How does the Virtual Computing Lab work?
On-campus and distance education students can now access software they need for their courses without having to purchase it themselves or worry that a program won’t run properly on their personal computer or even come on campus to use a computer lab. Students can log into the Virtual Computing Lab from home or their residence hall and choose software from an “image” designed for their course(s) by their professor.
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The process is simple, and the Virtual Computing Lab is available 24x7!
How does it work? Following the simple steps below will get you connected.
STUDENTS:
- Make a Virtual Computing Lab reservation. Students can log into the Virtual Computing Lab at anytime; however, you are encouraged to make a reservation ahead of time to avoid the waiting period necessary to prepare the software you requested, which can be as long as 20 minutes during busy times.
- Make sure you have the appropriate remote desktop connection software installed on your computer. To use the Virtual Computing Lab, all you need is a computer with an active Internet connection and the appropriate remote desktop connection software. Please visit the Requirements for Connecting Web page for details on remote desktop connection software and download links.
- When ending your Virtual Computing Lab session, please be sure to close your connection. You will need to close your session so that the software “image” you were using can be made available to other students and faculty.
FACULTY:
Faculty can request customized software “images” that students can access from practically anywhere, at anytime.
Software requests are accepted by filling out a Virtual Computer Lab Image Request form from ithelp.ecu.edu. If your software requires licenses, the number of licenses available will be the maximum number of student connections allowed at one time. When a license is used in the Virtual Computing Lab, it cannot be used on any other lab computer.
*Have a general or technical question?
Contact Susan Thornton
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About the Virtual Computing Initiative
The Virtual Computing Initiative (VCI) is a partnership among East Carolina University, North Carolina State University and IBM. The Virtual Computing Lab was developed by North Carolina State University in 2004. An equipment grant from the IBM Shared University Research (SUR) program, awarded to ECU, North Carolina Central University, NC A&T, UNC-Greensboro, and Appalachian State University will extend the educational activities of the VCI and strengthen collaborative relationships among the universities.
