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Server Based Computing FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)

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The Department of Technology Services presents the following questions and responses to help the Service Catalog users/customers learn how to use the Service Catalog to evaluate, select and utilize DTS services and products.

DTS - SBCS Frequently Asked Questions



  • How do I Access and Navigate the SBCS Environment?

    Note: The following procedure must be repeated, from any PC that you use to access the SBC environment (ex work, home, laptop etc). Users will only need to perform this procedure once per device.

    • Trust the Web Site
    • Launch your PC's local Internet Browser
    • Go to Tools ->Internet Options ->Security Tab ->
    • Select the Trusted Sites icon by clicking it once
    • The Trusted Sites Green Circle with a Check will appear opposite the Sites button
    • Click the Trusted Sites Button
    • The Trusted Sites Window will appear.
    • Type https://access.ca.gov in the Add this Web site to the Zone box ->
    • Click the Add button
    • The address https://access.ca.gov should appear in the Web Sites box
    • Click OK to close the Trusted Sites window
    • Click OK to close the Internet Options window
    internet options

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  • Check your IE settings:

    SBCS Client Configuration: Internet Explorer Settings

    Clients who lock down their workstations/laptops for security purposes should confirm that certain IE settings are enabled for Trusted Sites.

    1. Confirm that https:\\access.ca.gov is a trusted site
      Go to IE Tools -> Internet Options -> Security Tab -> Trusted Sites -> Sites
      Add the site if is not listed. (Illustrated above)
    2. Privacy Settings should be set at Medium to accept cookies from trusted sites.
      Privacy Settings
    3. If your ISO wants it set higher go to Sites and set the Per Site Privacy Actions.
      Per Site Privacy

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    4. Pop-Up Blocker Settings

      • -> Privacy Tab Go to Pop-up Blocker Settings button
      • Add https:\\access.ca.gov to Pop-up Blocker as an Excepted/Allowed site.
      • The Pop-up Blocker Filter should be set to Low: allow Pop-ups from secure sites.
      Pop Up Blocker Settings

    5. IE Advanced Settings

      • Go to IE Tools -> Internet Options -> Advanced Tab -> Trusted Sites -> Sites
      • Check your IE settings and note the differences.
      Internet Settings screen 1 Internet Settings screen 2
      Internet Settings screen 3 Internet Settings screen 4
      This set of IE Choices is the most critical to launching applications in SBCS.
      Internet Settings screen 5
    6. FIREWALLS
      There are too many firewalls to address each ones configuration.
      Contact you local LAN administrator for assistance.

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  • Log On to the DTS Server Based Computing Environment

    https:\\access.ca.gov

    • User ID = Two to Four Character Billing Code followed by your first and last name
      Eg: (dtsJohnSmith)
    • Password = 8 characters or more, Mixed case, at lease one special character or number.
    • Passwords change every 90 days and must be unique (not a variation of a previous password or your user ID).
    • SafeWord Token Code = Pressing the button will display a six digit alpha-numeric code.
      The code will stay on the screen for 2 minutes.
    Logon to SBCS Environment

    Log on Errors:

    • If you receive an Error "Access Denied" please check your Password.
    • If you receive the Error "Access Denied SafeWord Token Authentication Failed."
    • Please confirm that your User ID is correct; generate another code on your token and log on again.
    • If you still receive an Error, Please call the DTS Service Desk at 916-464-4311 to submit a ticket a member of the SBCS Technical Team will respond ASAP.

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  • SBCS First logon (what can you expect to see)

    • At first logon the system will check your current configuration.
    • If the system you are logging on from does not have the Citrix Web Client users will see the following Citrix License Agreement dialogue box.
    • Note: you will require the ability to install the ICA web app: about 80k in size.
    License Agreement
    • Click YES to accept the agreement.
    • At this point you are still looking at a webpage; albeit your personal web page.
    Access Web Screen

    Note: Do not close this browser window as it is your avenue to your applications during your session.

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  • Navigating in SBCS

    Launching an Application

    The first time you use the digital certificate, is when you launch an application located in the Left side "Applications" pane. A virtual session will be initialized for you on the least utilized Citrix Presentation server. Virtual Print queues will be created, drives mapped and your application preferences will be downloaded. It takes about 20 seconds on average for this to virtual environment to be initialized.

    Citrix Metaframe

    Any other applications launch in about 5 seconds because they will be launched by the same server your virtual environment is already on.

    • Launch Explore Home Drive. (Windows Explorer)
    • Citrix File Security Message
    • The file security message should only come up the first time you log into the Citrix servers. Please choose the following at the prompt and click OK.
    Citrix Client File Security

    Note: If the file security message continues to pop up please as your Local administrator to provide "read /write" access to the c:\windows\WEBICA.ini file on your Local PC.

    Webica.ini file

    DemoUser99; Launched Explore Home Drive

    The client can see the SBCS file server drives GROUP, HOME and Public.

