Marsico Hall Microscopes Facility (MHMF.ORG)

Making a Remote Desktop Connection (RDP) from an office/lab/home/laptop/etc. to a campus desktop Windows Computer at UNC

Notes:

• This is a brief guide of salient points for  UNC people connecting to a UNC Windows desktop computer.  It is hoped that this guide is of use. These remote desktop connection tasks can be complex and technical.  Once achieved future connections will be fairly easy.  People at UNC can ask the usual people for more details or assistance.
• A SOM remote desktop guide is here (This guide assumes that your campus desktop Windows computer is already setup to receive RDP connections.  Apple Mac information is also provided here.)
• Do the setup tasks listed below, especially the two "Important Security" steps!
• iOS and Android apps exist for making remote desktop connections.  (Search for "Microsoft Remote Desktop" in an App Store).
• iOS and Android apps exist for Cisco VPN (Search for "Cisco AnyConnect" in an App Store).

Quick Guide:

• Setup (one time tasks - skip if your campus desktop computer is already setup for remote desktop access):
  • Ensure your campus computer is setup to receive Remote Desktop Connections
  • Add your account to the "Remote Desktop Users" group.  This step is unnecessary if your are a member of the :Administrators group. Or assistance from OIS may be required.
  • Find the i.p. number or DNS name of your campus desktop computer
  • If off campus install UNC VPN (Cisco AnyConnect) on your personal computer. Version 4.10.0609, or laer, is now required to connect.
  • If off campus Get DUO 2 factor app and setup it up to function with your Onyen account
  • Ensure the campus desktop computer will never enter sleep mode
  • Ensure the campus desktop computer is on
  • Ensure the BIOS is set up to power on the campus computer after a power failure
  • Important Security tip: ensure ALL accounts on your campus desktop computer have strong passwords
  • Important Security tip: ensure ALL accounts on your home computer or laptop have strong passwords
  • Don't skip the above two steps.  Failure to do so will put your computer at higher risk of being hacked.

• Making a remote desktop connection:
  • If off campus run "Cisco AnyConnect" (UNC VPN)
    • Provide your Onyen name, Onyen password and use the DUO phone app to get a 6 digit number to enter at "Second Password" or use Push Notifications (Push requires smart phone data).
  • Run e.g. "mstsc /f /v:yourcomputer.med.unc.edu", or e.g.  "mstsc /f /v:yourcompute.ad.unc.edu"
  • Your user name is "ad\youronyen" or  mhmicroscopy\accountname
  • You will get a warning saying the identity of the remote computer can not be identified - respond with yes
    • Optionally view the certificate, but verifying is technical.  Just be expedient and ignore verification and continue.
  • You will be "at" your campus desktop computer operating it remotely with access to all that you normally do on campus.

• Ending a remote desktop connection:
  • Save data and shut down programs (Especially if microscope control programs & database programs are being used)
  • Do the usual steps to sign out (log off) especially if you are accessing a communal campus computer
  • If you intend to leave programs running just "disconnect", but remember in this state others cannot log into the campus computer. And some programs can only be run by one user at a time.  A second user will not be able to run such programs.
  • It is your responsibility to ensure programs are exited and you logout/sign out when you are finished. 
  • If you are not booked and have disconnected rather than signed out your session may be forcefully terminated.  Any unsaved data will be lost.
  • Tip: Don't forget to disconnect from "Cisco AnyConnect" - While connected with AnyConnect your home computer/laptop is present on and accessible from the entire UNC campus network!

Detailed Guide:

• Contact Michael

Common problems: 

• These notes are only a terse description of the steps required to connect to a campus Windows computer
• Your campus desktop computer has not been setup for Remote Desktop Connections
• Your campus computer is on the AD (Onyen) domain and your Onyen is not a member of the SOM remote access security group
• The UNC VPN (Cisco AnyConnect) disconnects automatically after four days
• Flakey internet connections can cause the Remote Desktop Session to disconnect or become unresponsive
• Tasks may be laggy and videos will not play well on slow internet connections
• These notes are Windows based.  Sorry I've never owned an Apple/Mac.  However remote access is also possible on iOS and macOS and Linux

Common Fixes:

• Harass Michael for assistance
• Contact OIS/ITS help

		Copyright 2001-2024 Dr. M. Chua, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599
Go Back	Booking Resources	Questions/comments/problems: Michael Chua

Last Updated: 2024-11-25

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