How-to – SINA Workstation S
The new user interface
Using audio devices and cameras
How do I use the loudspeaker and microphone? How do I activate the camera?
Setting up mobile networks and SIM card
Learn how to unlock the SIM card and set up mobile data for the network connection.
Setting up network connections
Get to know how to set up, manage and deactivate network connections.
Connecting to public Wi-Fi
How do I set up a network connection to public Wi-Fi?
Using USB devices in work sessions
How can I plug-in, assign and eject USB devices?
Setting up Wi-Fi
Get to know how to connect the workstation to a new Wi-Fi network and check the connection.
FAQ
My open session has no access to the internet
The local session connects to the open network via an IP address without encryption. However, the IP configuration in the session is only partially provided by SINA Workstation S. Contact the administration. WINS servers may have to be configured manually.
The VPN status is green, but the network status is disconnected
When a VPN connection is established, SINA Workstation S checks the network availability regularly. The network status reacts immediately to changes, e.g. if the WiFi connection gets lost. The connection status may react with a delay. Reconnect to the network.
My WiFi is missing in the network menu
Open the network module and start the search for WiFi with "Rescan WLAN". It is possible that your WiFi was not available during the first search. If you still cannot see your WiFi , it may be hidden. Create a new WiFi network profile and uncheck the option Select from available access points. You can enter the SSID manually now.
Which network is connected when “Automatic Networkstart” is enabled?
Network profiles are prioritized by type. If you have activated "connect automatically" for LAN, WiFi and mobile network profiles, SINA Workstation S tries to connect to the networks in this order:
- LAN
- WiFi
- mobile data
If multiple WiFi profiles are available, the order displayed in the network module in the classic view will be used.
How to recognize a successful connection to SINA Management servers?
1. Switch to the SINA user interface.
a. Classic view: SINA Workstation S has established a connection to SINA Management Servers, if the VPN status in the system bar is green.
b. New user interface: SINA Workstation S is connected to SINA Management Servers when the message [network name] successfully connected is displayed in the network status of the workstation in the lobby.
How do I recognize a successful connection to the company- or organization network?
1. Switch to the session, in which you want to check the connection status.
a. Classic view: Check the status of the security association in the system bar. If the VPN status is green or yellow, a connection to a SINA L3 Box has been established.
b. New user interface: Check the network connection in the network module. The status Connected indicates a successful connection.
I cannot create a new session
If you do not see the +Add item button in the Workstation module, the VBox-session is not configured in SINA Management.
Please contact your administrator
Events in Outlook are not displayed or late in Windows sessions
If you suspend Windows sessions while Outlook is still open, time and date detection in Outlook no longer works. Event reminders are not displayed on time, or not at all. Quit Outlook before suspending your session. Or restart Outlook.
The clock time in my session is wrong
The clock time in your session is synchronized via network. Check if there is a network connection. When the network connection is established, the clock time will synchronize automatically.
If this does not help, contact your administrator. They should check if the correct version of Oracle VM VirtualBox Guest-Additions is installed.
Some programs stop when I switch to another session
Out of security reasons, sessions from security domain SECRET are paused when you switch to another session.
Stop the programs before switching sessions to avoid data loss.
How many sessions can I start simultaneously?
The number of usable sessions depends on the available storage space and the subnet mask of the network (see SINA Management operating manual):
- 8 sessions for subnet mask /28 (IPv4) or /124 (IPv6)
- 5 sessions for subnet mask /29 (IPv4) or /125 (IPv6)
USB devices cannot be assigned to a session
Do USB sticks work in the SINA Control Center, e.g. to create a backup, but you cannot assign the USB stick to the session? Then your administrator has blocked the USB interface for sessions.
My USB device is grayed out and I cannot assign it to my session
If a USB device is grayed out, it is being used by another session.
Open the session and remove the assignment of the USB device. Now it should be available for your second session.
USB devices are not recognized by the assigned session
If the USB stick does not work even on a laptop without SINA Workstation S software, the USB stick is defective. Try it with another USB stick.
