📖 Web Development Virtual Environment
Virtual Desktop
Dallas College has responded to students' need for supporting software through a variety of methods. Recognizing our students have a variety of different devices they use to complete course assignments in technical areas, Dallas College has employed a new Virtual Desktop Interface (VDI) client. The Virtual Desktop provides students with an extensive list of installed software for students to use in completing class assignments.
My Dallas College
To access all of the Dallas College apps, open a browser to the My Dallas College page. Sign In using your Dallas College Single Sign On (SSO) credentials. These are the same credentials used for other Dallas College resources (eCampus, eConnect, SharePoint, etc.). Once in the system, you should see a number of cards that will link you to the provided resources including eCampus, eConnect, Teams, the Virtual Desktop, OneDrive, and much more. This could be the one page you will want to bookmark to have all the Dallas College resources in one place.
Accessing the Virtual Desktop
The My Dallas College link to the Virtual Desktop will take you to a page with information about the Virtual Desktop. This includes information about the apps available in the VDI client, how to use it and why as well as a link to the VDI client. Click the Go To My Virtual Desktop button to open the VDI client. If you are going to use the VDI client, you may want to bookmark the VDI client page.
Selecting the Coding and Development Environment
For Web Development (and other CIT) students, there is a special group of software contained in the Coding and Development instance of the VDI client. Click the Coding and Development link in the Virtual Desktop landing page to launch the Virtual Desktop Coding and Development environment. Click the Coding and Development link to launch the Virtual Desktop Environment.
Allow some time for the server to spin up a new instance of the VDI for your account. When finished, you should see a new Dallas College virtual desktop environment built on the Microsoft Windows 11 OS. In this environment, you should be able to navigate the interface just like you were in a live Windows 11 environment on your laptop or PC. You should find installed software to include VS Code, MySQL Workbench, FileZilla and several browsers along with a variety of other software. If you do not see an icon on the desktop for the app you need, click the Windows icon on the tool bar and search for the app.
Using the VDI Software
Opening and running these programs is done exactly the same way you would use the program if it were installed on your system with a couple of limitations. First, you cannot install new software on the VDI client. All software is managed by Dallas College. If you think you need something and cannot find it, please contact your instructor for help.
OneDrive
The next unique characteristic of the VDI client is that your files will not be saved to your computer. The file system of the VDI client is tied to your Dallas College student OneDrive account. Dallas College provides all students with a Microsoft OneDrive cloud storage account for use in DC classes. This can be quite confusing for students who have not yet practiced using a OneDrive storage account.
VDI Demonstration
The video below will take you through the process of accessing the VDI client and demonstrate how to manage your OneDrive files.