+++
title = "c. Connect to Remote Desktop Session"
date = 2019-01-24T09:05:54Z
weight = 180
tags = ["HPC", "NICE", "Visualization", "Remote Desktop", "Web Browser", "Native Client"]
+++

In this section, you connect to your DCV Remote Desktop Session using a web browser client or native NICE DCV Client.

#### Connect using a Web Browser 
{{% notice info %}}
When you connect make sure you use the https protocol to ensure a secure connection.
{{% /notice %}}

1. Make sure you are using a supported [web browser](https://docs.aws.amazon.com/dcv/latest/adminguide/what-is-dcv.html#what-is-dcv-requirements-client)
2. Use the secure URL, NICE DCV server **Public IP address** or **Public DNS Name**, and correct port (**8443**) to connect.
3. Use the following command to list running instances and display their names, type, private IP address, **Public IP address** and **Public DNS Name**. Here, the information is filtered to only keep certain details (hence the complex command). The same information is displayed on the [EC2 Dashboard](https://console.aws.amazon.com/ec2).
```bash
aws ec2 describe-instances --query 'Reservations[*].Instances[*].[Tags[?Key==`Name`]| [0].Value,InstanceType, PrivateIpAddress, PublicIpAddress, PublicDnsName]' --filters Name=instance-state-name,Values=running --output table  

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
|                                                DescribeInstances                                                |
+---------------+--------------+----------------+-----------------+-----------------------------------------------+
|  NICE DCV DEMO|  g4dn.xlarge |  172.31.7.241  |  3.239.217.95   |  ec2-3-239-217-95.compute-1.amazonaws.com     |
+---------------+--------------+----------------+-----------------+-----------------------------------------------+
```
`3.239.217.95` is the **Public IP address**. `ec2-3-239-217-95.compute-1.amazonaws.com` is the **Public DNS name**.

4. Open your web browser and enter the NICE DCV server URL in the following format:   https://PublicDNSname:port/#mysession

   We will use the Public DNS name and connect over port 8443 as setup while creating the NICE DCV server instance. 

```bash
##Remember to use your OWN PublicDNS name
https://ec2-3.239.217.95.compute-1.amazonaws.com:8443/#dcvdemo
```

5. Enter your user name and password that you setup for the NICE DCV Server instance and choose Login.

6. Open a Terminal and run a sample visual application **dcvgltest** from the NICE DCV package

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</video>
   
#### Connect using NICE DCV Client

1. Download and install the [DCV Client](https://download.nice-dcv.com/) 

2. Use the **Public IP address** or **Public DNS Name**, and correct port (**8443**) to connect

3. You can obstain the Public IP address or Public DNS Name for the NICE DCV Server instance either from the **EC2 Dashboard** or using the **aws cli** command used above

4. Open the DCV Client and connect. In the below example, we connect using the Public IP address

![DCV Connect](/images/nice-dcv/Connect-DCV-Client.png)

5. Enter your user name and password that you setup for the NICE DCV Server instance and choose Login

![DCV Connect](/images/nice-dcv/Connect-DCV-Client-Username.png)
 

6. Login and stream your graphics application. 

You can run a DCV Test GL application, Go to **Applications** → **Other** → **DCV GL Test Application**
![DCV Connect](/images/nice-dcv/Connect-DCV-StartGL.png)

You should see this:
![DCV Connect](/images/nice-dcv/Connect-DCV-ViewGL.png)