    • Home = the clients home drive. No other users have access to this storage area.
    • Group = the client has access to folders and files that their organization has deemed appropriate.
    • Public = All clients in the organization have access to all folders and files in this storage area.
    • SBCS will map the local PC drives for you. They are assigned different drive letters.
    • Eg. The PC "C" drive is assigned as the "V" drive from inside your session.

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  • SBCS Best Practices:

    Transfer all user data from your client C drive to your SBCS Home drive.

    Why? Three reasons:

    1. The SBCS drives are backed up at 1 AM each night. You can submit a ticket to recover a lost document from the previous day.
    2. State ISO requires all Data on any portable device be encrypted.
    3. Most importantly if all your data is stored in SBCS, it is accessible from any device that has access to the internet. If your Laptop is stolen or quits working you haven't lost any data.
      4. Demouser 99 Auto recovery settings

      Add the "AutoRecovery" and "E-Mail" folders to your Home "H" drive.
      (They will be used by your virtual applications to optimize the environment.)

      IMPORTANT NOTE: to save preferences click File and Exit. The Red X in the upper right hand corner will exit without saving preferences for that application.

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  • SBCS Best Practices Outlook 2003

    Define the path Outlook will use to "Archive" your e-mail.

    Why? Three reasons:

    1. The SBCS drives are backed up at 1 AM each night. You can submit a ticket to recover a lost document from the previous day.
    2. Outlook defaults to the "c" drive however since all sessions are on servers users don't have access to write to the server "C" drive.
    3. If you leave the default path none of your files will be archived.

    Reason: because you have a virtual session on the server users do not have rights to save\archive files to the "C" drive on the server.

    Best Practices Outlook

    IMPORTANT NOTE: to save preferences click File and Exit. The Red X in the upper right hand corner will exit without saving preferences for that application.

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  • SBCS Best Practices Word 2003

    Define the path Word uses for the Auto Recover function and general default location for saved files.

    Why?

    1. If you leave the default path the Auto Recover function in Word will not work correctly.

    Reason: Auto Recover defaults to save temp files on the "C" drive.

    You have a virtual session on the server; users do not have rights to save\archive files to the "C" drive on the server

    At the WORD toolbar Go To Tools ->Options

    Go To the File Locations Tab.

    Highlight Documents in the File Types section (first choice) Click the Modify button.

    Best Practices Word Option Settings
    Save Location Best Practices Word

    Choose the "H" drive, My Documents and click OK

    IMPORTANT NOTE: to save preferences click File and Exit. The Red X in the upper right hand corner will exit without saving preferences for that application.

    • At the WORD toolbar Go To Tools ->Options Go To the File Locations Tab.
    • Highlight Auto Recover Files in the File Types section
    • Click the Modify button
    • Choose the "H" drive AutoRecovery folder and Click OK
    • When complete your File Locations tab should look like this:
    Best Practices Word Option H drive Settings

    By default Save Auto Recover is set for every 10 minutes.

    Best Practices Word Option Auto Recover Settings

    IMPORTANT NOTE: to save preferences click File and Exit. The Red X in the upper right hand corner will exit without saving preferences for that application.

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  • SBCS Best Practices Excel 2003

    At the Excel toolbar Go To Tools ->Options Go To the Save Tab

    Highlight Auto Recover Files in the File Types section
    In Excel 2003 you must type in the Auto Recover path manually.
    When complete your File Locations tab should look like this:

    Best Practices Excel Option Settings

    IMPORTANT NOTE: to save preferences click File and Exit. The Red X in the upper right hand corner will exit without saving preferences for that application

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  • SBCS Best Practices PowerPoint 2003

    At the PowerPoint toolbar Go To Tools->Options -> Save Tab.

    In PowerPoint 2003 you must type in the Default file location path manually.
    When complete your File Locations tab should look like this:

    Best Practices Power Point Option Settings

    IMPORTANT NOTE: to save preferences click File and Exit. The Red X in the upper right hand corner will exit without saving preferences for that application

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  • SBCS Best Practices Access 2003

    At the Access toolbar Go To Tools->Options

    Verify that the Default Database folder points to your Home Drive.
    See below

    Best Practices Access Pption Settings

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  • SBCS Best Practices Outlook 2003

    How to Insert a file from my PC into an E-mail in SBCS

    Open Explore Home drive -> Go to Client Drive -> Find the file you wish to insert -> Copy the file to your Home drive in SBCS.

    client drive

    Navigate to SBCS Outlook and click Insert (the paper clip next to send)
    Browse to the file on your Home drive and click insert, fill in recipient address and send normally.

    How to Insert a file from my PC into an E-mail in SBCS

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  • SBCS Best Practices: Log Out of SBCS

    • Close all applications
    • Click Logout The browser will return to the Home Page.
    • The browser will return to the Home Page.
    access screen log off access screen

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