Overview
Dispel offers the ability to use Bastion to allow Virtual Desktop connections in your web browser rather than needing to use an RDP client on your computer. If your organization does not permit outbound RDP connections, or if you prefer to have all of your work in-browser, this feature is for you!
Pre-Requisites
In-Browser Bastion VDIs is a feature that must be configured per Virtual Desktop stack by Dispel. If your organization is interested in having this feature, please reach out to a Dispel Representative.
This guide assumes you are an admin, or that you have an approved access window. If you do not have an approved access window or are not an admin of the site you need to connect to, please follow the guides below accordingly.
VDI-User/Non-Admin User Walkthrough
Reserving a Virtual Desktop
Log into the Dispel Dashboard.
Select the Stack you would like to reserve a Virtual Desktop from.
Choosing a Stack: If you are unsure of which stack to use to complete your work, contact your Admin.
No Desktops Available: If your desired Stack says "No desktops," then all virtual desktops within that stack are already reserved by other users. Reach out to your admin to increase the Stack's size.
Don't See This Page?: If you are not met with a page similar to below, then you will need to request an approved access window.
Connecting to a Virtual Desktop
Depending on your organization's configurations, there can be two methods of connecting to your Virtual Desktop: RDP or In-Browser.
RDP Connections: Click on the purple "Quick Connect" button to download an RDP file and automatically copy the VDI's password to your clipboard. For more in-depth instructions on using this method, please visit this guide.
In-Browser Bastion Connections: Click on the link to open your VDI in-browser. We will walk through this method in depth below.
💡 About the Quick Connect Page
On the Quick Connect page, you will see additional information about your VDI reservation including the VDI's IP, credentials, and time-to-live. Your virtual desktop will automatically destroy at this expiration date. Alternatively, you can destroy your virtual desktop to allow a new one to be built for other users in the Stack.
Copy your password to your clipboard by clicking the purple
icon next to your password value on the "Quick Connect" page.Click on "access your Virtual Desktop through the browser," as shown in the screenshot above.
You will be re-directed to a new tab to log in to your virtual desktop. Type in:
Your username, which will always be:
guest-userYour password, which you copied to your clipboard earlier.
on Mac: press 'command + V'
on Windows: press 'control + V'
Within a few seconds, your VDI will boot up and you will be connected to your VDI in-browser!
Admin Walkthrough
Reserving a Virtual Desktop
Navigate to the desired stack that you want to reserve from. (Stacks → <Desired Stack> → Desktops).
Click
Reserveto reserve a desktop for your user.Your reservation will populate in the
Active desktopslist for this stack.
After your desktop is reserved, expand your reservation and follow the in-browser link to your VDI.
To "Quick Connect" to your virtual desktop through RDP instead of in-browser, please follow this guide.
💡 Expanding Your Reservation Details
By selecting the arrow beside your name on your VDI reservation, you will see additional information about your VDI reservation including the VDI's IP, credentials, and time-to-live. Your virtual desktop will automatically destroy at this expiration date. Alternatively, you can destroy your virtual desktop by clicking the three dots next to the "Quick Connect" button on your listed reservation. Destroying your VDI will allow a new one to be built for other users in the Stack.
Connecting to your Virtual Desktop
You will be re-directed to a new tab to log in to your virtual desktop. Type in:
Your username, which will always be:
guest-userYour password, which you copied to your clipboard earlier.
on Mac: press 'command + V'
on Windows: press 'control + V'
Within a few seconds, your VDI will boot up and you will be connected to your VDI in-browser!
Want to Connect Through RDP Instead?
If you do not want to use in-browser virtual desktops and instead want to connect via RDP, visit the guides below!