Connecting To Your Office Pc Using Remote Desktop
Instructions for connecting to your office computer from a Windows PC
Remote Desktop allows you to connect to your office computer from home or another remote location. The result is similar to logging in to Winstat, though Winstat will generally give you better performance and stability. However, if you have software on your office computer that is not available on Winstat, remote desktop will allow you to use that software from home. Macs can also use Remote Desktop to connect to office computers running Windows ). Connecting to your office computer using Remote Desktop is a great back-up plan in case you can’t log into to Winstat, and we suggest all SSCC members learn how to do so.
Three Windows Remote Desktop Methods For Connecting To Linux
Whatever your purpose, there is a suitable option to connect to a Linux machine from Windows. These methods work whether the device is a server, desktop PC at work, media center, or even a Raspberry Pi.
From easiest to toughest, remote access Linux from Windows using:
- RDP
- VNC
- SSH
If your Linux distro happens to be Ubuntu, you already have a built-in VNC-compatible remote desktop tool.
Connect To The Computer From Off
Set up a VPN connection
To use Remote Desktop Connection off-campus, you must use a VPN connection that you create on your home computer to establish a link to the Amherst network.
VERY IMPORTANT: If your work computer is in a building that has been moved to the new network, you cannot use the VPN connectoids supplied by Amherst IT. The connectoids only work with computers on the old network. If the IP address you noted above begins with 10.49 then your building is on the new network.
From your off-campus Windows computer, connect to your work computer
- Establish a link to the Amherst network using the VPN connection you created above.
- Search for Remote Desktop Connection. In the search results, right click on Remote Desktop Connection and select Pin to Taskbar. It will be easier to find there.
- Click on the Remote Desktop Connection icon on your taskbar. In the window your asked for the name of the computer your are connecting to. Enter the computer name you recorded above and press Connect. If you get a message that the computer can’t be found, enter its IP address and try again. If you get a message that the IP address doesn’t work, then you’ll need to use the physical or MAC address that you recorded above:
- If your physical address is BC-5F-F4-6B-97-3B, then you’ll enter the following into the Computer line of Remote Desktop Connection:
- mac-bc5ff46b973b.any.10net.amherst.edu
Connect from off-campus Macinstosh computer
Connect from off-campus iPad
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Confirm Remote Desktop Service
It’s also possible that you may not be able to connect because the required services are not running on Windows 10.
To determine if the remote desktop service is running, use these steps:
Once you complete the steps, you should now be able to connect using a remote connection.
If you still can’t establish a remote session, you can try the preview version of the Remote Desktop app to determine if the problem could be a bug in the stable version of the app.
In this guide, we outlined the steps to connect to a device inside a private network and through the internet, but allowing remote desktop connections could be a security risk.
Always be aware that having remote desktop enabled and opening ports could potentially allow malicious individuals to get unauthorized access to the computer. When using these instructions, use strong a password, and disable the remote desktop service and remove the port forwarding settings on the router when they aren’t needed.
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How To Use The Remote Desktop App For Windows 10
There is an alternative method that lets you connect to another computer using a Remote Desktop connection on Windows 10 systems. In addition to the Remote Desktop Connection tool, Windows 10 users can connect via the Microsoft Remote Desktop app using the following procedure:
After completing these steps, you can start the app using the Start menu or from within the Microsoft Store. You also have the option of downloading the apps preview to learn about any new features or enhancements.
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Configuring A Static Ip Address
Setting a static IP can prove a techy task. However, if you are using a remote desktop regularly and are not using Remote Desktop Protocol, you should use a static IP address.
To set a permanent IP address to your PC:
and click on that menus Properties button.
Set Up Remote Access From An Android Device
Remote Desktop for Android works similarly to its iOS/iPadOS counterpart, though the setup process differs slightly. from Google Play. After you launch the app, tap the + icon and choose Add PC.
If you happen to be near the remote computer, the app will scan for it at this point. If the PC is detected, its name will show up on the screen. Otherwise, tap the Add Manually link.
Type in the computer name or IP address. For User name, tap the field that says Enter every time and then either leave that option as is or tap the Add user account and type the username and password. Tap Show additional options, then enter a friendly name if desired.
