News
3-14-07: A new version (0.2.0b) of the VHL connection launcher has been released for Windows. Specifically, this addresses the problem in the previous news release about our connection launcher not being compatible with the newest versions of Microsoft's remote desktop connection program. This newest version of the connection launcher should be compatible with Windows XP regardless of whether or not you've recently updated your Microsoft RDC client. If you are prompted for credentials after hitting the "connect" button, you will still have to supply them (username: afterhours and password: vhl), but most of you will no longer need to supply the credentials yourself (other than your netID and password to find a machine).
2-24-07: We have confirmed that the new version of the VHL connection launcher, while working with the newest version of Microsoft's Remote Desktop Connection client, does in fact NOT work with the older version of Microsoft's client. So, if you are attempting to make a connection to the VHL with the VHL connection launcher and end up getting nothing more than a single dialogue box that has a long list of parameters in it, you will need to update your copy of Microsoft's RDC client. See the previous news item (just below) for information on how to do this. Once it is updated, and you have the latest version of the VHL connection launcher, you should be able to get into the VHL as outlined below.
We are working on an updated version of the VHL connection launcher that should work for either version of Microsoft's software (and do so without you having to manually enter in any login credentials other than your netID and password). Please check back here soon for more updates.
1-31-07: Some Macintosh users have been reporting that sound is not enabled when they log in. We have discovered that the java based connection client (see below) that we package with the Virtual Connection launcher does not properly redirect sound. If you use a Macintosh machine, and want to ensure that you have sound, you should download the Microsoft version of the connection client. Instructions for doing so on a Macintosh machine are posted below.
What is the Virtual Humanities Lab?
The Virtual Humanities Lab is a way for students to use lab resources from the Humanities Learning Resource Center (HLRC) or the general Humanities computer labs after the labs themselves have closed. Accessing the Virtual Humanities Lab will open up a remote connection between a lab computer and your home computer (or even a computer in another lab), so you can work as if you were physically in one of the Humanities Labs. You will have complete access to most of the software applications that are in our labs.
Currently, the Virtual Humanities Lab only provides access to the Windows lab image.
What are the requirements for the Virtual Humanities Lab?
- You must have a net ID. Before you establish a connection to the Virtual Humanities Lab, you will be presented with a prompt asking you to verify your net ID and password.
- You must have an application on your home machine that can create Remote Desktop connections.
- Windows XP already has this software installed. Note that if you run another version of Windows, you can download the Microsoft software here.. Alternatively, if you have an older version of Windows that has a Java Runtime Environment, the connection launcher (see below) has a bundled application to make the Remote Desktop connection for you. The connection launcher will determine which Remote Desktop application to use.
- If you use Mac OS X, you can use Microsoft's Macintosh version of its Remote Desktop connection application. This application comes with Microsoft Office, or can be downloaded for free from Microsoft. Alternatively, as with a Windows machine, you can opt to use the Java application that comes bundled with the connection launcher below. If you don't have Microsoft's Remote Desktop connection application, the connection launcher will automatically choose the Java version.
- If you have Linux with Java installed, you can use the application bundled with the soon-to-be available Linux connection launcher (see below).
- Other operating systems are not currently supported.
- You must have a high-speed connection to provide the greatest level of performance. If you are on-campus (in the dorms or in another lab), your experience in the Virtual Lab will be close to that of being in the lab physically. If you are off-campus but have a wired high-speed connection (Cable or DSL modem), you should receive adequate performance, although you may notice some lagging on intensive processes such as running video. If you are on a wireless connection, chances are you won't be able to access programs that have video, although audio and text will work just fine. Connecting to a VHL machine over a dial-up connection is not recommended unless you merely wish to do language-based word processing.
How do I connect to the Virtual Humanities Lab?
Once all the requirements are in place, you can access the lab with our VHL Connector program. This small, downloadable application contains all the necessary information to authenticate your netID, find an open machine, and launch the connection (see requirements above). The application will do the following:
- Authenticate your netID and password against the University's central directory (no information will be stored)
- Find an open machine and create a connection between it and your home computer
- Create a record (netID, home computer IP address, and time of login) of each login attempt
Download the connection launcher here:
- Windows Version
- Macintosh Version
- Linux Version (available soon)
Are there any known bugs in the Virtual Humanities Lab?
This is a "beta" version of the Virtual Humanities Lab, which means that we are still testing and gathering feedback in order to make it work as well as possible for students throughout the University. Currently, these are the limitations we are aware of:
- Several software applications have trouble running through the Remote Desktop Connection that is utilized in the VHL. These include Revolution and the Chinese Testing program (the program actually named "Chinese Testing"--other Chinese tests that we have work without problems). If you experience problems with a program not running at all in the virtual machine, disconnect, and then when reconnecting, make sure you check the box that says "8-bit color."
- There is no way to allow microphone input from your home computer to travel to the virtual computer; therefore, programs which require speaking input will not be able to use such a feature.
- Note that on Macintosh machines running the Microsoft version of Remote Desktop Connection, the connection launcher will not be able to change options for redirecting your own machine's drives or for changing the color level to 8-bit. Instead, you will have to set these options manually by opening up Microsoft's Program and going to "options."
- On Macintosh machines that use the Remote Desktop connection application that comes bundled with the connection launcher, there is currently no way to redirect drives or to change the color level to 8-bit.