Platform R: Azure Virtual Desktop

The only way to access Platform R is through Azure Virtual Desktop (AVD), a virtual Windows session running in either your browser or the Windows App client.

AVD is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The virtual machines are always active during normal business hours, so login should be fairly fast during that time. During off hours it may take a few minutes for a new AVD session to start up for you.

Settings, configurations, VSCode extensions you have installed, etc., are preserved between AVD sessions. However, this data is not backed up. In some cases it may be necessary to erase your old setting to address technical problems.

Connecting to Azure Virtual Desktop

There are two ways to connect to AVD: through the web and through the Microsoft Windows app.

Web

This will work with all major browsers, but Chrome in full-screen mode is the most performant option. 

https://windows365.microsoft.com/ent#/devices

Windows App Client

A separate AVD connection application is available for both Windows and Macs. If your SMPH-managed device does not have the "Windows" application, contact User Support Services.

To connect, hit the plus sign icon at the top right, and selection "Add Work Or School Account." Use your wisc.edu email address to connect. Once connected you will see the virtual desktop devices to which you have access. If you do not see one called "SMPH Platform R" let us know.

The application starts sessions in full screen mode. You can get a menu by moving your mouse to the very top of the screen to get a menu to exit full screen.

Exit with the Windows icon at the bottom left.

Edge Browser

The Edge browser in AVD is limited in what web sites it can reach. You are able to use these:

• UW's Gitlab instance - https://git.doit.wisc.edu
• SMPH Navigator - https://go.wisc.edu/SMPH-PlatformR-Support
• UW KnowledgeBase - https://go.wisc.edu/SMPH-PlatformR-KB

Note that it is easier to cut and paste Platform R error messages for the support team by using the SMPH Navigator in AVD.

Restricted Research Drive

You can map your Restricted Research Drives in AVD.

1. Click the Windows menu at the bottom left.
   
2. Click File Explorer.
   
3. In the File Explorer sidebar, click "This PC".
   
4. In the icon bar under the navigation, click the icon of three periods at the far right.
   
5. The three-period icon brings up a menu of options. Select "Map network drive."
   
6. Select a drive letter, enter the Restricted Research Drive address you need (replacing NETID as appropriate), and click "Finish."
   

Connecting to Platform R

AVD currently offers three applications to connect to Platform R:

1. Putty - a Windows ssh client
2. SecureCRT - another Windows ssh client
3. VSCode - you can install the ssh extension to connect. See VSCode Remote SSH for how to set up VSCode to run compute jobs directly.

The Platform R slurm host address is slurm.platformr.wisc.edu.