This article provides instructions for students, faculty, and staff on how to install and work with Virtual Lab in Citrix environment.
Announcement
Effective May 11, 2026, if you are off campus or not connected to the campus network (wired, eduroam, or UNC-PSK), you must connect to the Cisco Secure Client (VPN) before accessing Virtual Lab in Citrix Workspace.
This applies to all devices and both web browser and Citrix Workspace Client access methods.
NOTE - If you are using the applications hosted in the Azure Virtual Desktop (AVD) side of Virtual Lab, you can access them without using the VPN.
Virtual Lab is a system that lets you use your laptop or mobile device to access programs normally found only in computer labs and libraries. Through Virtual Lab you can work with Stata, SPSS, SAS, and dozens of other applications anywhere, anytime, as long as you have an Internet connection. All programs available through Virtual Lab are free to use.
In This Article:
- Install Virtual Lab
- Work with Virtual Lab
Windows
Follow these instructions to install Citrix Workspace on the devices running Microsoft Windows. Citrix Workspace is required to deliver the application to your computer.
Note: During the installation you may be asked if you want to add an account. Adding an account lets you access Virtual Lab applications directly through Citrix Workspace without going through a browser. You will then be prompted to enter and email/server address. Enter virtuallab.unc.edu as the server address. When you are asked to log in, use your onyen@ad.unc.edu as the username and your onyen password for the password. Adding an account during this step is not required, you can still go through a web browser to get to virtual lab. Setting up the account in Citrix can be helpful if you are having issues using Virtual Lab through a web browser. Steps for using Virtual Lab via a web browser are below.
- If you are off campus or not using the campus network (wired, eduroam, UNC-PSK), connect to the Cisco Secure Client (VPN).
- In your browser, navigate to Virtual Lab.
- Log on with Onyen@ad.unc.edu along with your Onyen password.
- Authenticate with MS 2-Step authentication
- On the security message that displays, click Accept.
If this is the first time you have used Virtual Lab and you do not have the Citrix Workspace installed, you see a window titled, Welcome to Citrix Receiver.
- Click Detect Receiver.
- The installation program checks to see if the Workspace app is on your computer.
- If it has been installed, the installation program displays a window that lets you launch Virtual Lab, and you can skip the rest of these steps.
- If it is not installed, you see an option to download it.
- Check the box to agree to the Citrix license agreement and click Download
- When the download completes, open the downloaded installer and click through the prompts
- When you finish installing, go back to the browser and click Continue to confirm that the Citrix Workspace installation is complete.
Result: The installation is complete, the program should take you to the Virtual Lab home screen.
If you see the following security warning when launching an app in the Virtual Lab, click Permit all access.
macOS
Follow these instructions to install or upgrade Citrix Workspace on devices running macOS. Citrix Workspace is required to deliver the application to your computer.
Note: During the installation you may be asked if you want to add an account. Adding an account lets you access Virtual Lab applications directly through Citrix Workspace without going through a browser. If you choose to do this, when you are asked to enter a work or school email or server address, enter virtuallab.unc.edu. When you are asked to log in, use your Onyen as the username and your onyen password for the password. Adding an account during this step is not required, you can still go through a web browser to get to virtual lab. Setting up the account in Citrix can be helpful if you are having issues using Virtual Lab through a web browser. Steps for using Virtual Lab via a web browser are below.
- If you are off campus or not using the campus network (wired, eduroam, UNC-PSK), connect to the Cisco Secure Client (VPN).
- In your browser, navigate to Virtual Lab.
Note: Each browser has its own set of dialog boxes and instructions. Follow the instructions displayed on your screen that are specific to the browser you are running. The instructions below are for installing the plug-in.
- Log on with Onyen@ad.unc.edu along with your Onyen password.
- Authenticate with MS 2-Step authentication.
- On the security message that displays, click Accept.
The installation program verifies which version of Citrix Workspace you have. If you have the most current version of the Citrix Workspace, you are directed to the Virtual Lab Logon box. Skip the rest of these steps. If you don't have the latest version of Citrix Workspace, the installation program displays a Welcome to Citrix Receiver page.
- Click Detect Receiver.
If you don't have Receiver on your computer, the installation program shows a message asking you to download it.
- Click the checkbox to agree with the Citrix license agreement and then click Download to download the software
- Once the Workspace app is downloaded, click Install Citrix Workspace.
- Click through the messages to complete installation. If you're asked to create an account:
- Use this address for the account info: virtuallab.unc.edu
- Use your Onyen and password for the user ID and password.