Only certain USB devices are not recognized in my session
If only certain USB devices do not work, they report themselves as HID/CDC devices.
SINA Workstation S blocks these devices out of security reasons. Contact your administrator, they can unlock the device for you.
USB devices cannot be used in the SINA Control Center, e.g. for backups
If a USB device is assigned to a session, you cannot use it in the Control Center. Reject the USB device in the Devices menu. Additionally, only USB devices with ext2, ext3 or ext4 formatting are supported. Contact your administrator for a properly formatted USB device.
My audio device was not recognized
Your audio device may be reporting as an input or CDC device. These devices are blocked by SINA Workstation S by default. Contact your administrator to have the device unlocked.
My USB headset does not work even though the speaker in the system bar is on?
If you are using a USB headset and have assigned the device to the session like a USB stick, control has been passed to the guest operating system, e.g. Windows.
Check if the sound is muted in Windows or another audio device is selected in Windows. Recommendation: Never assign an USB headset to a session. This way, the audio devices are available for all sessions.
My microphone does not work
Check the Device menu in the system bar whether you have assigned the microphone to the correct session. The microphone can only be used by one session at a time. If the microphone is assigned but still does not work, try muting the microphone and turning it on again.
My audio device is missing in the audio menu in the system bar
All audio devices that are controlled by SINA Workstation S, which are also not exclusively assigned to a session, are available.
1. Right-click on the session icon in the system bar.
2. Check whether the device is assigned to a session and remove the assignment.
Therefore, the devices are available for all sessions.
I don't hear anything even though the sound in the system bar is on
If you use a USB headset, you can assign the headset to a session in the system bar. Then the guest system will take control over the headset. Make sure that the sound is muted in the guest system.
Recommendation: Do not assign headsets to a guest system. This way, all guests can use the headsets and you control the volume via the SINA system bar.
I have assigned my audio device to a session, but cannot change the volume in the menu in the system bar
If you assigned the audio device to a session, you hand over control of the audio device to the guest operating system. In this case, the settings in the system bar have no effect on their audio device. Furthermore, no other session can use the speaker or microphone of this audio device.
The microphone/speaker menu shows a different audio device as active than the one I am currently using
If you assign the audio device to a session, you no longer control the audio device via the SINA system bar. Therefore, the Microphone/Speaker menu, a different audio device, e.g. the internal speaker, is displayed.
My microphone does not work properly when I work in several sessions at the same time
Up to SINA Workstation S 3.5.4, if you work in several workstations with different security domains at the same time, the microphone is muted in certain situations:
• Microphone is assigned to a session with lower classification.
• You switch to the higher-rated session.
Out of security reasons, you are muted in the lower classified session e.g. during ongoing telephone calls. This ensures that no sensitive information is intercepted via the insecure network.
Why does one need the open session to connect to a public WiFI?
If you connect to a public WiFi, a portal usually opens where you have to log in. The Internet connection is not established until you have logged in. But your VS-NFD session cannot open this portal, because you can't connect to the internet until the VPN connection to a SINA L3 Box is established. This cannot be established if you have not yet logged in. The open session has no connection to your company network and can access the Internet directly. Therefore, only an open session can display the portal.
| Shortcut | Function |
|---|---|
| Fn + 4 | Suspend SINA Workstation |
| Ctrl + Alt + L | Lock SINA Workstation |
| Ctrl + Alt + O | Hide/show system bar |
| Ctrl + Alt + Enter | Enable/Disable the speech output in the new user interface |
| Ctrl + Alt + Esc | Navigate to the system bar with the keyboard |
| Ctrl+ Alt + P Fn + F7 (Lenovo) Fn + F4 (HP) Windows + P | Switch the monitor configuration |
| Ctrl + Alt + F1...F8 (up to 3.3x only up to F7) | Switch between started sessions |
| Ctrl + Alt + F9 | Swich to the control center |
| Ctrl + Alt + F11 | Open admin menu (see administration manual) |
| Ctrl + Alt + F12 | Show log messages (see administration manual) |
| AltGr + Shift + Esc | Switch between user interfaces |
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