HOME COMPUTER USERS
Related links
Remote (off-site) access to University resources
- The University portal, MyBristol
- The Student Remote Desktop
- The Staff Remote Desktop
- Off-site journal access
- Virtual Private Network (VPN)
- Your University email account
Please note: Staff should not process personal data (information about living individuals) on a computer that is not owned by the University. Exceptions to this are possible only with permission in writing from the Head of Department and the agreement of the University Secretary. Please see: Processing data off campus.
The University portal, MyBristol
The University portal, MyBristol, www.bristol.ac.uk/mybristol, provides easy access to a host of University information from anywhere via an Internet connection. You can access the Student and Staff Remote Desktop, e-mail, staff calendar, timetables, Staff and Student Info, the University contact directory under My Contacts, My Student Bookmarks, Library account and much more.
Student Remote Desktop
Student Remote Desktop allows you to access the University from any computer with an Internet connection. You will have a full remote desktop, which works in exactly the same way as if you were sat at a PC on Campus. You will have access to your MyFiles files, most departmental file stores and all of the common applications.
You can save directly back to your personal University storage drive (O:), ready for the next time you are on site or save to a memory stick on your PC. You will also be able to print either to your local printer or to University printers.
You can also access the Student Remote Desktop from your own laptop on campus, using the University Wireless network. Access is also provided via the University portal, MyBristol.
The Staff Remote Desktop
There are two basic methods to access a range of software and files. The first is access to a remote desktop hosted on a University server and the second is creating a direct link between one computer and another. Remote Desktop is suited for handling confidential data because all data sent between the University and your home PC is encrypted.
Staff Remote Desktop
It is possible to access a Staff Remote Desktop service providing access to common administrative applications - e.g. Microsoft Office 2010, Mulberry, CODA, SITS, Calendar. Unlike the Student Desktop Service, this desktop is personal to each user and you can configure your own shortcuts, desktop backgrounds and icons as required.
Common data stores (such as \\ads\filestore) are mapped and you can add your own further mappings as required. As a part of this service you will receive access to the main staff universal "Documents" (O:) and configuration folder, which will store settings, favourites etc that will eventually be used across the University.
The Staff Desktop Service is also available via the University portal, MyBristol.
Remote access to your computer (Remote Gateway)
Remote control your on-campus computer securely from on or off campus. Remote access to your desktop lets you view your work Windows PC's desktop from any other computer. You can then use your work PC as if you were sitting in front of it. Remote desktop access to your own PC is particularly useful if you need to use software whose license doesn't allow installation at home. Please note that your work PC must be left switched on and the computer is also "locked" when accessed remotely, so this system cannot be used on shared PCs. Connections are supported using our Remote Desktop Gateway.
Off-site journal access
The Off-site Proxy provides an easy way to access a large number of electronic library resources when you are working away from UoB sites. It has the significant advantage of allowing your computer to connect to resources as though you were working on-site. Setting up the proxy requires changing a setting in your browser and should only take a minute. Then to use the proxy all you have to do is enter your UOB username and password when you try to access a restricted page.
Once connected with the proxy, search for electronic library resources using eJournals catalogue or the eBooks search.
Virtual Private Network (VPN)
The UoB Virtual Private Network (VPN) provides a 'tunnel' to connect from off-site to the University so that your computer is placed on the University network and all your traffic flows via the University. Fileservers in your department may then be accessible.
Please note: when connected to the VPN all your Internet traffic is sent via the University (not just email, fileservers or whatever you wanted, but also anything going on in the background such as instant messaging or filesharing). To avoid problems you should disconnect from the VPN when you don't need it.
Instructions are available on how to access files stored on various file stores (MyFiles / H: drive etc) at the University.
Your University email account
For occasional email access from anywhere with a web browser use the Email tab in MyBristol, the University Portal. For full details on accessing email see the email support website.