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

Who has access? RDS 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):

Available Software on RDS - SULabs resource

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



Application NameVersion
Adobe CC 2022Shared Device
ArcGIS10.8.1 for Desktop
ArcGIS Pro2.8
Audacity2.3.2
Edge ChromiumCurrent

Gmetrix SMSe

7.0.24
Google ChromeCurrent
Maple2021
Mathematica10.4.1
Matlab2021a x64
Microsoft Office Pro Plus64 bit
Microsoft OneNote 201664 bit
Microsoft Project Pro64 bit
Microsoft Silverlight5.1 64 bit
Microsoft Visio Pro64 bit
Minitab19
Minitab Quality Companion5.3.0
Mozilla FirefoxCurrent
MS Sql Management Studio18.9.2
MS Visual Studio CodeCurrent
NotepadPlusPlus7.7 x64
Onbase18.0.1.60
Oracle SmartView11.1.2.5.900
Pallisade Decision Tools8

PowerBI Desktop 

2.100.1401.0
Putty0.75 x64
Python3.4.3 x64
R4.1.0
R Statistics3.5.0
Read Write12
RStudio1.4.1717
Rtools4.0
SAS9.4
SPSS AMOS27
SPSS Statistics27 x64
Stata16-IC x64
SU Sherman Fonts2.0
Texthelp EquatIO1.5
WinSCP5.1.7


Please be aware that not all school or college applications are available in the RDS environment.

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

Students that require particular software for academic purposes, should first reach out to their professor or instructor to determine how to access that software. 

Faculty & Staff

Faculty or staff members that require a particular software for administrative or academic purposes, please contact your academic or administrative support personnel to determine how to best gain access.


Troubleshooting

Expand the selection below to see common solutions for issues you might have with RDS:

Issue:

Most issues with RDS can be resolved by clearing the cache of your browser. Issues might include how the icons for labs display, connecting errors, or certificate/SSL errors. While you can clear all cache and cookies from your browser, you can also just clear the specific information for rds.syr.edu.

Solution: 

  • To remove only the cookies/cache from rds.syr.edu on Chrome or Edge by clicking the lock icon () in your address bar at the top of the screen.

  • Click on "Cookies" and this will open a new pop-up window:

    screenshot of alternative window that appears after clicking the lock button

  • Select rds.syr.edu from the list and then click Remove:

    cookies in use alt screen

Issue:

You receive an error when connecting to a remote desktop session because an unexpected server authentication certificate was received.

Solution: 

Clear the SSL cache for your Operating System/Browsers:
On Windows computers using Google Chrome or Edge:

  • Close your web browser.
  • Open the Start menu.
  • Search for and open Internet Options.
  • In the dialogue box that appears, select the Content tab.
  • Click Clear SSL State.

On Mac Operating systems using Google Chrome:

  • Open Google Chrome.
  • Click on the drawer icon to the top of the right of the page.
  • Open the History menu, then click theHistory option from this menu.
  • Click Clear Browser Data.
  • Set the Time Range to All Time.
  • Click Clear Data.


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. 


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