Virtual workstations to be launched across the University of Alberta

May 8, 2014February 15, 2016 Comment

The University of Alberta has launched a Virtual Computing Lab service for the start of the spring 2014 semester to provide virtual workstations for students. This service replaces the need for physical computer labs on campus. [...]

Tips for getting your virtual lab off the ground

October 23, 2013February 16, 2016Site Admin Comment

The Virtual Computing Lab (VCL) pilot at the University of Alberta has students and staff quite excited about the opportunity to access specialized software remotely [...]

Calling all instructors who use computer labs in teaching

October 21, 2013February 15, 2016 Comment

The Virtual Computing Lab pilot, which replaces the need for physical computer labs with online labs, is now serving over 800 students at the University of Alberta and is looking to take on more classes. [...]

Multi-master MySQL with Galera

June 5, 2013February 16, 2016Site Admin Comment

As we are moving our ‘vclcloud’ compute nodes to run on top of a disk stripe using solid state drives, I think it’s important to look at what the stateful pieces of a system are and how to keep them reasonably available. [...]

Banks of student workstations may soon be replaced by online computer labs

May 23, 2013February 15, 2016 Comment

Over the past year, Cybera and the University of Alberta have piloted a Virtual Computing Lab to provide virtual workstations to students. Opportunities to expand the service to other educational institutions are now being explored. [...]

Chocolatey: A package manager for Windows

February 26, 2013February 16, 2016Site Admin Comment

I have worked my entire career as a Unix/Linux systems administrator, so it was a challenge when I started working at Cybera and was placed on the Virtual Computing Lab (VCL) project. [...]

Building a Digital University: CANHEIT 2012

June 11, 2012January 19, 2016 Comment

‘Building the Digital University’ is the theme of the 10th annual Canadian Higher Education Information Technology Conference, being held this week in Saskatoon, [...]