How to access and utilize KASM

Hello all,

In this short guide we will go over how to access and use KASM!

INTRODUCTION:

   Firstly let's touch on what KASM actually is and what it does. KASM is a container-based streaming application that operates by using Docker to spin up containers to users via a web browser. These containers are images of our VM's(Virtual Machines) such as VDI's(Virtual Desktop Infrastructure) primarily Windows based or even Linux machines as well. Usually in order to access these assets you would have to connect to a VPN and use a application such as vSphere or Horizon View from VMware to use these assets. However by using KASM we can simplify the process by connecting to these machines via RDP,VNC, or SSH through a container. Another plus to using KASM is when you are done the container will then destroy itself becoming untraceable but don't worry all changes you make on the machine will save on the machine itself!

PRE-requisites:

• AD (Active Directory Username and Password
• Web Browser (preferably Chrome)

* If you do not know or aren't sure about your AD Username and Password please put a ticket in at https://ractsol.freshdesk.com and if you need to expedite the ticket please feel free to reach out to me at aminnich@ractsol.com * 

Instructions:

•  Access URL https://ractsol.work and log in using Active Directory credentials i.e. Username:joeshmoe@ractsol.work password:iloveractsol (NOTE: this is not an actual user and password) if the URL is not working try https://192.168.10.112
• After logging into KASM you should see the "Workspaces" screen this is where you will pick the environment you need to access i.e. "ract-VDI Pool"(this pool is where all of the RACTSOL VDI machines are located). The screen should appear as follows...
• Once you have chosen the environment you would like to access left click the selected environment and a launch window will appear. From here you can ether choose to use your current tab, new tab, and new window personally I choose new tab but it's dealers choice.
• After selecting your preference for the launch of the session a login screen will appear. You will now login with the credentials you require for the environment you are accessing. NOTE: For all Windows environments on KASM you will use your AD credentials which will be the same username and password you used to sign into KASM itself the only thing you will remove from your username is @ractsol.work as seen in the screenshot above! For all other systems please reach out to me at aminnich@ractsol.com for your credentials. 
• Lastly, now that we have successfully logged into the machine that we need you are free to do what you came here for! However there are some other options that we need to address. On the left hand side you will notice a small box with an arrow if you left click this a control panel will pop out on the screen. In the control panel we have a few options we can utilize such as clipboard, download(only usable from the download folder on the machine), upload which you can drag and drop files into the system, advanced settings, and our leave options. NOTE: Download, upload, and clipboard may not work as they are new and may not work. 

Leaving Workspaces and deleting Sessions:

NOTE: Please sign out of your account before you end the session by clicking the windows icon > your account > "sign out"

• In order to leave and delete your session left click the arrow we talked about previously to access the "Control Panel". Once you are in the control panel you have a few options to leave and return to the main screen click "Leave this session" after clicking this option you will return to the main screen in KASM. After leaving a session once in you are at the main screen you will see your session still active on the left hand side of your window click the three dots and click "delete".  
• If you wish to log out and delete the session in one click which I recommend then simply click "Delete Session" this will automatically sign you out, delete the session, and bring you back to the main page. NOTE: If you used the "new tab" option when launching the session might still appear on the other screen as open please refresh the page and it will disappear. 
• Lastly, The logout option will do everything the two previous options do but will also sign you out of KASM completely and return you to the KASM login screen. 

Additional Information: 

• Kasm will monitor and log how much time the user has been active and working
  
• All changes you make on the machine including saving documents will not be reverted after deleting a session. If you have saved information that has disappeared please notify me at aminnich@ractsol.com
• Currently per each VDI we have in the pool (4) only one user will be able to sign in and use that machine. If all machines are being used in the pool upon signing in there will be a message which will state "No resources are available to create the requested Kasm. Please try again later or contact an Administrator". NOTE: If the the error message persists please reach out to me and I will check if there are users taking up the resources however this message will also appear if something is not currently working correctly. 

* If there are not enough VDI's to go around please reach out to me so I can deploy more machines to that pool! * 

Thank you for reading this, please let me know if you have any questions and/or concerns!

-Alex Minnich