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Syracuse University's Remote Desktop Services (RDS) is a virtual desktop environment for active students, faculty, and staff to remotely access a university desktop from any personal computer with a stable broadband internet connection.

Who has access? The RDS solution is available to users that have an active SU student, faculty, staff, guest, or ESF student affiliation.

Table of Contents

Before you Connect

Before you connect for the first time, please note the following important considerations for using the RDS solution:

• Save your work to a network location
  

  • Just like physical labs on campus, any files saved to the local C: drive will be removed permanently.

  • Best practice: save your work to your Syracuse University provided OneDrive account (in the cloud), or your network G: or H: drive.
    
    

• Save your work often

  • Although we consider the RDS platform to be stable, working remotely brings many factors into play, such as unexpected network outages, ISP issues, or problems with your home network or personal device(s). Saving early and often will help avoid losing your hard work and valuable time.
    
    

• Only one (1) session can be active per user. Logging into another session will disconnect from the previous and reconnect on the new session.
  
  
• Google Chrome, Firefox, and Edge are the recommended browsers for connecting through the Web user interface.
  
  
• Users are required to have their Microsoft Two-Factor Authentication setup before using RDS.
  
  
• Idle sessions will automatically be logged out after four (4) hours.
  
  

Configuring and Connecting to RDS

Users are encouraged to access RDS using a web browser, but can also do so using the remote desktop client (RDP). :

Remote Desktop Services via Browser

Remote Desktop Services via RDP Client

Available Software on RDS - SULabs resource

The following programs and applications are available when connected to the SULabs instance on RDS:
 

Please be aware that not all school or college applications are available in the RDS solution.
Schools and colleges that have specialized academic application, such as the iSchool, Engineering, Architecture, VPA and Whitman, have alternative connection options. Connection details can be found on the Remote Access Answers Page.

Requesting Software

Students

If you are a student and require a particular software for academic purposes, reach out to your professor or instructor to determine how to access it for your program.

Faculty & Staff

If you are a faculty or staff member and require a particular software for administrative or academic purposes, please contact your academic or administrative support personnel to determine how to best gain access.

Getting Help

For support of the information above, contact the ITS Help Desk by calling at 315-443-2677, by emailing help@syr.edu, or by stopping into 1-227 CST.

Faculty and staff are highly encouraged to begin support by contacting their academic or administrative support personnel.