Our VMWare system staffdesktop.gre.ac.uk was decommissioned on Tuesday 16 July, and has been replaced with Microsoft Azure Virtual Desktop (AVD).
How to connect to Microsoft Azure Virtual Desktop (AVD)
The instructions below will guide you through the download (where applicable) and installation of our remote desktop client software.
Desktop client (recommended)
If you have an Intune laptop, the client should already be installed. If so, skip to step 4. If not it can be installed from the Company Portal app via your start menu.
- In the Company Portal app, select the ‘Apps’ tab on the left.
- Scroll down to an item called ‘Windows App’ and click on it.
- Click the ‘Install’ button.
- When installation is complete, open ‘Windows App’ from your start menu.
- On first launch you will be shown an introduction, after which you may need to log in. If so, follow the prompts, and enter your university email address (username@gre.ac.uk) as your username.
- You will see an icon for Staff Desktop with a button to ‘Connect’ – click this and the desktop will load.
On other devices:
- Follow the instructions here to install, run and log into the ‘’鈥�(available for Windows, MacOS, iOS/iPadOS, Android/ChromeOS and Meta Quest).
- Once logged in, you will see an icon for Staff Desktop with a button to ‘Connect’ – click this and the desktop will load.
Please note the following:
- It will take a while for your OneDrive content to sync and be available (this only happens the first time you login to AVD).
- As a project to decommission the G: and U: drives is in progress, AVD is configured to use the Desktop folder in OneDrive for desktop shortcuts, rather than the G:\Desktop folder. You can still browse to G:\Desktop from AVD but we advise you to move any files on your G: drive to OneDrive as soon as possible as the G: drive will be switched off in the near future.
- Remember to sign out of your session when you have finished.
Web browser
- Browse to
- Select / enter your university username (username@gre.ac.uk) and password and approve via Multi-Factor Authentication if asked to do so.
- You will see an icon for Staff Desktop – click this and the desktop will load.
Please note the following:
- It will take a while for your OneDrive content to sync and be available (this only happens the first time you login to AVD).
- As a project to decommission the G: and U: drives is in progress, AVD is configured to use the Desktop folder in OneDrive for desktop shortcuts, rather than the G:\Desktop folder. You can still browse to G:\Desktop from AVD but we advise you to move any files on your G: drive to OneDrive as soon as possible as the G: drive will be switched off in the near future.
- Remember to sign out of your session when you have finished.
Rules and Regulations
Regulations: Before connecting to the network, you should familiarise yourself with the regulations for computing use at the 樱花影视. You are reminded that when using the 樱花影视 computing facilities you are bound by the Regulations for the Use of Computing Facilities at the 樱花影视. While using the service you are also bound to the JANET Acceptable Use Policy.
Please refer to our full list of policies.
Be sure to save your work regularly, and to log off when you have finish working.
If you have any questions, comments or concerns regarding the process outlined above, please contact the IT Service Desk (itservicedesk@gre.ac.uk) via email with a subject title of "Remote Desktop".
MFA Everywhere
You will be required to enter your usual university credentials and an additional code or approval via the university Multi-Factor Authentication system.
Please ensure that your have your MFA approval method configured and readily available before logging in. MFA is time sensitive and each code or approval lasts for only 30 seconds.