You can add the gateway if your organization uses a Remote Desktop Gateway. Opt to play sound from the remote PC on your device. Unless you need to adjust the options for display resolution, mouse buttons, admin session, and local storage, you can leave those turned off. When done, click Save.
Tap the name and icon for the remote session you just created. If you receive the message that the certificate cant be verified, check the box Never ask again for connections to this PC and then tap Connect.
Once you are connected to the remote desktop, use the toolbar at the top of the screen to zoom in and out, display the onscreen keyboard, or view other remote sessions. Tap the hamburger icon to display the sidebars.
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Setting Up Your Office Computer To Allow Remote Desktop
In order to allow Remote Desktop connections to your office PC, you will need to contact the SSCC Helpdesk for us to enable this functionality on each of your devices. You can simply email the Help Desk with your computer’s name and we will enable Remote Desktop for you, no need to set up an office call.
We will need to know the name of your PC to enable functionality of the Remote Desktop. To find your computer name, click Start and start typing “name” to search. Open View Your PC Name from the menu and look under Device Specifications for Device Name. The full name of your computer is what you see there plus “.ads.ssc.wisc.edu” . Computer names are not case-sensitive. For additional information, please see Campus Active Directory – How to Identify Workstation Fully Qualified Domain Name
You’ll Need The Linux Device’s Ip Address
Before you can remote into Linux from Windows, you’ll need the device’s IP address. It’s useful for all remote connection options, although in some cases the hostname will do.
The simplest way to check the IP address is to log in to you your Linux device and open the terminal. Enter:
hostname -I
The IP address of the device will be displayed. For more details you can also use
ip address
If your Linux system has multiple connections, these will be listed with prefixes. For example, an Ethernet connection will be listed alongside eth0. If it’s connected wirelessly, look for the IP address listed against wlan0.
If this isn’t easy, or convenient, there is another method which is almost as simple. In your browser window, connect to your router. This is usually an address like 192.168.0.1 or 192.168.0.100. Check this by looking at the router itself, or the documentation that came with it.
Once signed in to the router, look for an option that lists connected devices. Browse through the IP addresses to find your Linux device by hostname. Some routers can even display the device operating system. You’ll find the IP address listed alongside, which you should note down for later.
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Solving The Problem Of A Dynamic Ip Address
IP numbers can be static or dynamic.
A static IP address never changes. So if your Internet Service Provider has assigned you a static IP address, then your office always has the same address. This makes it easy for your website to refer to your office the website can just use the IP address.
However, most offices have dynamic IP addresses. This means that every time your communications equipment is reset you are assigned a new IP address. This creates a problem for your website, since it will not know what the office IP address is, and so will not be able to connect to Sumac in the office.
Can I Use A Vpn For Remote Access
In order to fully secure a remote desktop, a VPN is the best option. With a VPN like Access Server, you have secure access to the network, and then the VPN server has least a privilege access policy setup that would limit an employee to using a remote desktop to connect only to his or her computers IP address.
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How To Remote Access A Pc Using Remote Desktop Tools
A remote desktop solution allows you to access your PC, its files, and its applications from another device, via internet connection. Remote desktop software achieves this by streaming a visual, real-time feed of the computer youre trying to access. Some remote desktop tools allow you to establish these remote connections from your smartphone, tablet, or even across a data network.
Remote desktop tools are easy to use and, depending on the solution you choose, can be set up reasonably quickly. If youre a Windows user hoping to enable remote connection access with your PC, there are lots of options available to you. The most obvious and cost-effective of these options is the built-in Windows Remote Desktop Connection tool. As a fully integrated tool, RDC is very effective at establishing Windows-to-Windows remote connections. This tool lets you connect remotely to your desktop by leveraging a Remote Desktop Protocol client.
Unfortunately, RDC cant support remote access between multiple platforms and isnt especially user-friendly. For enterprise-grade remote desktop software, its better to implement a more versatile and scalable solution.
Many alternative remote desktop solutions offer a range of more advanced remote access features. When choosing remote access software, prioritizing the following capabilities will give you more options when remote accessing a PC.
