Using Winstat from an iPad

Winstat is the SSCC's Windows Terminal Server farm. For basic information about Winstat, see Using Winstat or Using Winstat (For Members in the School of Education).

The Apple iPad can connect to Winstat using a free app called the Citrix Receiver. You can download it from the Apple App store by clicking here. (Note: the previous link is subject to change at Apple’s discretion. If it does not work, search the Apple App Store for “Citrix Receiver” from your iPad and let us know so we can update the link.) Please note that the Citrix Receiver will not work on iPhones or iPod Touches, only iPads.

Once the app is installed, open Safari and go to the Winstat web interface:

You may find it convenient to put an icon on your home screen that will take you to the Winstat web interface directly: to do so, press the button just to the left of Safari address bar and select Add to Home Screen. Log in using either your SSCC username and password or your SoE username and password. If the web interface tells you that you need to install a client, click on Already Installed. Then click on the Winstat icon to connect to it.

When you’re finished using Winstat, be sure to log out by clicking the Windows logo button and then Log Off. This is especially important on the iPad, because if your session stays open it may prevent you from connecting in the future.

Guidelines for Using Winstat

There are a few guidelines you should follow when using Winstat:

  1. Do not attempt to install your own software on the server. Winstat is not the same as a regular Windows PC, and sometimes software which works fine on a PC causes problems on Winstat. This includes the "codebook" programs that come with some data sets--you'll need to find another place to install and run them.
  2. Save all your files on network drives like U:. Do not save files on your Windows desktop, in My Documents, or anywhere on the C: drive. Files saved in the these locations may or may not be available the next time you log into Winstat. You can put shortcuts on your desktop for easy access to files if you wish.
  3. When you're done using Winstat, log off. Do not just close the Citrix Receiver. If you do, your session remains active, hoping you'll reconnect. Thus it will continue to use resources on the server until your session is closed automatically three hours later. An iPad may not be able to reconnect to the disconnected session, leaving you unable to log in to Winstat at all until it closes.

Statistical Computing on Winstat

Winstat has a wide variety of statistical software installed: Stata, SAS, SPSS, NVivo and many others. For a complete list, see our software page. This makes Winstat a great place to do research, though those looking to do major number crunching should keep in mind such programs generally run faster on our Linux servers. If you'll be running long jobs, you should be aware that Winstat sessions are disconnected after 24 hours without input from the user, and disconnected sessions are terminated after three hours. Keep your session active until your job is done.

Last Revised: 7/8/2011