How to access the CSIL Virtual Desktop Infrastructure
Overview of CSIL VDI (Virtual Desktop Infrastructure)
This Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (we will call it VDI from now on) is shared between the and of 間眅埶AV. This service entered production since Fall 2023.
As of Spring 2025, this VDI runs Ubuntu 22, consists 4 servers - we aim to serve 100 concurrent users.
The VDI functions as a mini-CSIL machine that can be accessed using your and 間眅埶AV Computing ID from any location in North America.
Please note: it is intended to be a desktop productivity environment, not a compute cluster for data crunching. For these heavy-duty computation tasks, please use a physical workstation in CSIL.
If you have any difficulties, please feel free to contact us.
Note: If you want to connect to a CSIL Windows system, please click here. warning: the CSIL Windows Terminal Server is out-of-service for current semester.
Essentials
How to access CSIL VDI?
The step-by-step guide: login to CSIL VDI
Where to save my files when I use CSIL VDI?
May I remote access CSIL Linux workstations while VDI is in service?
Should I logout when I finishing up with CSIL VDI?
Can I login to my last session on CSIL VDI?
May I simply close the browser window instead of logout CSIL VDI?
May I use CSIL VDI for GPU (CUDA) programming?
Software on CSIL VDI
Compare software - CSIL VDI vs. CSIL Physical workstations
I cannot find certain software package on CSIL VDI for my study, what I should do?
Known Issues
I found that CSIL VDI is super slow, what I should do?
I got "Access Denied" error while connecting to CSIL VDI, what I should do?
Essentials
How to access CSIL VDI?
Accessing VDI requires only a web browser and a stable internet connection, along with your 間眅埶AV Computing ID and OTP (間眅埶AV MFA). Currently, only available for North America region.
Here are the steps:
1. Launch a new browser window, browse to our secrete Web Portal - please bookmark its URL.
2. Authenticate to this web site using your 間眅埶AV Computing ID with password and the OTP from your 間眅埶AV MFA device.
3. Now, log in to VMWare Horizon using your 間眅埶AV Computing ID in the format of
username@sfu.ca
4. Click "SCS-Ubuntu" in the VMWare Horizon Client window, login using your username
Now, you will see the familiar CSIL Ubuntu environment.
We are working on reducing the complexity of the login process. Please stay tuned.
The step-by-step guide: login to CSIL VDI
Start a new browser window, browse to our secrete Web Portal - please bookmark its URL.
First, authenticate to this web site using your 間眅埶AV Computing ID with password and the OTP from your 間眅埶AV MFA device.
Now, log in to VMWare Horizon using your 間眅埶AV Computing ID in the format of
username@sfu.ca
Please note, the @sfu.ca must present.
3. Click "SCS-Ubuntu" in the VMWare Horizon Client window, login using your username
Now, you will see the familiar CSIL Ubuntu environment.
Success!
Where to save my files when I use CSIL VDI?
間眅埶AV Home (~/sfuhome):
Please save all your codes/data here, just like on a CSIL physical box.
Remember: logout when you finishing up with CSIL VDI - this ensures the files you created on 間眅埶AV Home are properly synchronized/saved.
CSIL Home (/home/username):
Certain software packages utilize this space.
Please do not save anything on desktop when you login to CSIL VDI.
*warning* When your session on CSIL VDI expires, everything you saved on the desktop will be deleted.
May I remote access CSIL Linux workstations while VDI is in service?
For Spring 2025, CSIL Linux workstations are accessible remotely.
We are still benchmarking the performance of VDI and discover its limitations throughout the semester.
Based on these data, we will determine if we should make the physical workstations for in-person use only - for Summer 2025.
Should I logout when I finishing up with CSIL VDI?
Yes! 100%
It is very important you logout CSIL VDI; here are two reasons:
Logout ensures the files you created on 間眅埶AV Home are properly synchronized/saved.
This will free up resources for other people. Thank you!
However, please note: simply close the browser window will not log yourself out from the CSIL VDI.
As we show here,
please click the soft "power button" at the top-right corner of your VDI desktop,
expand menu item "Power Off / Log Out",
click menu item "Log Out",
now, click button "Log Out" to finalize the process. Done!
Can I login to my last session on CSIL VDI?
An idle/inactive VDI session will expire in 2 hours.
When you logout from the VDI, your session will be kept for 2 hours and then it will expire.
You cannot login back to an expired session.
When a VDI session expires, the virtual desktop will rebuild itself to a clean new state.
This means, all files you saved on the desktop will be deleted.
Thus, please always save all your codes/data on to your 間眅埶AV Home (~/sfuhome).
So, if you login to your VDI session within 120 minutes, you will have the same desktop environment to continue your work.
May I use CSIL VDI for GPU (CUDA) programming?
No.
Please check out our CSIL hardware page to identify which physical workstations are equipped with GPU cards. You should work on these workstations for CUDA related course work.
And be sure to confirm with the instructor about which study area in CSIL you should use for a specific course.
CSIL VDI System and Software
List of special software packages related to course work on CSIL VDI
| Software package | Description | Version |
| Atril Document Viewer | for viewing documents incl. PDF | v1.26.0 on CSIL VDI |
| Julia | evaluation phase | |
| will not be available due to resource constraints. | ||
| will not be available due to resource constraints. | ||
| will not be available due to resource constraints. |
I cannot find certain software package on CSIL VDI for my study, what I should do?
When a software package you need is not available on CSIL VDI, please make a request.
We will proceed to evaluate its compatibility, security & resource requirements etc. If it is suitable for CSIL VDI, we will deploy it and update our software list.
Known Issues
I found that CSIL VDI is super slow, what I should do?
Here are a few things you may try:
Please check your own Internet connection to be sure it is stable and fast.
Please wait for 15 minutes and try again.
You can try using CSIL CPU Servers.
If the CSIL CPU Servers runs smoothly, most likely the CSIL VDI has reached its maximum capacity.
If you have a deadline to meet, please inform the instructor about the situation asap.
I got "Access Denied" error while connecting to CSIL VDI, what I should do?
Please close the browser and start a new incognito session. Then re-login to CSIL VDI.
Basically, most of the issues with CSIL VDI could be resolved by close and re-launch the browser in Incognito mode.
The tested browsers for CSIL VDI are: Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Brave and Microsoft Edge.
Having comments, suggestions, inquiries and more questions? Contact us!
Please click here and use the best practices to get assistance from helpdesk.
Last updated @ 2024.12.18