Microsoft Windows Environment

The BYU Office of Research Computing (ORC) provides computing resources to support campus research. While most services use Linux-based systems, a Microsoft Windows virtual environment is available for researchers, faculty, staff, and students who require Windows-based tools for compliance or software compatibility.

Purpose

The ORC supports Microsoft Windows primarily to host Microsoft Office and other Windows-based applications in compliance-approved environments. This service is designed for users who:

• Require Microsoft Office or other Windows-only software for compliance reasons.
• Require a compliant or isolated environment for regulated data (e.g. ITAR, CUI).
• Need to run Windows applications in a high-performance computing (HPC) context involving many cores or large memory requirements.

In general, if a Linux version of the required software is available and meets research or compliance needs, it should be used instead of the Windows version. The Windows environment is intended only for cases where a Linux alternative is not feasible.

If you fall into any of these categories, please open a support ticket or email rcsupport@byu.edu to discuss your needs and request access.

Access and Permissions

Access to the Windows environment requires additional account approval. Once approved, users can connect through Open OnDemand or via Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) using the dedicated proxy software.

The Windows desktops and applications use only ORC-managed storage. Data is stored on standard ORC storage systems, as described in the ORC Storage documentation.

Security and Internet Access

The ORC Windows Desktop environment runs in a completely isolated network:

• No access is permitted to any on- or off-campus internet resources.
• Network exceptions may be granted for license servers.
• Users cannot install personal software or browse the internet from these desktops.

Workflow Note: To upload or download files from the Windows environment, users must use a supported transfer method such as a Linux desktop, Globus, SFTP, or other ORC-provided mechanisms. Files must first be moved into ORC storage before they can be accessed from the Windows Desktop. Once stored within ORC-managed storage, the Windows environment can fully interact with them.

Licensing

Licenses for Windows desktops within ORC are limited and allocated based on the number of concurrent users. If you anticipate a large-scale need or extended use, please note this when submitting your support ticket so that ORC staff can evaluate licensing availability.

Technology

The ORC Windows environment is built on the 7lbd project, an internally developed platform at BYU designed to integrate Microsoft Windows within the Open OnDemand framework.

Support

For assistance, documentation, or to request access:

• Visit the ORC support portal or email rcsupport@byu.edu to open a ticket describing your requirements.
• ORC staff will help determine the best configuration for your Windows-based computing needs.