What are VDI desktops?
Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI) desktops are virtual machines hosted in a data center at UiO.
This desktop can be used in the same way you use your local computer and it has several advantages:
- It can be reached from anywhere in the world; you can log on to the same desktop from home and from your vacation home.
- It is hosted at a UiO data center; access to UiO services (e.g. storage solutions) is fast.
- It is secure; the default desktops are refreshed every week with new patches and updates. The desktops are also secured with two-factor authentication.
- For courses; all students gets identical desktops and there is no need for individual debugging.
- Client OS independence; If you use MacOS and need access to Windows-only software use a VDI.
What are they used for at UiO ?
- Administrative work
- Accessing UiO resources
- Running Microsoft Office applications
- Research
- Special purpose desktop machines, machines that need graphics processors, a lot of memory, special software, a lot of CPU, fast disks, etc.
- Education
- Students get access to completely homogeneous terminal rooms and computers labs with their own laptops.