How can I use Vista in your cloud if I'm on an Apple Mac or Linux?  (Alternative OS)

Author:  Eric Vasbinder

Overview

Though Microsoft Windows is by far the most common operating system for end users for our customers, our customers often do have users that make use of alternative operating systems (OS), such as Apple's macOS (formerly, Mac OS X), Linux, and BSD.  Often, these users will ask if they can use Vista in our cloud over Vista Remote Link, or other mechanisms from their OS of choice.

Unlike Spectrum or Jobpac, two Viewpoint ERPs that use a web browser interface, Vista (and ProContractor) are rich client applications, designed to use the full power of the local client operating system.  As such, their clients need to be built from scratch for the operating system upon which they are run.  Vista (and ProContractor) was originally created as Windows client applications, designed to directly integrate into the OS in a powerful way.

At this time, we have not developed a native Vista client for Mac OS X or Linux; we have no plans to do so.

As such, this means that we have two methods for customers who are using alternative workstation operating systems (OSes) to experience Vista in our cloud:  VRL within a Virtual Machine, or a customer-managed Terminal services style solution such as Azure Virtual Desktop or Citrix.

OPTION A - Vista Remote Link (VRL) (Windows Virtual Machine Required)

In the VRL experience, the actual Vista rich client runs on the end user's workstation.  As such, this means that our newer Vista Remote Link (VRL) method for experiencing cloud hosting of Vista will not work on a Linux or macOS system without using a virtual machine running Windows 10. 

Here is an example of this method of running Vista over VRL into our cloud on my Mac using a Windows 10 virtual machine, leveraging VMWare Fusion:

There are multiple virtualization solutions for Linux or macOS that can enable you to run Vista over VRL into our cloud: 

• • For use on Apple INTEL Mac workstations running Mac OS X (macOS):  VMWare Fusion, Parallels Workstation, VirtualBox (free)

  • For use on Linux workstations:  VMWare Workstation and VirtualBox (free)

Please NOTE:  In addition to using a VM solution above, you will also need to purchase a Microsoft Windows 10 license and, of course, install Windows 10 itself.

CRITICAL NOTE:  APPLE SILICON MACs ARE NOT COMPATIBLE WITH USE OF VIRTUAL MACHINES FOR VISTA

Due to the fact that Vista itself is NOT available as an ARM-based architecture solution (x86/x86_64 ONLY), it cannot run properly in ARM-based Microsoft Windows.  As such, Vista requires an x86 / x86_64 (Intel) version of Windows to run upon.  

In addition, virtualization solutions for macOS running on Apple Silicon (e.g. ARM-based M1 and M2 chips) are NOT compatible with x86 / x86_64 architecture (a.k.a. Intel Architecture).  

tl;dr:  Since Vista requires Intel style Windows and since Intel-style Windows WILL NOT run on Apple Silicon Macs, users of Apple Silicon Macs cannot run Vista in a Windows VM.

OPTION B - CUSTOMER MANAGED Terminal Server

IMPORTANT:  THIS OPTION IS THE ONLY OPTION AVAILABLE FOR CUSTOMERS OF OUR MODERN CLOUDS WHO WISH TO CENTRALLY HOST CLIENT APPLICATIONS FOR THEIR END USERS THAT ARE USING Mac or Linux WORKSTATIONS.  IF VIRTUAL MACHINES ARE NOT POSSIBLE, THIS IS YOUR WAY FORWARD.

In this option, the customer will set up and manage an RDP-style Terminal Services installation either in their own cloud subscription or on-premise.  Some of the options for this solution can include:

Microsoft Azure Virtual Desktop (AVD)

• • https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/products/virtual-desktop/

  • AVD is a powerful solution that offloads the management of much of the client-side infrastructure and allows for alternative OSes and thin client deployment models.

  • CRITICAL:  PLEASE ENSURE THAT YOUR AVD INSTANCE IS CREATED IN THE SAME AZURE REGION AS WHERE YOUR VISTA SERVER IS HOSTED.  IF IT IS LOCATED PROPERLY, YOUR PERFORMANCE WILL IMPROVE SUBSTANTIALLY.  IF IT IS LOCATED IMPROPERLY, YOUR PERFORMANCE OF VISTA WILL SUFFER SIGNIFICANTLY.

Microsoft RDP Terminal Services

• • This solution is a more legacy style model that requires a customer or their IT to perform self-management of the underlying RDP client infrastructure and licensing.

Citrix

Several other options available as well, including a few experimental ones for Linux.

OPTION C - Viewpoint RDP - LEGACY CLOUDS (VEC and VFC) ONLY

NOTE:  THIS OPTION IS AVAILABLE FROM VIEWPOINT FOR EXISTING CUSTOMERS OF OUR LEGACY CLOUDS ONLY.  

THIS INCLUDES VIEWPOINT FOR CLOUD (VFC) and VIEWPOINT ENTERPRISE CLOUD (VEC) RDP.

Customer of our modern clouds, Trimble Construction One (TC1) and Viewpoint One (VP1), cannot use our RDP services to support alternative OSes.

IMPORTANT:  An RDP Client App is Required to use this option

Our Legacy RDP Cloud options, Viewpoint Enterprise Cloud (VEC) and Viewpoint for Cloud (VFC), are designed to host the totality of Vista in our environment.  This means that the actual Vista rich client runs in our datacenter on our Windows Terminal Server.  To experience Vista when it is hosted in this fashion, you need to use client that can enable RDP to work on your client operating system.  With Windows computers, this is built-in, but with macOS and Linux separate applications are available.

When Vista is hosted in our cloud and experienced over an RDP method, it will be usable on your Mac or Linux workstation.  Again, however, you will need to install the RDP client application.   When running in this method, the application can appear as if it is running natively on your workstation.  Please note however, that drag and drop will not work over RDP, unlike VRL.  Please see this page for a list of the differences for end users when running Vista over RDP vs. VRL.

REMINDER - NOTE CLOUDWORKSPACE METHOD DOCUMENTED BELOW WILL BE FULLY REPLACED BY AZURE VIRTUAL DESKTOP (AVD) SHORTLY

When adding the published apps feed to Linux or the macOS MSFT RDP client, please use the following URL format:  https://ra.viewpointcloud.net/COMPANYCODE/RDWeb/Feed/webfeed.aspx

NOTE:  You will NEED to replace the word, "COMPANYCODE" in the URL with the actual 3-4 character alphanumeric code for your cloud instance.

Here is a screenshot of Vista on VEC, running on my Mac workstation, using Microsoft Remote Desktop:

Here is a screenshot of Vista on VEC, running on an Ubuntu Linux workstation, using Remmina to connect:

There are several options for this depending on the OS that you use on your workstation:

• • Apple Mac workstations running macOS (Mac OS X):  Microsoft Remote Desktop Client (free)

  • Linux workstations:  remmina, and others