Cloud Transformation Process - Stage 5: Testing, Training, Authentication, and Integration Setup

Author: Eric Vasbinder

Stage Overview

As of this stage in your Transformation to the cloud, Viewpoint has completed the process of restoring your uploaded database and attachments into your cloud environment. We have also added your users into the cloud environment.

Now that these steps have been completed, your environment is ready for full testing, setting up Trimble ID SSO, and connecting third-party Integrations!

In case you are interested, here is a listing of all of the stages that should have been completed by the time you have reached this stage. They are shown below at a high level, including where we are at now:

PROGRESS SUMMARY

  • Stage 1: Welcome and Planning - COMPLETE

  • Stage 2: Initial Cloud Footprint - COMPLETE

  • Stage 3: Integration Framework (Vista VPN or Spectrum Whitelisted IPs) - COMPLETE

  • Stage 4: Initial Data Upload - COMPLETE

  • Stage 5: Training, Testing, Authentication, and Integration Setup - IN PROGRESS

  • Stage 6: Go-Live Weekend!

  • Stage 7: Post Go-Live Wrap Up and Handoff

Managing Users

You should ensure your test users are set up prior to proceeding with cloud testing. To do so, you will either need to set up Trimble ID SSO users, or CloudWorkspace users (Legacy).

Trimble ID SSO (Preferred) vs. CloudWorkspace (Legacy)

Trimble ID, released in March of 2022 is our preferred standard for the future of authentication for users into our cloud products. As such, customers who are entering our TC1 / VP1 cloud hosting as of mid-2022 are likely to be set up to use Trimble ID SSO to authenticate into Vista and other Trimble / Viewpoint products. Previous customers, and customers who have been in our Cloud Transformation pipeline for some time, may be set up to use our legacy, CloudWorkspace-based solution for user set up and authentication system.

Telling the Difference

If you are unsure as to which method you are using to log in to the cloud, you can easily tell the difference using this rule of thumb: Trimble ID SSO uses your email address to log you in to our cloud tools, whether Vista or other components, whereas our legacy method uses account names in the format of VIEWPOINT\username.COMPANYCODE to log in to Vista. In addition, users of our legacy authentication method will use the CloudWorkspace URL to reset passwords and manage user accounts: https://viewpoint.partner.manage.cloudworkspace.com.

Setting up Users in Trimble ID SSO

If you are a customer who will be using Trimble ID SSO, please use the steps enumerated at the following URL to set up your users for the cloud: Creating and Managing Trimble ID SSO Users

Setting up Users in Legacy Cloudworkspace

If you are a cloud customer who is using our legacy CloudWorkspace method to manage users, please use the steps at this URL to set up user accounts in the cloud: Adding Cloud Users (Legacy CloudWorkspace Method)

Beginning the Testing Process

Obtaining and Installing the Vista Client

You will need to install the new client on any machine that you will be using for testing. It can be downloaded from the Viewpoint Support Site under Vista Product Downloads. It can be downloaded from the Viewpoint Support Site under Vista Product Downloads. Please ask your transformations Engineer about the version you will be running in our cloud, so that you may download the correct client version.

NOTE: This client will automatically update and restart itself several times to install latest version of Vista.

This client is not compatible with earlier versions of Vista (6.17, 6.18, etc.). The new client will need to be set up on a computer that does not have an earlier version of Vista installed. We recommend, if you do have a previous Vista version installed, installing the new Vista cloud client TEMPORARILY DURING TESTING on a dedicated workstation or a virtual machine.

Reminder: At go-live, this rich client will need to be installed on any end user workstation that needs to access Vista, prior to end users attempting to access Vista in the cloud.

NOTE: Hosting the Vista rich client on your own, internal terminal server is possible and has been done by a number of customers.

NOTE: Installing the Vista rich client on your Citrix server is possible, but authentication compatibility issues have been reported in the past - use caution.

If you need instructions on installing the Vista rich client, please go to this web page: https://sites.google.com/trimble.com/vista-cloud-faq/home/vrl-explained/installing-vrl-client

Configuring the Client

Now that you've installed the Vista rich client, you'll need to configure it to point to the correct server in the cloud. Please see the cloud FAQ article linked here, same as above, for detailed instructions on how to do so: https://sites.google.com/trimble.com/vista-cloud-faq/home/vrl-explained/installing-vrl-client

Logging In to Vista

Now that you have installed the Vista rich client and configured it to point to the correct server, you'll need to log in to Vista to continue the process. To do so, please first determine if you will be using the newer Trimble ID SSO method to authenticate into the cloud, or the older legacy CloudWorkspace method. If you do not know your login method, please reach out to your IT representative or Viewpoint technical contact.

The steps to log in are in one of the following two FAQ articles:

Next Steps

Here are the next steps in your move to the Viewpoint One Vista Cloud:

  1. I will be reaching out to you to walk through the items in this email message and see if you have any additional questions or concerns.

    1. During this conversation we will schedule a go-live date, based on your current status in the go-live process and how much remains to be completed.

    2. NOTE: This go-live date will be a shared goal that both your organization and Viewpoint will exert maximum effort to achieve.

  2. You and your end users will begin testing Vista in the cloud

    1. A copy of a high level test plan that we recommend using is attached to this email message.

    2. NOTE: there are some differences for how certain things work in the VRL cloud and these are to be expected. For example, uploading custom reports is handled through the Vista client instead of manually adding them to the Viewpoint Repository File Share, certain toolbar buttons on the Crystal Reports Viewer when using VRL are different than on LAN, etc. For a more detailed list of specific items that are different, and how to use them, please see this link: https://sites.google.com/trimble.com/vista-cloud-faq/home/accessing-vista-vrl-rdp-lan/rdp-vs-vrl-end-user

  3. In parallel, we will complete the setup of your IPSEC site to site VPN tunnel, which is a required step to enable SSMS, Crystal Reports Builder, and Insight Spreadsheet Server to access the Vista database directly.

  4. All remaining third party and other mission-critical products that integrate to Vista will have their connections to Vista in the cloud stood up and verified.

Changelog

Thursday, 02 June 2022 at 01:22PM

  • Updated link to RDP vs. VRL at the bottom.

Monday, 23 May 2022 at 06:12PM

  • Pulled out redundant references to password resets, complexities, and SSO.

Wednesday, 11 May 2022 at 05:38PM

  • Updated to include link to Trimble ID SSO Setup

Tuesday, 03 August 2021 at 01:53PM