Audience
Students, faculty, and staff
Question
Where should documents be saved while working on a Central Piedmont Cloud Desktop to ensure files are backed up and accessible for later use?
Answer
Central Piedmont Cloud Desktops are non-persistent, meaning that after a user logs off, the virtual computer is reset to its original template. Only specific file locations are backed up before this reset. Files saved outside these locations will be permanently lost.
In general, the user profile is backed up. This includes the Documents, Downloads, and Desktop folders, along with shortcut icons created and any custom desktop background set by the user. Preferences for certain applications may also be included in the backup.
These backed-up file locations are pinned to the Quick Access section in File Explorer by default. These folders can also be accessed by expanding My Computer.
Profile backups are specific to the Cloud Desktop where they were created and do not transfer between different Cloud Desktops.
Note: Faculty and staff should keep in mind that their Documents folder is redirected to U-Drive network storage and is excluded from Cloud Desktop profile backups.
If the internet connection is lost during a Cloud Desktop session, the session enters a "disconnected" state. If the user reconnects before the session times out, the previous session will resume. If a session remains in this disconnected state for too long, it will be automatically logged out, triggering the backup process.
Backup Retention Period
Profile backups are retained for a defined period following the last time the Cloud Desktop was accessed. The retention period resets each time the Cloud Desktop is used.
- Students: Profile backups are retained for 90 days from the last use of the Cloud Desktop.
- Faculty and staff: Profile backups are retained for 365 days from the last use of the Cloud Desktop.
For assistance with recovering files from a profile backup (such as in cases where access to a Cloud Desktop is no longer available), please submit a service request to ITS: Request Form - Cloud Desktop Support