Elastic Cloud Desktop (EDS) allows you to connect to cloud desktops from the following types of Alibaba Cloud Workspace clients: Windows client, macOS client, iOS client, Android client, and Web client. The topic uses Windows clients to describe how to connect to and use cloud desktops.

Prerequisites

You are logged on to a client, and a cloud desktop is connected. For more information about specific operations, see Connect to a cloud desktop.
Note The features of a cloud desktop vary based on the type and version of the client that is used to connect to the cloud desktop. The features provided by the cloud desktop that you use shall prevail.

Background information

After you connect to the cloud desktop, you can view and use the cloud desktop. The desktop displays multiple sections, such as the desktop, toolbar, taskbar, and basic applications.

Common operations

After you log on to the client, cloud desktops are displayed as cards. You can view the status of the cloud desktops and perform operations on the cloud desktops, as shown in the following figure.

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The following information shows the common operations that you can perform on a cloud desktop.
  • After you move the pointer over the card of a cloud desktop, you can connect, start, stop, and restart the cloud desktop based on your business requirements.
  • View the details of a cloud desktop
    Move the pointer over the card of the cloud desktop that you want to manage and click Manage. Then, click the Details tab to view the details of the cloud desktop.
    ItemDescription
    Desktop InformationYou can view the name and ID of the cloud desktop and the ID of the workspace to which the cloud desktop belongs. You can also specify a custom name for the cloud desktop based on your business requirements.
    ConfigurationsYou can view the configurations, system disk, and data disk of the cloud desktop.
    Use InformationYou can view the billing method of the cloud desktop and the most recent time when the cloud desktop was started.
  • Manage a snapshot

    Move the pointer over the card of the cloud desktop that you want to manage and click Manage. Then, click the Snapshots tab to configure system snapshots and custom snapshots based on your business requirements.

    • System snapshot

      If you want to restore the cloud desktop from a system snapshot, contact the administrator to create the snapshot. For more information, see Use snapshots (public preview).

    • Custom snapshot

      You can create and delete custom snapshots and use custom snapshots to restore cloud desktops based on your business requirements.

      Note
      • Custom snapshots of cloud desktops in a desktop group cannot be created on clients.
      • Custom snapshots of a cloud desktop that is assigned to multiple end users cannot be created on clients.
      • Up to four custom snapshots can be created for each cloud desktop.
      • Only a cloud desktop in the Stopped state can be restored from a snapshot.
      • Create a custom snapshot
        1. Click the Custom Snapshot tab.
        2. If no snapshot is created for the cloud desktop, click Create Custom Snapshot. If a snapshot is created for the cloud desktop, click Create.
        3. Select the type of disk for which you want to create a custom snapshot and specify a snapshot name as prompted.
        4. Click Confirm.

          You can view the creation progress and status of the snapshot on the Custom Snapshot tab.

      • Delete a custom snapshot
        1. Click the Custom Snapshot tab.
        2. On the Custom Snapshot tab, move the pointer over the snapshot that you want to delete and click Close in the upper-right corner of the snapshot.
        3. In the message that appears, click OK.
      • Restore a cloud desktop from a snapshot

        You can restore a cloud desktop from a system snapshot or a custom snapshot based on your business requirements. Use one of the following methods to restore a cloud desktop from a snapshot.

        • Restore a cloud desktop from a system snapshot

          On the System Snapshot tab, select one or more snapshots from which you want to restore a cloud desktop and click Confirm Restoration. In the dialog box that appears, click Confirm.

        • Restore a cloud desktop from a custom snapshot

          On the Custom Snapshot tab, select one or more snapshots from which you want to restore a cloud desktop and click Confirm Restoration. In the dialog box that appears, click Confirm.

Toolbar

The following section describes how to use the tools that are provided in the toolbar.

Note The following section describes the tools in the toolbar on a cloud desktop that is connected from a Windows client. The tools in the toolbar vary based on the version of the client. The actual tools that are displayed on your desktop shall prevail.
ToolDescription
HomepageSwitches to the desktop of your local computer.
Ctrl+Alt+Del
  • Windows cloud desktop: Launches Task Manager.
  • Linux cloud desktop: Disconnects from the cloud desktop.
    Note If a cloud desktop is reconnected after being disconnected, the file data in the cloud desktop remains the same as that before disconnection.
PreferencesAllows you to configure settings for devices, file access, connection, display, and display layout.
Note The Local Disk Mapping feature that is configured by the administrator determines whether you can read data from and write data to the local disks of your computer from the cloud desktop. You can configure file access settings only to limit permissions on the cloud desktop. You cannot enable the Local Disk Mapping feature for the cloud desktop. For example, if the administrator grants the read-only permissions to your account, you can select Read-only Permissions or No Permissions. You cannot select Read and Write Permissions. Even if you select Read and Write Permissions, the write permissions do not take effect.
DevicesDisplays the devices that can be used to remotely connect to the cloud desktop from your local computer. You can specify devices based on your business requirements.
Full-screen Display/Cancel Full-screenDisplays the cloud desktop in full-screen or window mode.
DisconnectDisconnects the cloud desktop from the client and closes the cloud desktop window.
ShortcutsDisplays applications that are running and allows you to switch between the applications.
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Manage an application

