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TUNI Virtual Desktop service

TUNI Virtual Desktop.

What is TUNI Virtual Desktop?

TUNI Virtual Desktop is a service for using Windows software available for teaching and staff, regardless of location and computer. The software offered through the service is installed on a virtualization platform, which you access remotely from your computer. Students, staff, and individuals with an extended resource agreement can log in to the service with their TUNI credentials. All you need is a computer, an internet connection, and TUNI credentials.

The TUNI Virtual Desktop service consists of three virtualization platforms. Primary virtualization platform used is Azure Virtual Desktop (AVD). The implementation of self-maintained Windows/Linux lab/exercise environments is possible with the Azure Lab Services.

You can use the TUNI Virtual Desktop either with the virtualization platform-specific application installed on your computer or in a web browser. To ensure the best user experience, we always recommend using the application, which is available for free for most operating systems.

Virtual desktops and access rights

There are various virtual desktops in TUNI Virtual Desktop:

  • The general virtual desktop for students is available to all students, staff and people with an extended resource agreement (desktop names are TAU Student or TAMK Student). The desktop is intended for teaching use. There are basic Windows software that are widely used in teaching across faculty / unit boundaries. The software license terms do not impose any restrictions on use.
  • The general virtual desktop for staff is open to staff and people with an extended resource agreement (desk names are TAMK staff and TAU staff). The desktop is intended for work and research use. Most of the services requiring campus network connectivity or TUNI VPN are accessible from these virtual desktops. There is the same set of basic Windows software that is installed on all TUNI Windows computers. The software license terms do not impose any restrictions on use.
  • Restricted virtual desktops for special software are intended for a limited number of people. The desktop is meant for special software in limited use because of, e.g., licensing conditions, data security and data protection aspects, or technical requirements (e.g. virtual desktops for the software requiring 3D acceleration). Access to restricted virtual desktops is handled by order. Restricted desktops are intended for both teaching and research purposes.

You can use those remote desktops for which you have a right to use due to your studying or your work. For more information on using and accessing restricted virtual desktops, staff can inquire at the IT Helpdesk. Student access to restricted desktops only through teaching or research staff.

More information for staff on various virtual desktops, intended use cases and access rights, software and instructions for ordering restricted virtual desktops:

Software installed on desktops for student use

See list of software installed on TUNI Virtual Desktop for student use. 

New software will be added to the desktops as needed and available at the request of staff. It is not possible to virtualize all software because software licensing conditions or technical features may limit the possibility of using application virtualization. 

Please note that alongside the TUNI Virtual Desktop service, many basic software will continue to be freely available to students via a web browser or downloaded to student's own personal computer. 

  • In particular, we recommend to use the tools included in the Microsoft 365 cloud service, either through a web browser or by installing the Microsoft 365 Apps package on student's own device. More information: Microsoft 365
  • Similarly, for video conferencing we recommend to use Teams or Zoom installed on student's computer. More information: Video meeting services
  • More information: Installing software on your computer.

However, if you are handling sensitive information in your teaching or research, the restricted virtual desktop of TUNI Virtual Desktop is a secure and recommended solution.

 

Quick guide to the basic use of TUNI Virtual Desktop

1. Download and install the Windows App application:

For the best user experience, install the appropriate version of the Windows App (published by Microsoft) for your device. The app is free of charge and has its own version for each major operating system. 

Windows App
  • Windows 11 (TUNI-maintained): You can find the app in Company Portal and Microsoft Store
  • Windows 11 (your own devices): You can find the app in Microsoft Store
  • MacOS (TUNI-maintained): You can find the Remote Desktop application pre-installed on your PC.
  • MacOS (Your own devices): You can find the app in the App Store of your device
  • Android, iOS and Chromebook: You can find the app in your own app store
  • Linux (TUNI-maintained and own devices): No Windows App published by Microsoft. Use possible with a Chromium-based browser (e.g. Chromium, Edge, Chrome)

2. When the app is installed, open it and choose Sign in.

3. Sign in with your TUNI email address to see your virtual desktops and you can start using them by selecting the needed desktop.

  • When you open the desktop for the first time, it may take a little longer to load than next time.

4. When you are finished, log out via the Start menu or desktop icon of the virtual desktop using the Sign out option, in order to free the desktop resources for others to use. Simply by closing the browser window is not enough to free up the desktop for use by others.

OneDrive for Business and P and S network drives are available on desktops for storing and transferring data. The use of OneDrive is recommended to ensure the best user experience, unless there are other obstacles to its use. The D: directory on the virtual desktop is only intended for temporary data storage, as the data stored there is regularly removed from the directory.

You can access the browser version on www.tuni.fi/avd

Further information and more detailed instructions for use: TUNI Virtual Desktop - Azure Virtual Desktop

 

Further information on using Azure Lab Services

The Azure Lab Services solutions are only available for special purposes and have restricted access. It is used to implement virtual lab / training environments with virtual machines such as Windows 10, Windows Server or Ubuntu / Ubuntu Server. If the Azure solution is used, for example, in your teaching course, you will be informed by the teaching staff.

Further information and more detailed user instructions: TUNI Virtual Desktop - Azure Lab Services

 

Accessibility evaluation report

Accessibility reports in English are found on the service providers' own websites:

 

IT Helpdesk
0294 520 500
it-helpdesk [at] tuni.fi (it-helpdesk[at]tuni[dot]fi)
helpdesk.tuni.fi

Published: 28.5.2021
Updated: 2.12.2025
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