Frequently Asked Questions

Please find frequently asked questions and answers below. From within your desktop you can also access the help Wiki from the Start Here icon. If you would like further information, don't hesitate to send us an email from our contact page.

System Questions

Q: How long does it take for my organization to be setup?

Q: What is the minimum computer configuration?

Q: What do I install on my local computer?

Q: Where can I use my cloud desktop, and what kind of Internet connection do I need?

Q: How much storage can I use?

Q: Since your desktop and applications are all open source, if I wanted to could I run them all locally at my own site?

Q: What does Cirrus Computing provide in addition to all this free open source software?

Q: Can I work with the applications offline?

Q: Is the Cirrus Computing solution environmentally green?

Q: How do I pay for the service?

Usage Questions

Q: Can I access my Cirrus Computing desktop and local desktop at the same time?

Q: Can I transfer files between my Cirrus Computing desktop and the local computer?

Q: Can I disconnect from my desktop and keep it running in the cloud?

Q: How do I add, archive, and restore desktops?

Q: Are the Office applications compatible with Microsoft?

Q: How do I change my password?

Q: How do I reboot my desktop?

Q: How do I minimize a full screen desktop?

Q: Do you support multiple languages?

Q: How long does it take for my organization to be setup?

It usually takes less than 24 hours to create your organization and email you the first superuser desktop, from which you can then create additional fully configured user desktops immediately with a single click.

Q: What is the minimum computer configuration?

Cirrus Computing desktops are accessible from Windows, Mac, and Linux. They work great on old computers, slow laptops, and netbooks. A smartphone version is coming soon.

Q: What do I install on my local computer?

From the login page you download and double-click install a lightening fast thin-client from NoMachine that communicates your Internet desktop securely across the Internet.

Q: Where can I use my cloud desktop, and what kind of Internet connection do I need?

You can use your encrypted cloud desktop anywhere in the world with a reasonable Internet connection, defined as one that can load the CBC site relatively quickly. Your desktop communications are amazingly bandwidth efficient, using only 100 kbps down and 20 kbps up in typical operation.

Q: How much storage can I use?

Each organization comes with 100 GB for collaboration information and 20 GB of storage for each desktop. More space can be purchased if needed for a modest fee.

Q: Since your desktop and applications are all open source, if I wanted to could I run them all locally at my own site?

Yes, your desktop and all of your applications are the best of free open source software, developed by companies, organizations, and people around the world, and available to everyone at no cost. All our applications use open formats, and you can also download any of your information at any time.

Q: What does Cirrus Computing provide in addition to all this free open source software?

We provide you with the convenience of a professionally managed organization-as-a-service, an integrated organization software solution at a domain of your choice, easy-to-use desktop management functionality, and the safety, security, and mobility of a cloud protected solution.

Q: Can I work with the applications and documents offline?

Because the Cirrus Computing applications are the best of open source, you can download and work locally with them on almost any local computer. For example, you can download LibreOffice and run it on any local machine if you are going to be away from the Internet. You can easily drag-and-drop documents into and out of your desktop using a shared Internet folder.

Q: Is the Cirrus Computing solution environmentally green?

Yes, our solution helps save energy on the server, and the client. Our production servers are designed to be very low-power and so are one of the least energy intensive locations to host your IT, and some are powered by zero-carbon hydroelectric energy. You can also save money on the frequency and amount spent on clients since very little resources are required on the local machine, and instead of buying new computers you can use older less powerful machines and inexpensive netbooks.

Q:How do I pay for my desktops?

Payments can be made by secure online credit card payment and PayPal, with paper invoicing on request.

- Usage -

Q: Can I access my Cirrus Computing desktop and local desktop at the same time?

Yes, your cloud desktop can be just another window on your local machine, so it can be maximized and minimized as you wish. Even when you run your cloud desktop full-screen you can always switch back to the local computer at any time.

Q: Can I transfer files between my Cirrus Computing desktop and the local computer?

Yes, we provide you with easy access to the DropBox.com cloud folder service within your desktop, so that you can transfer files between your Cirrus Computing desktop and local computers simply by dragging them into a shared folder that exists on as many machines as you wish.

Q:Can I disconnect from my desktop and keep it running in the cloud?

Yes, you can disconnect your desktop and keep all your applications and documents running and ready by selecting Start / Logout and then Disconnect, or clicking the X on the top right of your desktop and selecting Disconnect. Then when you log back in any documents you were working on will be immediately open and ready to go.

Q: How do I add, archive, restore additional desktops?

The first desktop in your organization is the SuperUser, and can easily create, archive, and restore desktops from the simple web interface accessed from Start / Applications / Cirrus Computing System Manager. Each new desktop is created with email, groupware, and single-sign-on working, and integration with the rest of your organization automatically pre-configured.

Q: Are the Office applications compatible with Microsoft?

Yes, the global standard LibreOffice suite is read and write compatible with Microsoft Office formats, including docx.

Q: How do I change my password?

You can easily change your password directly within your Cirrus Computing desktop from the menu item Start / Applications / Cirrus Computing System Manager. However, if you have forgotten your password, you can also request a reset link be sent to your external email address from our website Support page.

Q: How do I reboot my desktop?

You can reboot from within your desktop from the menu item Start / Logout, or clicking the X on the top right of your desktop, and selecting Logout. You can also reboot your desktop from the right side of the website Support page.

Q:How do I minimize a full screen desktop?

If you desktop is in full screen mode, you can minimize it on your local computer with the key sequence <ctrl><alt>m.

Q: Do you support multiple languages?

Multi-language capability is built into the Ubuntu desktop and many of the FOSS applications, and we hope to provide offerings in other languages as soon as we can. However currently we only provide formal support for English and French.  Please contact us if you would like another language.