Application Center in EDS allows you to download and install applications after you connect to cloud desktops. This facilitates an efficient cloud office experience.

Note
  • The features provided by Application Center vary based on the program version. In this section, Application Center V2.1.5 is used as an example. The information that is displayed on your cloud desktop shall prevail.
  • Application Center is regularly updated to ensure the best user experience. We recommend that you install or update to the latest version.
  • If you do not have the permissions to download applications or if you encounter license issues during download and installation, contact the administrator.

Install an application

  1. Connect to a cloud desktop.
  2. Double-click the fi icon to launch Application Center.
  3. In the left-side navigation pane of the Application Center page, click Applications.
    You can search for the application that you want to install in the search box or select applications based on the categories from the tabs on the left side of the page.
    The following table describes the categories of applications.
    CategoryDescription
    AllAll applications provided by Application Center.
    Office-working EssentialCommon office applications. Example: Shimo Docs dedicated to EDS.
    BrowserCommon web browsers. Example: 360 Secure Browser
    Image and VideoCommon image and video applications. Example: iQIYI.
    Input MethodCommon input methods. Example: Sogou.
    System ToolCommon system tools. Example: 7-Zip.
    Programming DevelopmentCommon programming and development tools. Example: Golang.
    Software DesignCommon design applications. Example: AutoCAD.
    OthersApplications that are not listed in the preceding categories.
  4. Move the pointer over the application that you want to download and click Download.
  5. After the application is downloaded, click Install to install the application as prompted.
You can also install applications by using the following methods:
  • Copy the application installation package from the local computer to the cloud desktop.
    Note If you cannot copy local files to the cloud desktop, contact the administrator to configure permissions on local disk mappings. If you connect to the cloud desktop from a Web client, you must enable the permissions on HTML5 file upload.
  • Copy an application installation package from a USB flash drive to the cloud desktop.
    Note If the cloud desktop cannot read data from USB devices that are connected to the local computer, contact the administrator to enable the USB redirection feature.
  • Download an application from the Internet and install the application.
    Note If you cannot access the Internet, contact the administrator to configure the network settings.

Uninstall an application

You can uninstall applications that you no longer require to save more space.

  1. Connect to a cloud desktop.
  2. Double-click the 2 icon to launch Application Center.
  3. In the left-side navigation pane of Application Center, click My Applications.
  4. Click the All tab.
  5. Move the pointer over the application that you want to uninstall and click Uninstall Application.
Note You can also perform the following steps to uninstall an application: Find the application that you want to uninstall in the Start menu of the cloud desktop, right-click the application, and then select Uninstall to uninstall the application as prompted.

Update an application

We recommend that you update your applications to ensure the best experience and use the latest features.

  1. Connect to a cloud desktop.
  2. Double-click the 3 icon to launch Application Center.
  3. In the left-side navigation pane of Application Center, click My Applications.
  4. Click the Application Updates tab.
  5. Find the application that you want to update and complete the update as prompted.

Update Application Center

You can update Application Center to the latest version to ensure the best experience.

  1. Connect to a cloud desktop.
  2. Double-click the 3 icon to launch Application Center. You can use one of the following methods to update Application Center.
    • Update from push messages

      The system displays a message when the latest version of Application Center is available. You can complete the update as prompted. If the system does not immediately push the update message, you can manually update Application Center at your convenience.

    • Update manually
      1. In the left-side navigation pane of Application Center, click About.
      2. On the Version tab, click Check Update.

        If the latest version is available, click Update Now and complete the update as prompted.

    Note If you encounter an issue when you use Application Center, you can click Feedback in the lower-right corner of the Application Center page and enter the required information as prompted.

Use the screen recording audit feature

After your administrator enables the screen recording audit feature in the EDS console for your cloud desktop, the system displays a message when you connect to your cloud desktop which indicates that the screen recording audit feature is enabled for your cloud desktop and all operations on the cloud desktop will be recorded for subsequent security audit.

You can fold and unfold the push messages of screen recording audits. However, you cannot disable the feature. If you have doubts, contact your administrator.