How do we use Vista using VRL in your cloud on our Terminal Server? Vista with RDP, Citrix, Virtual Desktops?

Author: Eric Vasbinder

There are some specific caveats that must be understood and accommodated when you are using Vista with VRL in our Cloud, and then hosting the Vista rich client in your RDP Terminal Server or Citrix.

Specifically, most companies use shared application directories, such as C:\Program Files, to store their applications. Since Vista uses an automatic updater, like Microsoft Outlook, to keep itself updated, this can create problems when multiple users attempt to update the same shared application simultaneously. If the users do not have enough access rights to update client system services and shared folders, the update process will fail and your Vista client will be out of date, showing strange errors.

Given these considerations, we recommend that you use the following best practice guide to ensure your move to our cloud is as smooth as possible:

• 1. Install the Vista rich client on your terminal server.

  2. Run the Vista rich client and then log in.

  3. Let the client run through the automatic update process.

  4. Once the client has successfully automatically updated, log back in again to verify the updates

  5. Close Vista

  6. Set up your user's Vista icons to have the -NoUpdates flag added to the Vista shortcut icon.

     1. Find the Vista icon on the user's desktop or Start Menu.

     2. Right-click on it and click "Properties".

     3. Go to the "Target" field.

     4. Add the text -NoUpdates to the field.

     5. Click OK.

Please NOTE: This approach will PREVENT the Vista client from automatically updating at ANY TIME in the future when started from the shortcut icon.

As such, in order to ensure your Vista client remains in synch with service packs and other updates deployed in our cloud, we require that this next process be followed precisely:

• 1. Your organization will be notified when a Vista update is deployed to our cloud.

  2. When notified of an update weekend, please schedule a time on the Sunday after the cloud update to perform a client upgrade.

  3. Force all of your client users to log out of their virtual sessions.

  4. Start the Vista Rich client by browsing to the actual .EXE file, rather than using the shortcut.

     • If you installed Vista in the default location, it should be located in C:\Program Files (x86)\Viewpoint Construction Software\Vista\bin\Viewpoint.Vista.Launcher.exe

  5. Let the client go through the updating process

  6. Login and then logout.

1. Your users should then be able to log back in with no issues, using the latest version of Vista.

2. Please NOTE: You may also wish to schedule some time every, or every other, weekend when no users are logged in to your terminal server to manually start the Vista rich client and let it run through the update process to ensure you always have the latest client, just in case.