uOlabsPlus

To launch uOlabsPlus, you will need to use VMWare Horizon client to access the new environment.

Access the uOlabsPlus portal.
Log in using your uoAccess credentials as follows:
- Username: your full uOttawa email address (e.g. [email protected]),
- Password: your uoAccess password.
Once logged in, there will be a set of remote applications.
Launch the uOlabsPlus application, which can take some time to load, and start using it.

Browsers that were tested successfully with uOlabsPlus:

Firefox
Chrome
Opera
Safari
Internet Explorer
Microsoft Edge

When working with uOlabsPlus, a remote app accesses files stored on your personal computer and files stored on your uOttawa network drive.

In this case, select 'this PC'' in the left column from the Matlab dialog box.

Tips on how to use it

uOttawa network drive (Network locations)

You should use this drive to save your work.
In uOlabsPlus apps, the location of your network drive should start with \\uottawa.o.univ\acadhomes\... This is your uOttawa network drive that is accessed by uOlabsPlus server at high-speed.
It appears as under “Network locations” as your H: drive.

Avoid using

Personal computer drives (devices and drives)

While it may be convenient to access files stored on your personal computer with uOlabsPlus, we do not recommend using them directly from the app for performance reasons. Instead, transfer your files to your uOttawa network drive (H:) and open them from that location.

uOlabsPlus server folders (folders)

You should never use uOlabsPlus server folders to store your files because they will be destroyed at the end of your remote session.

When using uOlabsPlus, you can either save your documents to your personal computer or your uOttawa network drive. Ex: when saving a file in one of the applications such as Solidworks, you can also save it in your local C: drive or H: network drive.

Saving files in the network drive (H: drive) is recommended: It's faster since it's on the same network as uOlabsPlus.

Saving files on your local drive (C: drive) is not recommended : Using your local C: drive will affect your overall computer’s performance, especially if you’re using applications that frequently write to the file at a much slower pace.

On windows machine with the Horizon view client

To activate the sharing between uOlabsPlus and your local drive you need to go in the Horizon view settings.

When you are in the settings, select ''Sharing'' on the left side in the settings and check all the boxes displayed in the main window.

Horizon view settings content — Once the sharing functionality has been activated, your local drive will appear in your applications.

On a Mac OS machine with the Horizon view client

To activate the sharing between uOlabsPlus and your local drive you need to click on the “VMware Horizon client” on the navigation bar located at the top of your screen and choose “Preferences”.

Mac OS interface for VMware horizon screenshot

Select ''Sharing'' from the ''Preferences" and check all the boxes displayed on the main window.

VMware horizon Mac OS preferences interface

Once the sharing functionality has been activated, your local drive will appear in your applications.

Accessing the applications or pools via HTML using a browser

If you're using a browser to access uOlabsplus.uOttawa.ca instead of using Horizon View (Windows or Mac), the process is slightly different.

First, you need to launch the application you want to use. If you do not see the application in full screen, on the left pane, extend your window using the tab, as illustrated in the screen capture.

Then, click on the double-arrow icon located at the top sidebar (with the machine’s pool and applications).

Choose the appropriate option and follow the instructions displayed in the new window based on whether you want to upload your files (moving them from your personal computer to the H: drive) or download your files (moving them from the H: drive to your own computer).

When you upload a file from your local machine to the server, the file will be stored in your profile’s “My documents” folder on the server you have been assigned to for that session. To work with that file, transfer it immediately on your H: drive, as illustrated in the screen capture.

After selecting the files and following the instructions for downloading from the H: drive to your personal computer via the server, you will need to configure your browser for the file location. To retrieve the files, go to the default folder where your browser has placed the downloaded files.

Important rules for SolidWorks and all software file management.

It is important to understand where the files should be located to be opened by the software and where they should be saved for their safety and the global performance of uOlabsPlus.

You can save a file in three different types of locations. They are represented by the three coloured rectangles in the screen capture as follow:

The red rectangle represents your profile folders on the server, and you can, for a short term, save your files in these files. By precaution, we do not recommend saving your files in this type of folder because inactive profiles are deleted when your session crashes or if you leave your session without moving the files.
The green rectangle represents your personal network space H: drive. In these folders you should save and open files for optimal performance and security to prevent file loss. This drive will automatically create a path when you are accessing the server on the university network.
The yellow rectangle represents your local drive from which you should transfer files on or from it using the copy-paste function. That type of drive should only be used when files are not actively working. Generally, you would transfer files from the H: Drive to your local drive during a final exam/project submission via BrightSpace.

Access to files

Once connected, we recommend that you access your files on your personal network space (H: drive), because access to these network disks is faster due to higher performance.

Although access to the files on your personal computer from uOlabsplus is possible, the performance will be slow.

Note that any files stored on the C: drive will be lost when you exit or get disconnected from your Windows session. Make sure not to save your documents on this drive and make regular backups.

If the location of your personal network space (H: drive) is not available, please send us a request for assistance via the Self-Service Centre.

File access performance

Some software such as Solidworks requires continuous writing to the file when in use.

The access performance to your personal computer's disk drives from the uOlabsPlus is not optimal and can have a very negative impact on the overall performance of your computer.

We recommend that you save your files on your university personal network when working with these softwares.

Steps