Result: The installation is complete. Once the software is installed, you can go to the website and launch applications or open the citrix app directly and add your account (see note at top).
iOS (iPhone, iPad)
Follow these instructions to install or upgrade Citrix Workspace on an iOS device. Citrix Workspace is required to deliver the application to your device.
- Tap on the App Store icon on your device to bring up the Apple application store.
- Seach for Citrix Workspace and then download the app.
- Once the app has finished installing, open the Citrix Workspace app
- Tap the Get Started button
- Type
virtuallab.unc.edu in the Address box to create a New Account
- Tap Continue to verify the account
- Once the account has been verified, log on
- Tap Sign in.
- Authenticate with MS Authenticator and your onyen credentials
Result: The installation is complete. You should be able to browse the available Apps in Virtual Lab.
Android
Follow these instructions to install Citrix Workspace on an Android device. Citrix Workspace is required to deliver the application to your device.
- Tap the Play Store icon on your device.
- Search for and install the Citrix Workspace app
- When the installation has completed, open the Workspace app to go to the Citrix Workspace welcome page.
- Tap the Get Started button.
- Type
virtuallab.unc.edu in the Server box, and tap Continue.
Note: If you see an error message, check to make sure that you are connected to the internet. Citrix needs to connect to verify the server.
- Tap Log on.
- Authenticate with MS Authenticator and your onyen credentials
Result: The installation is complete. You should now be able to browse the available Apps in Virtual Lab.
On the Home page in the Workspace app, tap the menu icon in the top left and tap Apps to see a list of the Virtual Lab applications. Use the star icon for the app to add the app to your favorites so you can easily get to them from the home screen.
Work with Virtual Lab
Available Applications
- Access
- Alteryx Designer - 75 licenses (must request access)
- ChemDraw Professional
- Connexion Client
- Crystal Ball - 150 Licenses
- Ecopath with Ecosim
- ENVI
- Epi Info™ 7_2
- Excel
- JMP Pro 16
- Mathcad Prime
- Mathematica
- MATLAB R2025b
- MestReNova Lite
- Mplus 9 – 25 Licenses
- Multisim - 15 licenses
- Publisher
- R x64
- RStudio
- SAS 94 English
- SAS Enterprise Guide
- SPSS Statistics 30 – 150 Licenses
- StataSE 19 64-bit – 220 Licenses
- Tableau Public
- Utiliboard - 15 licenses
- Word
- WordPad
Saving and opening Files in Virtual Lab
Virtual Lab’s applications are hosted on the ITS servers, so when you open a file or choose Save As in an application, the default location to save the file is on the server. If you save the file there, you won't be able to access it again.
The key to saving files in Virtual Lab is to always choose the drive you want to save on, whether that is your local hard drive, a network hard drive, a flash drive, or your H: drive. Here are some tips for saving files successfully:
- When you're opening or saving files and you choose the drive you want to save on, don't go to My Documents or Libraries. Instead, go to Computer (the icon on the left). From Computer, you can see a number of drives.
- The most reliable way to navigate is by drive letter. For example, to access the hard drive on your workstation, choose “Local Disc (C:).” Your network drives and any other drives, such as flash drives, will be assigned letters (such as A: and B:) as well.
- When you attempt to access your local drive, you'll see a security message asking what access to grant the program. Choose "Permit all access" so you can open files from and save files to your local hard drive.
- Most of the folders used to save files are located in C:\Users, including Documents, Downloads, and the Desktop.
- Use the same file path to find your local files you want to open in a virtual lab application.
Printing Files in Virtual Lab
Your virtual session automatically detects the printers available to you. In most programs, you can choose File -> Print and see Carolina Print Hub as an option. Some programs also let you save or print to other formats, including XPS and PDF. If you have a printer hooked up to your computer, you'll see it as an option as well.
Setting up OneDrive in Virtual Lab
You can set up your OneDrive and connect it to Virtual Lab servers.
The OneDrive connection to Virtual Lab servers lasts only for the duration of your session. Once you log off and end your session, you will need to set up OneDrive again for it to appear in Virtual Lab.
- Launch the Virtual Lab app with which you would like to use OneDrive.
- Once the app has fully launched, go back to Virtual Lab and launch the “OneDrive” tile.
- Enter in your ONYEN@ad.unc.edu when the setup window asks for your email address.
- Log into the UNC branded page with your ONYEN and password and perform two-step verification if necessary.
- Once the OneDrive setup window has finished, return to your original app.
Result: The setup is complete and you should see your OneDrive in File Explorer or when browsing inside an app.