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These instructions cover using a personal computer to connect remotely to your office computer. A common use case is part time faculty connecting to their office desktop computer.

Info

Faculty looking for the Arch RemoteLab should click here

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On or off campus

  1. Install the SU Azure VPN following these directions.

    • After you’ve installed the VPN, return here and continue with the steps below.

  2. Sign into the VPN (it must be connected while you are using the Remote Lab).

  3. Connect to your office computer using these steps:

Expand
titleFrom Windows (click to expand)

  1. In the Windows search box, type 'remote' and click Remote Desktop Connection.

    Image Added

  2. Enter your office computer's name in the Computer box and click Connect. If you don't know the name, please contact us at archit@syr.edu. 

    1. Names start with SU- and end with .syr.edu

      image-20251208-193520.pngImage Added

  3. Click ‘More choices’ then ‘Use a different account’. 

    image-20251208-203807.pngImage Added

    image-20251208-204232.pngImage Added

  4. Enter your SU email address and password.

    image-20251208-204509.pngImage Added

  5. Click Yes if you see an Identity/Certificate prompt.

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  6. If you need to move files between your own computer and the remote computer:

    1. Use OneDrive or Google Drive.

    2. You can copy/paste text back and forth using Ctrl-C to copy and Ctrl-V to paste (macOS users will need to use Cmd-C and Cmd-V when using the Mac Finder or from the Mac desktop).

  7. When you are done using your office computer, disconnect or close the remote window.

  8. Go back to the VPN and disconnect.

Expand
titleFrom macOS (click to expand)

Alternative if you can’t get the SU VPN to work

Workflow

  1. Use SU's remote desktop service to remote into a virtual Windows desktop, which has access to the G drive, including any files you may keep on the desktop.

  2. Use the virtual Windows desktop to further remote into your office computer (called Double Hop

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The option you choose dictates how you will connect to the virtual Windows desktop

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  1. )

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  1. .

Reasons why you may want to double hop

  • You use special fonts, such as the school's Grotesque and Plantin.

  • You use software that is not available on the virtual Windows desktop.

  • You need better performance.

  • You want to leave files open and programs running to return to later.

Reasons why you may not want to double hop

  • You find the virtual Windows desktop is adequate for your work.

  • You want to avoid the extra complexity of working two layers deep.

Browser Method

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titleClick here for instructions...

Use this method if you don't need to double hop.

Some tips before you connect

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Save your work to a network location

  • Save to G: or H: network drives, or cloud-based OneDrive
  • Files saved to the local C: drive will be removed permanently

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Save your work often

  • Unexpected network outages, ISP issues, or problems with your home network or personal devices can result in disconnections. Saving often will help avoid losing your hard work and valuable time.

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Steps

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Info
  • Software installed on this virtual Windows desktop includes Microsoft Office and Adobe Creative Cloud.
  • We don't recommend starting Outlook, as it can take a long time before it's usable; consider using sumail.syr.edu instead.
  • If you start an Office app such as Word or Excel and see a 'Getting Office ready for you' window that won't go away, click the small 'x' in the upper right corner of the window.

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RDP Client Method

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titleClick here for instructions...

Use this method if you need to double hop.

Some tips before you connect

  • Users are required to have their Microsoft Two-Factor Authentication setup before using remote access.
  • Idle sessions will automatically be logged out after 4 hours.
  • The RDP file that is downloaded below in step 1 will occasionally expire. If it no longer connects, revisit this process to download a new file.

Steps

1. Acquire the RDP connection file 

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titleClick here for instructions...

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2. Connect to the virtual Windows desktop using the RDP file

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titleClick here for instructions...

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Windows

  1. Open the SULabs.rdp file by double clicking it. 
  2. You will be prompted with a login
    1. For username, enter your email: <Your NetID>@syr.edu
    2. For password, enter: <Your NetID Password>

macOS

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Steps

Step 1: Connect to an SU virtual Windows desktop.

You have two choices for how to connect (see A and B below). Each link will take you to a new page with instructions. After you connect to the virtual Windows desktop, return to this page and complete step 2.

Which method is best? The web browser is more convenient, but you may notice a slight degradation in graphical fidelity and less options to tweak the connection.

A. Connect through a web browser.
B. Connect using a Remote Desktop App.

Step 2: Connect to your office computer from the virtual Windows desktop (double hop).

Click here for instructions...

  1. Make sure you are using the search box of the virtual Windows desktop and not your own computer. 

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  2. Enter your office computer's name in the Computer box and click Connect. If you don't know the name, please contact us at archit@syr.edu. 

    1. Names start with SU- and end with .syr.edu

      image-20251208-193520.pngImage Added

       

  3. Click ‘More choices’ then ‘Use a different account’. 


Image Removed Enter your NetID password when prompted, and click Yes if you see an Identity prompt.
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  1. image-20251208-203807.pngImage Added

     

    image-20251208-204232.pngImage Added

     

  2. Enter your SU email address and password.

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  3. After a few moments you should be logged into

your office computer. Remember that you are two layers deep.

  1. a lab computer.

  2. If you need to move files between your own computer and the remote computer:

    1. Use OneDrive or Google Drive.

    2. You can copy/paste text back and forth using Ctrl-C to copy and Ctrl-V to paste (macOS users will need to use Cmd-C and Cmd-V when using the Mac Finder or from the Mac desktop).

  3. When you are done using

your office

  1. the lab computer,

you may prefer to disconnect rather than

  1.  sign out

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Disconnect in one of two ways:
a) Click the X on the bar at the top of the office computer's remote session, or
b) Click the Windows start button > Power > Disconnect
Do not shut down your work computer!Image Removed

  1.  (don't choose disconnect).

  2. To sign out, click the Windows start button, then your profile icon, then 'Sign out'.

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  3. After you disconnect from

your office

  1. the lab computer, you will still need

to

  1. to sign out

from

  1.  from the virtual Windows desktop.

  2. From the virtual Windows desktop, click the Windows start button, then your profile icon, then 'Sign out'.

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Tips for macOS

If you minimize the office computer connection, you can then switch back from the virtual Windows desktop to the macOS environment by moving the mouse pointer to the upper edge of the screen, which will show the Mac menu bar.You can also swipe left and right on the touch pad (four fingers).


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Expand
title

  1. While logged into the virtual Windows desktop, in the Windows search box, type 'remote' and click Remote Desktop Connection.

Info

Troubleshooting - Connection Failure

  • "This computer can't connect to the remote computer."

    • This error could mean your office computer is off.

  • If you get a black screen upon login to your office computer (double hop):

    • Type CTRL-ALT-END (Windows) or CONTROL-OPTION-FN-LEFT ARROW (macOS) to bring up Task Manager on the remote office computer.

    • In Task Manager click More Details, then click File > Run new task.

    • Enter explorer.exe in the box and click Ok.

      • This should bring back the desktop.

    • If that doesn't help, again click File > Run new task.

    • Enter shutdown -r in the box and click OK.

      • This should restart the remote office computer. Close the remote computer window. Wait several minutes and try to connect again.