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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.

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.

    Image Added

  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).

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.

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

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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.

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A. Connect through a web browser.

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B. Connect using a Remote Desktop App.

Step 2: Connect to

...

your office computer from the virtual Windows desktop (double hop).

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

Some tips before you connect

  • 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

  • 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.

  • Only one 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.
  • 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.

    Steps

    From a web browser, visit https://rds.syr.edu and sign in with your NetID credentials.
    Image RemovedSingle click the SULabs icon.
    Image Removed Allow access to local resources (if you have many network printers installed, you may want to uncheck Printer).
    Image RemovedWait for Windows to login. It can take 3-4 minutes.
    After login is complete you will see a Windows desktop. Any files and shortcuts that you are used to seeing on the desktop should reappear, although it may take a minute or two.
    Expand

    1. While logged into the virtual Windows desktop, in the Windows search box, type 'remote' and click Remote Desktop Connection.
      Make sure you are using the search box of the virtual Windows desktop and not your own computer. 

    Image Removed

    Enter arch-remotelab.syr.edu 
    1. 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. 

    Image Removed Enter your NetID with an "ad\" in front and password when prompted. 
    Image Removed
    Click Yes if you see an Identity/Certificate prompt.
    Image Removed

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

        image-20251208-193520.pngImage Added

         

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

      image-20251208-203807.pngImage Added

       

      image-20251208-204232.pngImage Added

       

    3. Enter your SU email address and password.

      image-20251208-204509.pngImage Added

    4. After a few moments you should be logged into a lab computer.

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

    Try

      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).

    Use OneDrive or Google Drive.

    1. When you are done using the lab computer, sign out (don't choose disconnect).

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

    Image Removed


    1. Image Added

    2. After you disconnect from 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'.

    Image Removed
    Expand
    titleClick here for instructions...
    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.
    If you want to go full screen, click the small two-way arrow icon on the upper right.
    Image RemovedTo quit, click the Windows start button, then your profile icon, then 'Sign out'.
    Image Removed

    RDP Client Method

    From a web browser, visit https://rds.syr.edu and sign in with your NetID credentials.
    Image RemovedIn the top right, click the gear/sprocket icon.
    Image RemovedIn the Settings pane, select "Download the rdp file" then close or click out of the Settings pane.
    Image RemovedNow single click on the SULabs icon. This will cause an RDP file named "SULabs.rdp" to download. Check your downloads folder for this file. You can close the browser tab as we are done with it.

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

    Once you have the SULabs.rdp file, you are ready to connect to the virtual Windows desktop.

    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

  • Download and install the Microsoft Remote Desktop Mac App
  • Open the SULabs.rdp file by double clicking it.
    • You will be prompted with a login
  • For username, enter your email:  <NetID>@syr.edu
    • For password, enter: <NetID Password>
  • Wait for Windows to login. It can take 3-4 minutes.
  • After login is complete you will see a Windows desktop.

    • 3. Connect to your office computer from the virtual Windows desktop (double hop)

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

    • Expand
    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 

    Expand
    titleClick here for instructions...
    Expand
    titleClick here for instructions...
    Expand
    titleClick here for instructions...
    Info
    Make sure you are using the search box of the virtual Windows desktop and not your own computer. 

    Image Removed

    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. 
    Image Removed Enter your NetID password when prompted, and click Yes if you see an Identity prompt.
    Image RemovedAfter a few moments you should be logged into your office computer. Remember that you are two layers deep. When you are done using your office computer, you may prefer to disconnect rather than sign out.
    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

    After you disconnect from your office computer, you will still need to sign out from the virtual Windows desktop.
    From the virtual Windows desktop, click the Windows start button, then your profile icon, then 'Sign out'.
    Image Removed

    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).


    1. Image Added

    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.