELY flexible!
ITCS support team is responsive (sense of urgency)!
Labs are scalable from a few students to a hundred students!
QUESTIONS???

36. Contact Information
Lee Toderick
Tony Miller