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Azure Windows Virtual Desktop (WVD)#

  • User needs: Governance, Security & Connectivity
  • User profiles: Business Users, Data Analysts, Data Scientists, Data Engineers
  • User assumed knowledge: /

With Windows Virtual Desktops (WVDs) you can connect via a web client to your virtual desktop, a personal workspace in the cloud. The desktop is associated to your user and has access to the data science labs (DSLs) you are permissioned to access. All private resources in a DSL can be accessed via their private IP addresses from your WVD.

Connect to your WVD#

There are multiple ways to interface with Windows Virtual Desktop: - Using the browser: more information can be found here, but all latest browser version are supported. - Installing the Windows Virtual Desktop client on your local computer: if you prefer the RDP (Remote Desktop Protocol) way of working, you can download the Windows Virtual Desktop client and use this interface to connect with your Windows Virtual Desktop. More information can be found here. Next to downloading it from an executable, there is also an option to download it from the Microsoft Store. - Finally, there also options for when you're using Android, macOS,iOS, or Linux. For more information, please have a look at the Microsoft documentation.

In the remainder of the documentation we will focus on using the Web client.

Using the web-client#

You can access your virtual desktop from the web client using the following link.

The web client will prompt you to log in using your ec-dataplatform.eu credentials, as shown in the screenshot below.

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When you are logged in, the web client will give you an overview of the different workspaces you have access to.

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Double-click the workspace you would like to access. This will prompt you to log in again using your ec-dataplatform.eu credentials.If your account is username@ec-dataplatform.eu, use username as your login. Enter your credentials and click on “Sign in”.

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Upon successfully authenticating your user, the virtual desktop is started and your personal data is loaded, upon which you should receive the following screen.

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Using the Windows Desktop client#

You can also access your virtual desktop by downloading and installing the Windows Desktop client using this link.

After installing the Windows Desktop client and opening it, you see the sceenshot below. Click on Subscribe.

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The Widows Desktop client will prompt you to log in using your ec-dataplatform.eu credentials. Please provide your credentials and click Next.

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Double-click on Default Desktop.

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Provide your ec-dataplatform password and click on OK.

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Upon successfully authenticating your user, the virtual desktop is started and your personal data is loaded, upon which you should see your WVD.

Pre-installed software#

Each Windows Virtual Desktop comes with the folloiwng software packages pre-installed:

  • Python 3.8.5
  • Anaconda
  • R 4.0.2
  • Rstudio 1.3.1073
  • KNIME Analytics Platform 4.2.1
  • Azure Storage Explorer
  • PowerBI
  • MySQL Shell, MySQL Workbench, MYSQL connectors, etc. included in the mysql community installer 8.0.21
  • Net Framework 4.8
  • Edge, Chrome and Firefox webbrowsers
  • Azure CLI 2.11.0
  • Azure Powershell module Az 4.6.0
  • MS SQL Server Management Studio 18.6
  • Azure Data Studio

Shared and Personal Directories#

Each user can store files to a maximum of 1 TB in the user's home directory (C:\Users\<username>). This directory is personal and stored in a separate storage location than the underlying compute infrastructure that this WVD is running on. This means that between two log-ins, all files that are saved in this directory or its child directories will always be available. On the other hand, when files are stored out of this location, it is unsure whether your files will be available the next time you log in. Additionally, other users might be able to view, delete or copy these files when they have the necessary permissions (DSL admin group).

Using Windows Virtual Desktops to access DSL resources#

With windows virtual desktops you are connected to the network of your DSL. This will allow you to access all your private resources such as databases or compute resources using either the browser or the respective API’s of the resources.

Access resources via the browser#

If resources that you requested host web interfaces, you can access these via the browsers.The Microsoft Edge, Chrome and Firefox webbrowsers are preinstalled on Windows Virtual Desktops and can give you access to e.g. HDInsight.

Access resources via KNIME Analytics Platform#

KNIME Analytics Platform comes preinstalled with Windows Virtual Desktops and can be used to perform local analysis in your WorkSpace by connecting to data sources in your DSL such as relational databases.

Access enabled Azure services#

If you requested Azure services (e.g. Azure Data Lake), you can access these resources via the Azure CLI or Az PowerShell module. More information about the Azure services itself is explained in their respective sections. To be able to access Azure native resources you will need to initialize your Windows Virtual Desktop with Azure credentials. Azure also offers a graphical user interface to access your Azure Data Lake, called the Azure Storage Explorer. The Storage Explorer comes preinstalled on your Windows Virtual Desktop but needs to be configured with your Azure credentials, as explained in the documentation for the Azure Data Lake.

Access relational databases using Azure Data Studio#

The Azure Data Studio (as well as the MS SQL Server Management studio) are pre-installed on you WVD. From your WVD you have access to your DSL environment and you can connect to your database as described in the Azure Relational Database User documentation.