Security Considerations For Remote Access Software
Security is a critical requirement for any software, but even more so for programs that enable remote connections to other devices. Many critical industries rely on remote solutions – from managing satellites and sealed scientific laboratories to aircraft-carriers and even submarines.
Multi-factor authentication, 256-bit AES encryption, password protection and granular access control are critical and standard security requirements for remote desktop solutions, in addition to cloud vs direct connectivity considerations.
You also need to think about whether your remote access solution needs to enable compliance to industry standards, such as GDPR, PCI-DSS or HIPAA, which is very common in sectors such as finance or healthcare. Below are some more in-depth guides on all the essential aspects of remote access security:
Blog: All you need to know about remote desktop encryption.
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What Is Remote Access
Remote access is the act of establishing a connection from a device or computer in one location to view or control another device in a different location. Remote access software gives you the power to control your computers and equipment from anywhere with any device.Read: All you need to know about VNC remote access technology
How does remote access work?
Remote access allows a user to connect to another computer in a different physical setting either via the Internet or via a direct network .
The person using the remote viewer can do almost anything they could do were they sitting in front of the controlled computer. This includes application-specific tasks, accessing files and software, and running upgrades .
If you are connecting via a direct connection, this process is different. Read more about the differences between cloud vs direct remote access connections.
Remote Computer Access Using Google Chrome
Do you know that you can remotely access another computer from your computer by using just the Google Chrome web browser? In this method, we are going to use the Google Chrome browser to have remote access over another computer.
Step 1. First, download the extension Chrome Remote Access on your Google Chrome.
Step 2. Now, this app will get added to your Chrome, and you can see it at the right uppermost corner. Click on it and click continue.
Now it will ask to allow access to data, proceed with allowing access to it.
Step 3. Now it will ask you to connect to another computer or . Now if you click on share this computer then it will generate a code.
Step 4. Send the code to the partner with whom you want to access your computer. Note that other computer must have the same app installed on its computer. Now your partner will enter his code, and your desktop will get the share to him exactly the same as you can see yours.
Step 5. By this, anyone having access code can access your computer remotely, and even you can access someone elses computer by having access code of it.
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How To Turn On Pc Remotely
Turning on the PC remotely is a useful feature for anyone. It breaks the habit of leaving your computer on all the time.
If youre like me, you might have one of your computers set up in your home as a file-sharing server. Consider the energy consumption of keeping a PC on standby at all times. Using this feature will undoubtedly lower your energy bills.
To turn on your PC, you must have a WOL or Wake-on-Lan compatible PC. There are some workarounds if you dont have one. Continue reading to learn how to turn on your PC remotely.
Use The Remote Desktop App For Windows 10
As an alternative to the built-in Remote Desktop Connection tool, you can use the Microsoft Remote Desktop app in Windows 10. Install the app from the Microsoft Store and launch it. Click the Add button and select PCs to set up a connection.
Type the name of the computer to which you want to connect. If you want to be asked for the username and password each time, leave the User account field as is. Otherwise, click the + sign next to User account and enter the username, password, and display name. You can also add display name, which will serve as an account nickname. Click Save.
Double-click the icon for the remote PC to connect to it. At the certificate screen, check the box next to Don’t ask about this certificate again, then click Connect.
You’re now connected to the remote PC. Instead of a blue bar on top of the screen, the Remote Desktop app uses a black panel on the side of the screen.
The magnifier icon at the top zooms in and out, while the ellipsis icon switches between full screen and windowed mode. Click the ellipsis icon and then select Disconnect to end the connection.
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How To Install Access And Connect To Remote Server Administration Tools
Accessing devices remotely becomes increasingly important for businesses with multiple offices or remote employees. Remote servers are designed to support users who are not on the local area network but need access to it. However, when youre looking at how to connect to remote servers or desktop interfaces, you might run into a few early issues with configuration, access permissions, or not having the right tools for the job.
You can handle some parts of remote server administration manually or you can use a tool to automate the more tedious or difficult tasks. Before you get started with using remote server administration tools, you need to know how to access a server remotely from a practical perspective.