Overview
Metro State's Virtual Computer Lab brings our on-campus labs (including all of our academic software) to our students, faculty, and staff on their personal computers and tablets - virtually. It can be accessed through any Windows PC, Mac, iPad, Chromebook, or Android tablet on a high-speed Internet connection.
Instructions: Accessing Virtual Computer Lab
There are two methods of accessing the Virtual Computer Lab, the preferred method via VMware client software install on your personal computer or tablet, or via a web browser.
NOTE: When on campus and using WiFi you must be connected to Eduroam
Article sections:
VMware Client Install
For the best user experience, Metro State's Virtual Computer Labs can be accessed after installing the client software on your personal device. Follow the instruction steps below.
- Browse to https://labs.metrostate.edu
- Select Install VMware Horizon Client
- From the client download page, select the appropriate download for your device.
- Select Go to Downloads, then select Download Now to begin the software download.
- Once downloaded, run or install the file. Select Yes when prompted to allow VMware program to make changes to your computer.
- To agree to terms and conditions, select Agree & Install
- Once the software completes, a Success screen then a prompt to Restart Now or Restart Later will display.
- Once you have restarted your device, find and select VMware Horizon Client in your program menu.
- Click on the Add Server button and enter "labs.metrostate.edu" and select connect.
- At the login prompt, use your StarID and Password (*do Not add @minnstate.edu after your StarID). Once authentication completes, you will have a choice of labs and can access them remotely.
Access Virtual Computer Lab via Web Browser
Metro State's Virtual Computer Labs can be accessed via any modern web browser. Follow the steps below.
- Browse to https://labs.metrostate.edu
- Select VMware Horizon HTML Access
- Enter your StarID and Password and select Login (*do Not add @minnstate.edu after your StarID). Once authentication completes, you will have a choice of labs and can access them remotely.
- Once logged in, you will be presented with lab access options. When you select one of the labs, you will automatically be logged into a computer.
- Note: it may be beneficial to put your browser in "full screen" for a better user experience.
Save Files in the Virtual Lab
Important Notes
- While you are working in Metro's Virtual Computer Lab you must save your files to OneDrive, your H:\ drive, or to your local computer
- Any files you haven't saved outside the Virtual Lab will be lost when you log out of the Virtual Lab
How to save to OneDrive (desktop application)
- You will have to sign into OneDrive each time you sign into the Virtual Lab
- Log into the Virtual Lab using the desktop client or your web browser
- From within the Virtual Lab go to Start > OneDrive to open the OneDrive app
- In the Set up OneDrive window enter yourstarid@go.minnstate.edu in the email address field and click Sign In
- At the Microsoft sign in screen, enter your StarID password and complete MultiFactor Authentication
- In the "Stay signed in to all your apps window", click OK
- In the "You're all set!" window, click Done
- In the "Your OneDrive folder" window, click Next
- In the "Back up folders on this PC" window make sure Documents, Pictures, and Desktop are toggled on. Click Start backup
- After the back up starts, click Next, Next, Next, Later, and Open my OneDrive folder
- You can now save files to Desktop, Documents, or Pictures in the Virtual Lab and it will back up to the cloud.
- You will have to sign in this way each time you sign in to the Virtual Lab
How to save to OneDrive (browser access)
- An alternative way to access OneDrive within the Virtual Lab is using a web browser, such as Chrome or Edge
- Log into the Virtual Lab using the desktop client or your web browser
- Open a browser and go to https://www.office.com
- Sign in with yourstarid@go.minnstate.edu and complete your MultiFactor Authentication
- Once signed in you will see Welcome to Microsoft 365
- Click on the App Launcher, 9-dots at the top left
- Select OneDrive then select My Files to view the contents of your OneDrive
- Upload a file to OneDrive by first selecting the folder you want to upload to, then clicking the Add new button and selecting the file to upload
- Download a file from OneDrive to the Virtual Computer by selecting the file and clicking download
- After you work with your file and save it, you must upload the file back to OneDrive. If you do not upload, your work will be lost.
How to save to H:\ drive
- Your personal H:\ drive is network storage provided by and hosted on Metro State servers.
- When you sign into the Virtual Lab, your H:\ drive is automatically mapped to your Virtual Computer
- To save to the H:\ drive, click to save your file from any program then click on the entry "starid (\\network path) (H:)" under This PC.
- Access files saved in your H:\ drive in a similar fashion by using File Explorer to navigate to your H:\ drive and double click a file.
How to save to local computer (host computer)
Note: You must use the VMware Horizon Client to share folders and drives between the host computer and Metro State's Virtual Computer Lab
Note for MacOS users: When accessing host computer folders/files from within the Virtual Lab for the first time, you may be prompted with a permissions request from Security & Privacy (see below). You must click OK to allow access to the host computer folders/files.
Access files from a USB drive attached to the host computer
- Log into the Virtual Computer Lab using the VMware Horizon Client
- Insert the USB drive into your host computer
- You will see a new drive in File Explorer with the format <DriveLetter> on <ComputerName> <DriveLetter>
- In this screenshot it is D on NML105WL2003044 (Y:)
- If the USB drive does not appear, click on the 3 dots at the top right of the window then click Settings
- In the Drive & Folder Sharing section, toggle on "Allow auto access to removable storage"
Access host computer drive
- Log into the Virtual Computer Lab using the VMware Horizon Client
- You may be prompted to allow Drive Sharing. Click Allow
- The default mapping for the host computer is the Z: drive
- Open the Z: drive to see the folders on the host computer and open or save them
