Configuring Your Desktop

Before using the desktop for day-to-day work, complete any necessary initial configuration tasks.

Note

If Desktop users are expected to install software, you might need to create Desktop pools with administrator privileges enabled. This enables Oracle Linux users to use the sudo command from terminals when installing software and Windows users to run programs as the Administrator user. For more information, see Creating a Desktop Pool.

Windows

Linux

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Understanding the Desktop File System

Relocating User Folders to the OCI Storage Volume (Windows only)

Initially, for a Windows virtual desktop, the user folders (Downloads, Documents, and so on) are located on the virtual desktop's local disk (C:). It is recommended that you relocate these folders to the OCI Volume (D:) to protect your files from data loss.

On the virtual desktop, open File Explorer.
Right-click the item to relocate (such as Documents).
Select Properties and select the Location tab.
Change the location to OCI Volume (D:). For example, change C:\Users\DesktopUser\Documents to D:\Users\DesktopUser\Documents and then select OK.
Select Yes to confirm the folder creation.
Select Yes to move the existing files from the old location to the new location.
Repeat for all folders you want to relocate (such as Downloads, Pictures, Music, and so on).

Why should I relocate the user folders?

The OCI Volume (D:) is the Oracle Cloud Infrastructure block volume associated with your username (see Understanding the Desktop File System). Relocating the folders to the block volume ensures your files are stored in a location that is regularly backed up (depending on the backup policy selected by the desktop administrator). In addition, the block volume persists if the desktop is terminated and can be transferred to another desktop if needed.

Changing the Desktop Environment to XFCE or KDE (Linux only)

For Linux virtual desktops using the base images, the default desktop environment is GNOME. Optionally, you can configure XFCE or KDE instead.

The following process is intended for individual users who want to use a different X11 environment. If an administrator wants to configure a custom image for a specific environment, they must edit /etc/sysconfig/desktop to specify the environment. For example, DESKTOP=KDE.

Caution

Incorrectly setting the permissions on the .Xclients file can cause you to permanently lose access to the desktop. Use caution when following this procedure and verify permissions before logging out of the desktop.

Ensure the desktop environment you want to change to has been installed.

Create $HOME/.Xclients to include the following content:

For XFCE:

#!/bin/sh
DESKTOP=$(type -p startxfce4)

if [ -n "$DESKTOP" ];then
exec $DESKTOP
else
   # XFCE4 not installed, fallback
   exec /etc/X11/xinit/Xclients
fi

For KDE:

#!/bin/sh

DESKTOP=$(type -p startkde)

if [ -n "$DESKTOP" ];then
exec $DESKTOP
else
   # KDE not installed, fallback
   exec /etc/X11/xinit/Xclients
fi

Change the permission of the file:
```
chmod a+x .Xclients
```
IMPORTANT: Verify the file permissions. Incorrect permissions will cause the desktop to become inaccessible.
```
$ ls -l .Xclients
-rwxrwxr-x. 1 desktopuser desktopuser 156 Aug 24 14:39 .Xclients
```
Log out and then reopen the desktop.

Moving Files Between Your Local System and the Virtual Desktop

If the desktop administrator has enabled full drive mapping access, you can move files between your local system and the virtual desktop.

You must be using the installed client. The web client doesn't support drive mapping.
Review Understanding the Desktop File System for a description of drive locations.
Use standard file management functions (such as drag and drop, copy and paste, or the cp command) to move content between systems:
- Windows desktops: move files between C (rw) or My Home (rw) and OCI Volume (D:)
- Linux desktops: move files between /home/desktopuser and 'My SGD Drives'

Using a Camera

The Secure Desktops installed client enables you to use a locally available camera within the desktop.

Camera support is available only for Windows desktops. To use a camera in your desktop session, you must allow the desktop to access the camera through device sharing. Camera support works only when both the desktop and the client meet all requirements.

Desktop pool configuration

Your administrator must configure the desktop pool device access policy to allow camera access.
Many use cases also require audio output and input (microphone). Audio must be enabled separately in the device access policy.

Client requirements

Your local machine must have a web cam or other camera device installed and configured correctly.
If needed, a microphone and speakers, or a headset, must be connected and available.
You must use the locally installed desktop client. Camera access is not supported in the web client.
You might need to update your client OS privacy settings to allow the desktop to use your camera and microphone.

Enabling Camera and Microphone Access

To use your camera in a Windows Secure Desktop session, you must explicitly share it with the desktop.

Connect to the Desktop using the Installed Client your local machine.
Right-click the Desktop window title bar and select Device Sharing. The pop-up window lists client camera devices that can be shared.
Select the camera you want to use in the desktop, select Save settings, and select OK to confirm.
To configure audio, right-click the Secure Global Desktop Client tray icon and select Device Sharing. The pop-up window lists client devices that can be shared.
1. Ensure that Microphones and Speakers are selected for sharing. Select Allow to confirm your selection.
2. If you made changes to the shared devices, disconnect from the desktop and reconnect. This allows your changes to take effect.
Verify Privacy settings.
1. The client OS Privacy settings must allow the Desktop Client to use the camera and microphone.
2. The Desktop OS Privacy settings must allow your video applications to use the camera and microphone.
Verify that the camera is working inside the desktop. It appears in the OS settings as a connected camera. Confirm that it loads a preview. Test the camera and microphone in an application of your choice.