Connecting to a Session

The OSD allows users to create a PCoIP session between the client and a remote resource by clicking the green Connect button in the center of the Connect page.

To connect to a session from the Connect page:

• Enter the requested information (e.g., server name or IP address for Auto Detect, PCoIP Connection Manager, View Connection Server, and Connection Management Interface connection types), and then click Connect. If your zero client is configured to cache servers in Last servers used mode, this server name will subsequently appear in the Server drop-down list after a successful connection is made.
• If you have already connected to a server, it will appear in the Server drop-down list if your zero client is configured to connect to this server or if it is configured to cache servers in Last servers used mode. Simply select the server from the drop-down list and then click Connect.
• If your zero client is configured to connect directly to a remote workstation card, you only need to click Connect.

Note: For details about how to enable server caching and configure server cache entries, see MC: Auto Detect Session Settings, MC: View Connection Server Session Settings, and MC: PCoIP Connection Manager Session Settings.

The text on the Connect page differs slightly depending on the session connection type you configure. The examples below show the Connect window for the Auto Detect and Direct to Host session connection type.

OSD "Auto Connect" Connect Page

OSD "Direct to Host" Connect Page

While the network connection is initializing, various status messages are displayed above the button to indicate the progress. If problems are experienced during startup—e.g., if the connection cannot be made or a DHCP lease fails—other messages display in this area to indicate the nature of the problem.

Once the connection is established, the OSD local GUI disappears, and the session image appears.

Making a Trusted HTTPS Connection

After connecting to the connection server, a user authentication page displays to allow the user to enter login credentials. The banner on this page indicates the type of connection.

If the correct trusted SSL root certificate for the server has been installed in the zero client and all other certificate requirements are met for the configured certificate checking mode (see Requirements for Trusted Server Connections), the icon at the top of this page shows a closed padlock symbol with a green check mark, and the "https" in the server's URI also displays in green text.

The examples below show the user authentication screens that display for View Horizon and Amazon WorkSpaces connections when the server’s certificate is trusted by the zero client.

VMware Horizon Trusted HTTPS Connection

Amazon WorkSpaces Trusted HTTPS Connection

Making an Untrusted HTTPS Connection

If the correct trusted SSL root certificate for a connection server has not been installed in the zero client, or if other certificate requirements are not met (see Requirements for Trusted Server Connections), a warning such as the following appears if your zero client is configured to warn before connecting to untrusted servers.

View Connection Server Certificate Warning

PCoIP Connection Manager Certificate Warning

If the user clicks Continue at this warning, the connection will still be secured with HTTPS, but an open padlock icon with a red "x" will display on the login screen, along with red "https" text with strikethrough formatting, as shown in the examples below.

VMware Horizon Untrusted HTTPS Connection

Amazon WorkSpaces Untrusted HTTPS Connection

As an administrator, you can use the Options > User Settings > Certificate page, shown below, to prevent users from initiating untrusted server sessions by configuring the zero client to refuse a connection to a server that cannot be verified. Depending on the configured server type, this page has a different banner, as shown below.

VMware Horizon Certificate Checking Mode Page

Teradici Certificate Checking Mode

Using the AWI, you can then enable Certificate Check Mode Lockout from the Session – View Connection Server or Session – PCoIP Connection Manager page to prevent users from changing this setting.

Authenticating the User

After the user sends the login credentials, the server performs authentication. If the user name and password are not entered correctly, or if the Caps Lock key is on, a message displays on this page to indicate these problems, as shown in the example below.

Unknown User Name or Password

Connecting to a Desktop

If the user is not configured to connect automatically to a desktop, a list of one or more desktops to which the user is entitled displays. The user may then select the desired one and click Connect.

Selecting an Entitlement

If the desktop is available, a message displays on the Connect screen to inform the user that the server is preparing the desktop. After a few seconds, the PCoIP session is established and the user connected.

If the desktop is not available (e.g., if the desktop is in the process of rebooting), a second message also flashes on the Connect screen to inform the user that the assigned desktop source for this desktop is not currently available. The firmware continuously attempts to connect until the desktop is ready or the user clicks Cancel to cancel the operation.

Related Topics

See also:

• For information on how to upload certificates to a profile using the MC, see MC: Certificate Store Management.
• For information on how to upload certificates to a single device using the AWI, see AWI: Certificate Upload Settings.
• For information on other OSD messages that may appear on top of a user's session during startup or after a session has been established, see Overlay Windows.