Madrona Frequently Asked Questions

If you encounter any difficulties with Madrona or have other urgent questions, please e-mail sefsit@uw.edu or call (206) 616-7365.

What is Madrona?

Madrona is a virtual desktop platform, funded through the UW Student Technology Fee (STF), used in SEFS computer labs as well as providing 24/7 remote access. It provides a distinct compute resource for each user with the class and research software used at SEFS.

There are two desktop pools, Students and SEFS Spatial. The Student pool is a standard desktop configuration used for most work. If you are in doubt start with this one. The SEFS Spatial pool has enhanced graphics power for programs like ArcGIS, Google Earth, and others that need higher end graphics to perform.

Who can access Madrona?

Madrona is currently available to students registered for courses in SEFS.  There is also a separate resource pool for staff on an as-needed basis.

How do I connect?

Outside of the computer labs Madrona is accessed through PC’s with the VMware Horizon Client.

Computers issued by SEFS are already configured to connect to Madrona.  Simply look for the VMware Horizon Client in your Windows Start Menu.

If you want to connect using your personal computer, you can either download and install the free VMware Horizon Client (better performance) or use the HTML-based web client.  Both options are readily available by visiting https://madrona.sefs.uw.edu.  To install the full client just click the “Install VMware Horizon Client” button on the left and you’ll be taken to VMware’s site.  Download the client for your platform, Windows, Mac or Linux. Once installed, click the + New Server button, enter madrona.sefs.uw.edu then click Connect.  When prompted, use your UW NetID credentials to login.

You can also access Madrona by mobile app; the VMware Horizon Client is available for iOS and Android.

If you receive a message stating you are “unentitled” or have any other difficulty connecting, please email sefsit@uw.edu or call (206) 616-7365.

Can I access Madrona from off-campus?

Yes.  Madrona can be accessed from any Internet connected network worldwide.  Keep in mind internet connection speed will affect the user experience but not the performance of the virtual computer.

If I go away from my computer or disconnect, how long will I stay logged into Madrona?

If you go away from your computer or close the Madrona client without logging off, your session will remain logged in for two hours. After that it will log you off and any unsaved work will be lost.

How do I manage data on Madrona?

Madrona virtual desktops should not be considered permanent storage, and you should always have backup of your data in a secondary location such as the U drive, UW OneDrive/Google Drive, thumb drive, etc.  To ensure you don’t accidentally lose data, please read and follow the data storage guidelines below: 

• There is a 20GB storage limit per user.
• Only keep active data on Madrona. Delete unnecessary files such as zip archives and other unneeded data.
• Working data should be kept in Documents, Desktop or Downloads.
• All files in the Recycle Bin of your desktop will be deleted when you log out. If you are disconnected from your desktop for two hours, you will automatically be logged out and these files will be deleted at that time.

Additionally, at the end of each quarter, profiles that have not been accessed in three months will be removed from the system. If you have not stored your files as recommended above, they will be lost.

What software is on Madrona?

View the list of software available on Madrona here.

How should I end my Madrona session?

From a PC using the Horizon client: Select Options – Disconnect and Logoff from the top menu. Alternatively, you can right click the Windows Start button and select Sign Out.

From a computer lab: Right click the Windows Start button and select Sign Out.