In order to compete in the contest, you will need a computer manufactured within the last 2 years. Before the contest, please install the following software and ensure it is able to run (and correct permissions have been granted).

A Note about updates

We try to keep the versions of the software on this page up-to-date, however as vendors release new versions there may be drift between what is published here and the latest release. If in doubt, always use the latest release from the vendor over software linked here.

Additionally, if software asks you to update it, please do so immediately.

If you have any questions on this, please reach out to your instructor or a member of the TCA committee.

Virtual Desktop Clients

A Virtual Desktop Client enables your computer to connect to a server which is hosting a remote copy of an operating system.

Please download and install the appropriate application for your operating system:

VMware Horizon Clients Download

Firewall & Bandwidth Considerations

Our contest utilizes VMware Horizon to run the contest environment. Please be sure your firewall allows traffic on all ports listed in this document from “Horizon Client” to “Horizon Agent”.

If possible, we recommend whitelisting the IP address of our Horizon environment for all traffic. This address will be published 1 week before the competition begins.

Also note that while the system will operate in environments with bandwidth constraints as low as 1 Mbps download speed, we recommend at least 10 Mbps to ensure a high-quality experience.