VA staff who use a virtual desktop can now connect directly without the need to access CAG or VPN first. This is initially only available for Windows-based, VA-issued GFE and personally-owned Windows 10 or Windows 11 devices. A MacOS pilot is currently underway.
Remote Desktop Client Installation
Personal Device Users
Note: A MacOS solution is currently unavailable, but it is coming. The instructions below will work if you use Parallels Desktop and have a Windows (10 or 11) image.
-
Download the 64-bit Windows Desktop client (MSRDC) application installer (this is intended Windows 10).
-
When prompted for installation action choose “Open”, which will open and run the installer.
Install the Client Application
-
When the Remote Desktop Setup welcome screen opens, click Next to continue.
-
On the End-User License Agreement screen, mark the checkbox I accept the terms of the License Agreement, then click Next.
-
On the Installation Scope screen, accept the default selection of Install just for you, then click Install.
-
On the Completed the Remote Desktop Setup Wizard screen, click Finish to complete the installation and begin configuring the client.
-
-
VA Government Device (GFE) Users
- Save all work and close all programs.
- Search for Software Center in the Windows search bar.
- Click Software Center to open.
- Any available programs will be listed in the Applications section of the Software Center window. You can also use the search bar in the top right to search for a specific application.
- Select the “National Available – Remote Desktop” software as shown below.
- Click Install. If the software requires a reboot, the system may automatically reboot after the installation has completed.
Launch and Configure the Remote Desktop App
- From the Start Menu, launch the Remote Desktop App
- On the Let’s get started screen, click Subscribe.
- The “Sign in” window should appear.
- Insert your PIV card into the PIV reader attached to your PC.
- Within the “Sign in” window, enter your VA email address and click “Next”.
- When the “prod.adfs.federation.va.gov” window appears, click on “Sign in using an X.509 certificate”.
- Choose your PIV Authentication certificate. Click OK.
- You should be greeted with the 1VA Main desktop to connect to. This icon is for both GFE and BYOD (personal) devices. Double click the icon to launch your VA Azure Virtual Desktop Session.
- When prompted to log in:
- Select “Sign in using an X.509 Certificate”
- Select your VA PIV Authentication Certificate
- Click OK (Note: The ADFS pin verification may take a few seconds)
- Enter your pin and click OK
- You are now connected to the VA Windows Virtual Desktop Environment!
- When your work is complete, please log off like a normal Windows PC.
- Click the Start Button
- Click the person icon (Your name should be next to it)
- Click Sign out
Subsequent Connections
To reconnect:
- Open the “Remote Desktop” application and select the VA Host pool icon you want to reconnect to. (The MAIN VA AVD icon should appear for all users)
- Click on your remote application icon and follow step 10 above.
Screen Lock Reconnection
To reconnect:
- At the Login Screen click on the PIN Icon shown below (Note: The Smartcard is not default auth method on screen unlock)
- Once the system changes to prompting for PIN, Enter your VA PIV Pin into the sign on screen
- Your prior AVD Session will continue from where you left off
- If for some reason the PIN ICON does not appear – click on the “Sign In” options hyperlink