Using CTERA Agent in VDI
mode
Cloud Attached
Storage
®November 2014
Version 4.1
Copyright © 2009-2014 CTERA Networks Ltd.
All rights reserved. No part of this document may be reproduced in any form or by any means without written permission from CTERA Network Ltd.
Information in this document is subject to change without notice and does not represent a commitment on part of CTERA Networks Ltd.
CTERA, C200, C400, C800, P1200, CloudPlug, NEXT3, Cloud Attached Storage, and Virtual Cloud Drive are trademarks, service marks, or registered trademarks of CTERA Networks Ltd. All other product names mentioned herein are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective owners.
The products described in this document are protected by U.S. patents, foreign patents, or pending applications.
Cloud Attached Storage® Using CTERA Agent in VDI mode 3 This document explains how to install and run CTERA Agent in Virtual Desktop Interface (VDI) mode. The CTERA Agent VDI enables you to utilize existing VDI infrastructures, both
persistent and non-persistent, by mapping a network drive to the user's data located on the CTERA Portal. CTERA Agent VDI mode enables the user to access all of their data located on the CTERA Portal over the network, without any need to store the data locally, therefore allowing the virtual dynamic desktops to remain lightweight.
Using CTERA Agent in VDI mode involves the following steps:
1 Enable VDI mode on the local machine. See Enable VDI Mode (page 4).
2 Install CTERA Agent on the local machine. See Install CTERA Agent (page 8).
3 Use CTERA Agent to access data on the CTERA Portal.
See Use the CTERA Agent to Access Data on the CTERA Portal (page 11).
1
Introduction
Cloud Attached Storage® Using CTERA Agent in VDI mode 4 In order to enable VDI on the machine that will run the agent, it is necessary to load an
administrative template (ADM) in the Windows Group Policy Management Editor running on Windows Active Directory.
The following procedure explains how to add an ADM file to the Microsoft Group Policy Management Editor running on a Windows 2008 Active Directory domain. It is relevant for both Windows Server 2003 and Windows Server 2008.
To enable VDI mode
1 Obtain the ctera-vdi.adm file from CTERA Support.
2 Open the Windows Group Policy Management Console.
3 Create a new GPO or edit an existing GPO for which you would like to enable VDI mode. The Group Policy Management Editor opens.
2
Enable VDI Mode
Enable VDI Mode
2
Cloud Attached Storage® Using CTERA Agent in VDI mode 5
4 In the navigation pane, expand Computer Configuration > Policies, right-click on Administrative Templates, and then click Add/Remove Templates.
The Add/Remove Templates windows opens.
2
Enable VDI Mode6 Cloud Attached Storage® Using CTERA Agent in VDI mode
The Policy Templates window opens.
6 Select the ctera-vdi.adm file, and then click Open.
The ctera-vdi.adm file appears in the Add/Remove Templates window.
7 Click Close.
In the navigation pane, expand Computer Configuration > Policies > Administrative Templates > Classic Administrative Templates, and then click the CTERA Agent Settings node.
Enable VDI Mode
2
Cloud Attached Storage® Using CTERA Agent in VDI mode 7
The CTERA Agent Settings screen appears in the right pane.
8 Double-click on Enable CTERA Agent VDI mode. The Enable CTERA Agent VDI mode dialog box opens.
9 Choose the Enabled radio button.
10 Click OK.
Cloud Attached Storage® Using CTERA Agent in VDI mode 8 The CTERA Agent can be installed manually or deployed remotely from a centralized location. The following procedure explains how to install the CTERA Agent manually.
To install CTERA Agent
1 Obtain the CTEEA Agent installation file from CTERA Support.
2 Double-click on the agent installation file. The CTERA Agent Setup Wizard opens.
3 Complete the the installation wizard. CTERA Agent is installed.
3
Install CTERA Agent
Install CTERA Agent
3
Cloud Attached Storage® Using CTERA Agent in VDI mode 9
The Welcome to CTERA Agent window opens.
4 Enter your CTERA Portal login details in the fields provided.
5 Click Sign in.
The CTERA Agent connects to the CTERA Portal and maps a local drive on the desktop to the CTERA Portal.
3
Install CTERA Agent10 Cloud Attached Storage® Using CTERA Agent in VDI mode
Once connection and mapping are completed successfully, the CTERA Agent window displays the Cloud Drive's status as "Connected".
Tip
The agent uses HTTPS (port 443) to map the local drive to the CTERA Portal. Therefore, TCP port 443 must to be accessible on the CTERA Portal. If it is not, then the Cloud Drive's status will be "Not connected to Portal".
Tip
The mapping is establish via HTTPS. Therefore, the security certificate installed on the CTERA Portal must be trusted by the PC. If it is not, then the Cloud Drive's status will be "Not connected to Portal".
Tip
The CTERA Agent attempts to map drive Z to the CTERA Portal. If drive Z is already in use, then the agent will try the preceding letter in the alphabet, until it finds an available drive letter.
Cloud Attached Storage® Using CTERA Agent in VDI mode 11
To use CTERA Agent to access data on the CTERA Portal
In the CTERA Agent window, click on Open Drive.
The mapped drive opens in Windows Explorer, and you can work directly with your data on the CTERA Portal.
