SIPA Cloud Environment · 2018-09-02 · Data stored in “Documents” folder and “Desktop” are backed up every evening and retained for 2 months. Request for file recovery should

SIPA IT Technical Notes 1

SIPA Cloud Environment Overview

This document serves as a guide for Columbia SIPA Users to install Citrix Workspace App and access the Virtual Desktop Cloud Environment.

mySIPA is a private cloud computing solution, which allows you to run software remotely without actually having that software installed on your own computer. You can access this system from any place, at any time, and from any Windows, Mac, Apple IOS, and Google Android device.

The software will run on remote servers at SIPA but will display on your device in such a way that you can interact with it just as though you had installed it locally. It is easy to use since you can open and save files stored on the mySIPA Network. In addition, you can print to the on-campus SIPA lab network printers or to your locally connected printer.

SIPA students can receive assistance in room 510 IAB SIPA lab. Password resets require students to present their CUID in 510 IAB. For queries, students can call the SIPAIT Help Desk at (212) 854-0112, or email [email protected].

Available Software & License Limitations

All software on mySIPA is for university academic work only. Additional Software and downloads are available through CUIT at: http://cuit.columbia.edu/cuit/software-downloads

mailto:[email protected]

http://cuit.columbia.edu/cuit/software-downloads

http://cuit.columbia.edu/cuit/software-downloads


Accessing the mySIPA Cloud Portal

Supported Mac browsers are Safari, FireFox and Chrome. The instructions provided here are for macOS High Sierra with Safari.

1. To access mySIPA Citrix, open Chrome and browse to https://mySIPA.cloud.com and insert your credentials. User name format is sipac\UNI

2. Click on Log On. Note: The system will prompt you to change your temporary password if this is your first logon.

Install the Citrix Receiver

If you already have Citrix Receiver installed you can skip this section, otherwise follow the steps below to install the client.

Note: If you cannot install Citrix Receiver, you can use the light version. However, keep in mind that this version has limited functionality for printing, clipboard and file transfer.

1. After authenticating with your credentials, the server will check for Citrix Receiver on your machine and the following image will be displayed if you don’t have the Receiver installed

2. To begin click “Detect Workspace”

3. Check “I agree with the Citrix license agreement” and click “Download”

https://mysipa.cloud.com/


4. Click on Downloads and select Open in Finder.

5. Double click on “CitrixReceiverWeb.dmg” and choose “Install Citrix Receiver”.


6. Click “Continue” at “This package will run a program to determine if the software can be installed”.

7. Select “Continue” to “Welcome to the Citrix Receiver Installer”.

8. Choose “Agree” “To continue installing the software you must agree to the terms

of the software license agreement”

9. Enter your administrative credentials and click on “Install Software”.


10. Click on “Continue” in the “Add Account” dialogue box.

11. Select “Close” at the “The installation was completed successfully”.


12. Click “Move to Trash” when prompted “Do you want to move the Citrix Receiver Installer to the Trash?”

13. Go back to the mySIPA portal in Safari and click “Continue”.

14. Check “Allow” at ”Do you want to allow this page to open Citrix Receiver

Launcher?”


Accessing the Desktop

1. Click on “Desktops” on the left navigation pane and you will be presented with the “Citrix Desktop”. Click on Citrix Desktop to launch it. Click “Allow” when prompted again at ”Do you want to allow this page to open Citrix Receiver Launcher?” Note: Ignore the warning if prompted by “Citrix Viewer is not optimized for your Mac” and click “OK”.


2. A new Window will appear with the desktop. Wait for the launch to complete, and accept the Disclaimer when prompted and click “Ok” Note: If you are logging into your Desktop session for the first time, it can take up to 1 minute to create your profile. Subsequent login will be much quicker after the initial profile has been created.

3. After the launch completes, you can start working on your desktop. On the Start

Menu, you will find applications such as Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, SPSS, Stata, R, ArcGIS and other programs needed for the SIPA curriculum.


.

File Storage

Saving Files on mySIPA

mySIPA uses the Windows “Documents” folder as the main storage. Data stored in “Documents” folder and “Desktop” are backed up every evening and retained for 2 months. Request for file recovery should be submitted [email protected]

• Please do not to save any sensitive information, such as tax returns, credit card statement, social security, or any confidential data on the system.

• Do not store audio or image files unless they are class related. All video files must be saved to personal removal media.

• Do not upload/backup files from your personal devices onto the mySIPA network.

Permission to Save/Retrieve files on removable USB, SD card, computer, and supported personal devices can be accessed via the Citrixi drop down menu at the top of the display. Note that this not supported when using the Light version of Citrix Receiver.

mailto:[email protected]


When saving/retrieving files on devices attached to your host computer (USB, SD cards, Local Hard Drive and etc.), you must allow Citrix Receiver access. It is recommended that you select “Read and write” and click “Ok”.

Printing

SIPA Network printers are in room 321B, 510A Instructional Lab and 6thfloor lobby. Print jobs sent to mySIPA Network Printers will be charged to your print quota and must be released from “Print Release” via the desktop icon. Login credentials for Print Release is the same as your mySIPA login.


Session Timeout

For security and to ensure that a copy of the software is available when you need it, sessions will disconnect after 15 minutes of inactivity. You will be redirected to your disconnected desktop if you log back in within 2 hours and No work will be lost. To prevent loss of work, save often!

Log Off

When you have finished your work, it is very important to properly exit the program and Log off your session.

• To log off your SIPA Desktop session, click the “Start” button and select “Sign out”.

• When using a SIPA On-Campus computer, log off the mySIPA Cloud Portal (logon home page) if you are on the system less than 5 minutes.
