Virtual Computing

Virtual Desktop Computing

There are two virtual desktop environments available:

BingView: Provides access to University licensed applications such as Matlab, SPSS, STATA, SAS, Atlas.TI, Creo, and Microsoft Office Suite using a non-persistent virtual desktop. Virtual Desktop Infrastructure Overview

WatsonView: Provides a persistent virtual desktop suitable for the daily computing requirements for Watson College faculty, staff, and graduate student.  
The virtual desktop environment consists of a cluster of servers that host numerous virtual desktops. Instead of having an individual physical computer at their desk, users connect to their virtual desktop over the network via a zero/thin client or software client.

Accessing the virtual desktop

Connecting via Thin Client

Thin Clients are essentially a dumb terminal that connects to a remote resource. The connection is brokered through a connection server such as BingView or WatsonView.  Thin clients can support multiple displays, USB disk drives, and other USB peripherals.

  1. Locate a thin client within the labs or lounge
  2. Select an appropriate connection server
    1. For Academic courses select bingview.binghamton.edu
    2. If you are a faculty, staff or researcher within the Watson College select WatsonView.binghamton.edu
  3. Sign in with your username and One Time Password (OTP)
  4. Sign in with your BU domain credentials
  5. Select a system appropriate for your usage (If no systems are available, make sure you signed in with the domain set to BU)

WARNING: Any files saved on the BingView VM will be deleted upon logging off.  Save all files to your (U:) drive, USB drive or another network drive

Suppose you have been assigned a specific virtual machine. In that case, you will be able to select the respective pool to access your system.

Connecting via personal computing device

Watson College computing environment connection server:

  • Use on or off-campus: WatsonView.binghamton.edu

University computing environment connection server:

  • Use for on or off-campus: BingView.binghamton.edu

Connecting via the Horizon View Client from Off-Campus

  1. Click on the following link: Download Omnissa Horizon Client
  2. From the download page, select and download the View Client appropriate for your system. Clients are available for the following operating systems: Windows 32 and 64 bit, Mac, iOS, Android, and Linux (users should check their OS distribution repository for a client)
  3. Select "Go to Downloads" for the Horizon client appropriate for your system.
  4. Select "Download Now" and follow the screen prompts.
  5. Open the installed that was just downloaded and begin the installation procedure.
  6. Accept the default settings and follow the screen prompts.
  7. Depending on your operating system, you may be prompted to restart, do so before proceeding.
  8. Open the Horizon client.
  9. You will need to enter a server the first time the client starts. You can do so by clicking "Add Server".
    • For Academic courses enter bingview.binghamton.edu
    • If you are a faculty, staff or researcher within the Watson College enter watsonview.binghamton.edu
  10. Sign in with your username and One Time Password (OTP)
  11. Log in with your BU user name, password
  12. Select a system from the list.