SC26AI agents lab + dinner on the river · Nov 17
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Windows Desktops

A Windows desktop session opens a Windows Server desktop in your browser over Remote Desktop (RDP). It runs on a Windows instance, a single cloud VM you create in ACTIVATE. You don't need an RDP client, a VPN, or a password: ACTIVATE signs you in automatically.

Feature preview

Instances are a feature preview. To turn them on, open your user menu, choose Feature Preview, select Single VM, and click Enable. Instances then appears in the navigation under Compute.

Screenshot of the Feature Preview dialog with Single VM selected and the Enable button highlighted.
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Create a Windows instance

  1. Go to Instances and click Add instance.

  2. Under Choose an available provider, select AWS, Azure, or Google. Windows images aren't available on Oracle.

  3. Under General Settings, enter a Name and choose a Cloud Network.

  4. Under Instance Settings, choose a Region, Root Size (GiB), and Instance Type.

  5. For Image, open Cloud Images and pick a Windows Server image:

    ProviderWindows Server images
    AWS2022 and 2019, each in Full and Core editions
    Azure2022 Datacenter and 2019 Datacenter (Gen1 and Gen2)
    GoogleImages from the windows-cloud project

    Choose a Full (Desktop Experience) image for a desktop. Core editions have no graphical shell.

    Screenshot of the Add instance page with a Windows Server 2022 image selected in the Image picker.

  6. Click Add instance.

When the instance is provisioned, the ACTIVATE agent sets it up: it enables Remote Desktop (with Network Level Authentication), installs OpenSSH, and creates a local Windows account named after your ACTIVATE username. The account is a local administrator unless your organization's policy disallows root access.

Open the desktop

  1. Go to Sessions, click Create, and choose Desktop session.

  2. For Target, choose your instance from the Instances group. Only running Windows instances are listed.

    Screenshot of the Target list in the Desktop session dialog with a Windows instance highlighted under Instances.

  3. Click Create session, then click the session's name.

ACTIVATE connects and signs you in to Windows as your account. You never see or type the password; it's generated on the instance, rotated each time the instance starts, and stored encrypted by ACTIVATE.

Using the desktop

The desktop scales to fit your browser window. Move your mouse to the top of the screen to show the toolbar:

ControlWhat it does
Ctrl+Alt+DelSends Ctrl+Alt+Del to Windows, for example to open Task Manager or lock the screen.
FullscreenFills your screen with the desktop.
Open in new tabOpens the desktop in its own full-window tab.
RestartRestarts the desktop session. Shown to the session owner.
ReconnectShown after a disconnect. Connects again.

Copy and paste between your computer and the Windows desktop isn't supported. To move files, use the instance's Open Terminal (SSH) or your cloud storage.

When you're done, delete the session from Sessions. The instance keeps running, and costing money, until you delete it from Instances.

Troubleshooting

SymptomCause and fix
The instance isn't listed under TargetOnly Windows instances that are running are listed, and only for Desktop session. Wait for provisioning to finish.
Windows credential is not available yet for this instanceThe agent hasn't finished setting up your account. Wait a few minutes after the instance is provisioned and try again.
The desktop never connectsRemote Desktop is left off when your organization disallows root access on instances. Ask your administrator.
Only a command prompt appearsThe instance uses a Core image. Create an instance from a Full image.