Customizing Mac Remote Desktop Client

Customizing your Remote Desktop Client can improve your experience when accessing CI Virtual Labs. The following guide will walk you through the following:

 

Accessing Local Files

Folder redirection allows the virtual machine to interact with local files stored on a local PC/MAC.

  1. To start, open up “Spotlight Search” press Command-Space bar. Enter “Remote Desktop” and press Enter. This will launch the Microsoft Remote Desktop client.

 

  1. Open preferences or press Command-,

 

  1. At the bottom of the "Preference" dialog box, there will be the following option: “If folder redirection is enabled for RDP files or managed resources, redirect:”. Click on the drop-down box. Choose “Change Folder” and locate the folder you want to share with your Virtual Desktop session.

 

  1. You can choose to make your local folders “Read Only”. By clicking this option, the folder you just chose in step 3 will be accessible to your VDI session but you will only have the ability to read those files.



     
  2. To Access the redirected folder you just setup, login to a remote session. Type "File Explorer" in search bar.


     
  3. On the left window pane, choose "This PC" to expand the file tree. This will reveal the virtual machine drives and the "Redirected Folder" you setup in step 3.



     

Caching Network Credentials

Caching your Dolphin credentials can speed up launching your VDI session by eliminating one extra authentication prior to startup.

  1. To start, open up “Spotlight Search” press Command-Space bar. Enter “Remote Desktop” and press Enter. This will launch the Microsoft Remote Desktop client.


     
  2. Open preferences or press Command-,

 

  1. Click on the “User Accounts” button.


    Username: [staff enter] Dolphin Name + @csuci.edu;
    [students] Dolphin Name + @my.csuci.edu
    Password: [enter your password associated with your Dolphin Name]
    Friendly Name: enter a friendly name of your choosing

 

Changing the VMs Resolution

Changing the Virtual Desktop resolution can improve the desktop appearance. Be advised that your resolution size will depend on your computer graphics card and monitor. Check your hardware manufacturer for available resolutions.
 

  1. To start, open up “Spotlight Search” press Command-Space bar. Enter “Remote Desktop” and press Enter. This will launch the Microsoft Remote Desktop client.


     
  2. Open preferences or press Command-,


     
  3. Click on the “Resolutions” button and choose a resolution based on the capability of your hardware.

 

Pinning Network Drives

Pinning network drives within your Virtual Desktop session will speed up access to network file shares.

  1. Start a VDI session using the Remote Desktop Client. Choose your Virtual Desktop.

  2. In the search bar type “File Explorer” and press "Enter". Windows will search the Virtual Machine for a match and present you with the results.


     
  3. One the left of the window pane, choose “This PC” to expand the file tree. This will reveal the virtual machine drives and network shares available to you.

 

  1. To add a network drive to your “Quick Access” menu. Right click on the resource and choose “Pin to Quick Access”.


 

  1. You will notice the drive is now accessible from the “Quick Access” menu from within “File Explorer”.

 

  1. To add a network drive to your “Start” menu. Right click on the resource and choose “Pin to Start”.


 

  1. You will notice the drive is now accessible from the “Start” menu.

 

Emulating Right Click on a Mac

The Virtual Desktop environment presents you with a Windows 10 desktop. Windows makes extensive use of the right mouse button to invoke the contextual help menu. In order to mimic this action on your Mac, tap the trackpad with two fingers to simulate the “Right Click”.

For the best experience using VDI, we recommend attaching an external mouse to your computer.

Print Article