For best performance, connect to an active session with Cisco AnyConnect [Show Me How] and the local RDP client on your laptop [Show Me How]. Use the dCloud Remote Desktop client only to access an active session quickly and with minimal interaction.

The Cisco dCloud Remote Desktop client allows you to connect to active session components, such as a workstation or server, through an Internet connection. This type of RDP connection does not require a router or Cisco AnyConnect VPN connection.

• Set Preferred Remote Desktop Client
• Access Cisco dCloud Remote Desktop Client
• Resize Window (HTML5 Only)

Set Preferred Remote Desktop Client

Cisco dCloud provides two methods to access active session components using the dCloud Remote Desktop client:

• HTML5. This connection method requires use of a web browser with HTML5 support. With this connection method, you can resize the browser window through which the connection runs. [Show Me How]
• Java applet. This connection method uses a Java plug-in, which you may need to install. With this connection method, you cannot resize the window through which the connection runs.

To set the connection method for your dCloud Remote Desktop client.

1. In dCloud, open My Profile > Profile Settings.
2. Choose HTML5 or Java Applet from the Preferred Remote Desktop Client drop-down list.
3. Click Save Settings.

Figure 1. Example – Profile Settings

Access Cisco dCloud Remote Desktop Client

To access your active session components using the dCloud Remote Desktop client.

1. In dCloud, open My Dashboard > My Sessions and find the active session that you want to work with.
2. Click View under the session to open the Topology.
3. Click the icon for a workstation or server and then click Remote Desktop in the popup.

Figure 2. Example – dCloud Remote Desktop Link for a Workstation in Topology Popup

Alternately, click Servers, find the workstation or server you want to access, and click Remote Desktop in the Remote Access column to access that active session component.

Figure 3. Example – dCloud Remote Desktop Link for a Workstation in Servers Menu

4. Log in to the workstation or server with the Credentials (username and password) associated with the active session component. The credentials are available in the component popup in the Topology.

If you encounter issues with the dCloud Remote Desktop client, review our FAQ for guidance.

Resize Window (HTML5 Only)

When you use the dCloud Remote Desktop client to connect to an active workstation or server, you can resize the Firefox, Chrome, or Safari browser window running the connection if you set HTML5 as the Preferred Remote Desktop Client in My Profile > Profile Settings. [Show Me How]

Resize the browser window only before logging in to the workstation or server to avoid the possibility of being logged out by a page reload. The Internet Explorer browser may not allow you to resize the window.

To resize the browser window running the dCloud Remote Desktop client connection to the active workstation or server:

1. Drag the edge or corner of the window to a different size.
2. The window resizes but the content does not resize. Instead, you see gray areas in the window similar to the gray on both sides of the example.

Figure 4. Example – Initial Resize Window with Gray Areas

3. Right-click in a gray area and select the web browser option to reload the page.

Figure 5. Example – Firefox Reload Option

4. The page reloads and fills the new window size.

Figure 6. Example – Window After Reload

If you are logged in to the workstation or server, the page reload may log you out. If the reload logs you out, you must log in again with the credentials defined for the component in the Topology popup.