I'm a customer on an existing Vista RDP Cloud (VEC, VFC); VRL has just been turned on; now, how do I use it?

Author: Eric Vasbinder

Congratulations on now having Vista Remote Link (VRL) available for your use in Viewpoint's Viewpoint One Vista cloud.  Since you are reading this article, we can assume that you have already gone through the process of converting your commercial agreement to Viewpoint One.  If you have not yet moved to a Viewpoint One contract, and/or are on VFC, please see this link for more details:  Switching to Trimble Construction One (TC1) from VEC RDP 

CRITICAL NOTE:  Viewpoint does NOT YET support VFC customers using VRL within their existing VFC environments.  At this time, only existing VEC RDP Published applications customers who have transitioned to a TC1 / Viewpoint One contract may have VRL added into their environment.

VFC customers need to be on a TC1 contract AND must go through a full transformation into a completely new cloud installation to start using VRL.

NOTE:  YOU MUST BE FAMILIAR WITH THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN USING VRL IN OUR CLOUD AND USING VEC / RDP PUBLISHED APPS PRIOR TO USING VRL

See these links for more details:

• What are the differences for the end user between RDP and Vista Remote Link (VRL)? RDP vs. VRL 

• This video is an EXCELLENT introduction to the differences you will see between both on-premise and RDP Cloud based Vista and VRL:  https://player.vimeo.com/video/471384022 

PRE-REQUISITES:

• • You must be on a Viewpoint One contract with Viewpoint

  • You must have requested and have already received notice that your VRL Reverse proxy server is installed

  • You must have validated that the latency to your datacenter in Azure is less than 60 ms max, ideally 30 ms max

  • You must have received your VRL URL - in the form of https://COMPANYCODE-vrl.viewpointforcloud.com

  • If you use the HFF (Keystyle) SSRS Repository, you'll need to choose one of several options to move forward, as the HFF SSRS repository is NOT compatible with VRL

  • An IPSEC VPN or TLS Database Endpoint (TLS VPN) is required when VRL is stood up; this allows Insight Spreadsheet Server, SSMS, Crystal Builder, etc. to talk to Vista when you start using VRL

If you have not met these requirements, please follow the instructions here:  Switching to Trimble Construction One (TC1) from VEC RDP 

TRAINING AND STAGES OF VRL ADOPTION

Phase 1:  Testing and Starting Use of VRL:

    REQUIRED STEPS TO USE VRL

• 1. Download and install Vista:  How do I obtain and install the Vista VRL Rich Client?

  2. Enable end users' accounts to be usable with VRL:  How do I turn on new users to access Vista over VRL?

  3. Choose option to use SSRS reports with HFF's Repository (IF USED):  I use the SSRS Repository in HR Portal or Financial Controls (HFF), formerly Keystyle. Will this work in your cloud with VRL?

  4. Review end user differences between VRL and RDP:  What are the differences for the end user between RDP and Vista Remote Link (VRL)? RDP vs. VRL

  5. Learn how to upload and edit Templates and Crystal Reports in VRL (File System API):  How do I upload Custom Crystal Reports to Vista in the cloud? (VRL Method)

Phase 2:  Converting Daily Operations to Use VRL:

• 1. Request a VPN (if you don't have one already):

     1. TLS Database Endpoint (TLS VPN): TLS Database Endpoint 

     2. IPSEC:   How do I set up an IPSEC VPN to access my Vista database directly?

  2. Test your new VPN (Customer IT):  How do I test and check my VPN to the Vista Database? How do I do that? Is there a firewall blocking me?

  3. Connect Insight Spreadsheet Server (GSS) to Vista over the VPN (if used):  We currently use Insight (Global) Spreadsheet Server (ISS), SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS), Word, Excel, PowerBI Desktop, Crystal Reports Builder, etc. - how do we make that work in your cloud?

  4. Connect SSMS and Crystal Builder over the VPN (if used):  Client-Side Integrations (Customers Using RDP VEC or VFC): Adobe Acrobat Pro, Bluebeam, SSMS, Crystal Reports Builder, Insight (Global) Spreadsheet Server (GSS)