Introduction

The DMSL laboratory features its own private cloud through which you can allocate computational resources (i.e., a remote computer, called image or virtual machine hereafter). The high level idea, is that you will be provided a remote computer on which you can install an operating system (e.g., Windows, Linux and even MacOSX server). Although this called "virtual machine" it is a computer with real computational resources (i.e., it is not an emulator!).

After setting up your image you will be able to administer your remote computer, as if it was next to you (i.e., install software, start programs that will run while you are disconnected, etc.) The virtual machine will be manageable from anywhere you are (even from your smartphone!)

To connect to the VCENTER (cloud administration console) you will need to follow step (A) from the below outline. Tentatively, you might also follow steps B-E, in case you have the particular need:

1. Connection / Installation Outline (only utilized for installing an OS on our Image)

2. Alternative Connection methods (not appropriate for installing an OS)

   - Web-based

   - RDP-based

   - Smartphone-based (IPhone, Android)

3. Sharing Files between your "Local Computer" and "Remote Computer"
4. VPN Instructions
5. Using MATLAB on your "Remote Computer"

For troubleshooting, please talk with your fellow students in DMSL. The below steps are really straightforward for a computer scientist, nothing special! It additionally provides you with a glimpse on where the IT world is heading ... the cloud!

A) Connection / Installation Outline (only utilized for installing an OS on our Image)

1. Download Plugin from https://vcenter/client/VMware-viclient.exe

   Notice: if you are outside the CS.UCY domain please VPN first, see instructions at the end of this document)

2. Install Plugin, double click on the tool and enter the below details:

   + Server: vcenter

   + Username:

   + Password:

3. When the tool opens, you might need to click on HOME -> Inventory -> VMs and Templates in the address bar. Now you will see your virtual machine. The given machine however, does not have an Operating system. Consequently, you need to obtain an ISO file of your favorite OS.

4. Obtain ISO image: Click on the little CDRom icon in the tool bar, named "CD/DVD drive 1" -> "Connect to ISO image on a datastore ..." -> Select "vmimages" -> Select "tools-isoimages" -> Select your favorite ISO (linux, windows, freebsd, ...)

   Notice: If you want to install anything more specialized (e.g., a specific linux, such as CentOS, Ubuntu, etc. first download the ISO file (32bit or 64bit, it doesn't really matter) from the distribution website. Then utilize the sequence: Click on the little CDRom icon in the tool bar, named "CD/DVD drive 1" -> "Connect to ISO image on local disk ..." -> Indicate where you have downloaded the ISO file on your personal computer. Please conduct this step while being at UCY in order to prevent massive data transfer over a slow connection

5. View the Screen of your remote computer: Click the respective icon

6. Install VMWare Tools to your "remote computer" (right click on image -> Guest -> Install)

7. Enjoy! Feel free to add additional resources to your image (e.g., more RAM, an additional CPU, more Ethernet cards, etc.) In order to do this, you have to shutdown your "remote computer", then righ click on the image, then configure as needed (please do not overallocate resources if you don't need them). We will be posting some additional rules for resource allocation in the future.

B) Alternative Connection methods (not appropriate for installing an OS):

1. WEB-BASED: You can administer your remote computer through a web browser:

   Just visit the following URL: https://vcenter/ (if outside UCY please connect with VPN first)

   Go to "Log in to vSphere Web Client"

   When everything loads enter the following credentials:

   user: "same as before"

   pass: "same as before"

   Notice: The web browser plugin for viewing the machine terminal only works on Windows machines (Internet Explorer and Firefox), but you can perform all other functions without the plugin (e.g., reset, allocate additional resources, etc.)

2. RDP-BASED: RDP stands for Remote-Desktop-Protocol and is utilized by windows machines to connect to a remote Terminal Server. Windows has a little RDP client under "Accessories" (for MAC you have to freely download http://www.microsoft.com/mac/remote-desktop-client)

   Open the tool and enter as an address "vcenter" (same user/pass as detailed above).

   Now you can open up the "VMWare client" (Start->All Programs->VMWare->VMWare Vsphere client) through the remote desktop in order to access your remote computer. Please notice that this approach is the preferred method to connect for the following reasons:

   - It will keep your pc less busy and the network traffic will also be reduced.

   - The vcenter administration console can be open and ready to use regardless of what happens to your local computer (restart, freeze, etc)

3. SMARTPHONE-BASED: Download "PocketCloud" (available for Android/IPhone). Create a new RDP connection with URL: "vcenter" (same user/pass). You can now open up the "VMWare client" and administer your "remote pc" from your smartphone/tablet

   Notice: If outside UCY, you have to connect with VPN first.

   For IPhone:

   Settings -> VPN -> Add VPN Configuration -> Select IPSec Tab ->

   Description: ANY

   Server: 194.42.17.66

   Account: Enter your CS username here (not your Vcenter username)

   Pass: Leave empty, such that you are asked every time

   Use Certificate: off

   Group Name: CSatUCyVPN

   Secret: cs123vpn$$

C) Sharing Files between your "Local Computer" and "Remote Computer"

This can be done in many ways

• - Small-sized Files (KB - 10MB): Through Email or Dropbox

• - Large-sized Files (10MB - 5GB): Share a folder (all OS support Samba-like file sharing) and access it \\yourmachinename\yourfolder . Make sure you are VPNed, if you are outside the campus

• - Huge Files (5GB-TB): Talk to me to hook an external drive directly on the physical cluster to conduct the data transfer)

D) VPN Instructions

Use this service to remotely become part of the CS Department or the University Network (in a secure manner). Being part of the CS network, will allow you to connect to IP addresses that would otherwise not be visible from the outside world (e.g., printers, certain servers such as email, digital libraries available on campus through the library etc.) Additionally, all communication from your remote terminal and the University is encrypted. Don't use this tool if you are already physically in some of these networks (e.g., while being at the CS Department)

1. Install Cisco VPN Client 5.x

   Search Google for the following files:

   Windows - vpnclient-win-msi-5.0.07.0410-k9.exe,

   MacOSX - vpnclient-darwin-4.9.01.0280-universal-k9.dmg

2. Attached to this message is the CS Key. This key must be imported through the wizard available in the Cisco Client. Susequently, you will be able to connect to the CS network.

E) Using MATLAB on your "Remote Computer"

To use Matlab (windows, mac or linux) you need to obtain the Matlab installation disk from the CS systems administrators. You will also need to obtain a S/N and "network.lic" (that needs to be placed under C:\Program Files\MATLAB\\licenses\ , on your remote computer).

After the installation, matlab will automatically attempt to connect to the departmental Matlab licencing server. As this can only be done while being part of the Departmental domain you will need to configure your remote computer to join the CS domain. In particular, open your remote computer (or similar on linux/mac), right click on "Computer" -> "Computer Name, Domain, and workgroup" (change settings) -> Change (domain) -> Provide name: "CS.UCY.AC.CY"

After the above configuration, restart your "remote computer". After the login screen appears enter your "CS USername/password" (not the admin user/pass you utilize for your "remote computer")