My Virtual Computing Lab: Chromebooks
Operating System: Chrome OS
Applies To: faculty and staff paid by UB, students
Last Updated: March 26, 2020
With Remote Desktop Connection, you can connect from your Chromebook computer to a Windows-based computer and work with programs and files on that PC. UB students, faculty and staff use this software to connect to My Virtual Computing Lab from Chromebooks.
- Open the Play Store application on your Chromebook
- In the Search box, enter Microsoft Remote Desktop
- Click Install
- Click Confirm
- On-campus: Connect using ResNet, computer in a university office or eduroam Wi-Fi
- Off-campus:
- Connect to the Internet using your Internet Service Provider, such as Spectrum or Verizon.
- Download from Play Store Cisco Secure Client, a VPN (Virtual Private Network) program that allows you to connect to My Virtual Computing Lab and other UB resources, before you connect to My Virtual Computing Lab. Install, then run Cisco Secure Client.
- Connect to the Internet using your Internet Service Provider, such as Spectrum or Verizon.
Using Remote Desktop Application
1. o to applications > RD client
2. Click the “+” icon, located on the top right hand corner of your screen
3. Click remote resource feed
4. In the Feed URL field, enter https://ubvcl-web.buffalo.edu/RDWeb/Feed/webfeed.aspx and click Next
5. In the User name field, enter ad\ immediately followed by your UBITName (e.g. ad\jdoe)
6. In the Password field, enter your UBIT Password
7. Click Save
8. The account you just selected should appear in the User name field. Click Save again
- Click the program's icon to launch it.
- Click an app to launch it. You may be asked to open with Remote Desktop. Click OK.
- Choose to open a file within the program (how to do this varies from program to program)
- Click Browse or scan the drives to find the location of your file.
- The list of available drives is displayed:
- UBbox (Office apps only, this may be labeled Box)
- UBfs Myfiles (S: drive) is found on the drive with your UBITName next to it. If you see a windows folder underneath it, click that. Otherwise, selecting the drive displays three folders: public_html, ubunix and windows. Click windows to show files stored in your UBfs Myfiles.
- Your removable drives (CD, DVD, USB) have a letter and your computer's name. Click the drive where your file is located.
- UBbox (Office apps only, this may be labeled Box)
- You can now see the files inside the location you selected. Double-click the file you want to open.
Opening Files Saved to UBbox
- You can open files created in Office from the File menu inside the application.
- If you have a file created in a different application, such as Maple or SPSS, that is already saved in UBbox:
- Click the UBbox shortcut
- Navigate to the file and choose Open with...
- Any changes will be saved back to UBbox when you save it.
Save your work to UBbox or the S:\ drive.
Do not use drives such as E:\, or the Desktop, which are temporary and will not be there when you log out.
- If you created a file while in My Virtual Computing Lab and it has never been saved:
- From your software application, choose to save your file.
- Decide where you want to save your file: UBbox (currently limited to Office applications, and may be labeled Box) or Computer, from which you can choose your UBfs S:\ drive. Do not save to the E:\ drive, the Desktop, or any temporary drives, as your file will be deleted.
- If you opened the file while in My Virtual Computing Lab and want to save to the same location, on the program's menu bar Save as normal within the software application. Do not save to the E:\ drive, the Desktop, or any temporary drives, as your file will be deleted. Instead, save to the S:\ drive.
End Your Session
Click Sign out at the top of the My Virtual Computing Lab window. You will be signed out of My Virtual Computing Lab. All programs will close, and any unsaved work will be lost.
Common Questions
I saved my file to the E:\ drive or the Desktop. Now I can't find it?
Never save your work to the E:\ drive or to the Desktop. Both are temporary drives, and will not be there when you log back in. Save your work to either your UBbox space or the S:\ drive instead. It will keep your work in your UBbox or UBfs space, and you can access it anytime.
Does My Virtual Computing Lab save my program preferences?
No. However, some programs allow you to export and import personal settings in a separate file, which you can save to your UBbox space, s:\ drive, or any other removable media. Refer to the software vendor's website for more information on importing and exporting program preferences.
What printers can I print to?
You can print to a UB Print Anywhere (powered by Wepa) kiosk from your personal computer
To print to your own printer, make the printer available when you first connect to My Virtual Computing Lab.
Still need help?
Contact the UBIT Help Center.