Remote Desktop Connection
How Does it Work?
First you need to configure your Windows computer for Remote Desktop access. When you configure Remote Desktop on your system, your computer acts as a “host” computer. You can then go to a “client” computer and access your desktop. For our purposes here, we’ll assume you are at home and wish to use your computer at work. In reality the host can be any Windows XP Pro or Windows Vista computer. (Note: The host computer must be turned on and connected to the network or Internet in order to connect to it using Remote Desktop.)
What are the Requirements?
- To use Remote Desktop you will need the following:
- A host computer running Windows XP Professional or Windows Vista.
- A properly configured host computer
- The Remote Desktop Client software needs to be installed on the client machine (both Windows and Mac OS X clients are available) to connect using the Remote Desktop Client method.
A high-speed network connection for both host and client is highly recommended.
Using Remote Desktop Connection Client
Click Start | Control Panel and double-click the System icon (click Switch to Classic View on the left side of the Control Panel if you don’t see a System icon). On the System Properties window, click the Remote tab or Remote Settings link.
On the Remote tab, place a check in the box next to Allow users to connect remotely to this computer (Windows XP) or Allow connections from computers running any version of Remote Desktop (Vista).
Note: If you are planning to remotely connect to a computer that is located on the Huston-Tillotson University campus, take note of the Full Computer Name listed on the Remote tab. This is the “computer” you will need to enter when making the connection from the client (remote) computer.
You can now connect to the host computer from a remote computer using the Remote Desktop Client. To connect using the Remote Desktop Client please continue to the next section.
A Note about Firewalls:
Remote Desktop runs a remote desktop server which is only accessible through certain ports. If you are running firewall software on your computer and you cannot connect remotely to your Huston-Tillotson University computer, its probably because your firewall is blocking the connection.
Using Remote Desktop Connection Client
Once your computer is configured for Remote Desktop Connection you can connect to it from a remote machine. The Remote Desktop Client software is pre installed on any Windows XP or Vista machine. To download and install the Remote Desktop Client Software for a Windows 95-2000 machine, see the Microsoft Remote Desktop site. If you are accessing your computer remotely from a Max OS X machine, you can download and install the Mac OS X client from Apple’s web site.
Once you have the Remote Desktop Client software installed on the remote machine, all you need is to connect to the Huston-Tillotson University network with the Virtual Private Network (VPN) software and then start the Remote Desktop Client software.
To connect with the VPN please see the Installation & Connection Instructions on the VPN page.
If you are planning to remotely connect to a computer that is located on the Huston-Tillotson University campus all you need is the hostname for the host computer. Start the client software on the remote computer (Start | Programs | Accessories | Communications | Remote Desktop Connection on a windows machine). Enter your computer name and click the Connect button. You should be presented with a log in screen for the host computer. Enter your username and password and click OK. You should now be logged in and able to remotely use your Huston-Tillotson University computer!
