.Who can use this Service?

• This service is provided for University Staff who have Windows or Apple Computers and need to connect to University Windows computers.
•  In many cases, using the Staff Remote Desktop will allow you work from off-site and should normally be used in preference to your own computer.
•  However, there are occasions when you might want access to a University PC, such as the system on your desk, to access specific files or software.    Using our Remote Desktop Gateway, you can make a connection directly to a University Windows PC from a remote PC via any Internet connection, without having to set up a virtual private network (VPN) and without using SSH or other complicated utilities.   
•  Using the Gateway enables connections to work across most firewalls. You won’t need to change firewall settings on your home PC or work PC to connect, as long as you have been given permission to Remote Connect to a system by your IT team and your University PC is turned on or in Standby.
•  Unlike using the VPN, only the Remote Desktop Connection sends very limited traffic to the University.  This enables you to use your Internet Service Providers connection instead of the University network to send and receive your other data over the remote connection, so your home PC experience should be faster

Please note:  When accessing information via any offsite connections please refer to the Information Security policies in regard to the transfer of University information.

Please note: We don't officially support other computer platforms with this service, but it is possible to connect using Linux and iPad/iPhone systems if you want to give it a try yourself.

The following alternative solutions are available for Mac users to connect to another Mac:

• Connect to a Mac remote desktop from a Mac using Screen Sharing
• Connect to a Mac remote desktop from a Windows PC using VNC

 

Get Started

Check that you have the free Remote Desktop Connection software on your system.   You'll need to have permission to Remote Connect to most windows computers within the University.  The IT Service Desk can arrange this for your personal PC.

 

Windows XP and Vista have built-in software located in “Start > Programs > Accessories > Communications > Remote Desktop Connection”.

To get the best experience you should try and install the latest version for these systems (7.0)

Windows 7 & Windows 8 have built-in Remote Desktop Connection software as standard.

Apple Mac OS X – You will need to download the free (RDC) for Mac 2.1 Connection software from Microsoft. The program installs into the Utilities area.

iOS (IPads, Iphones) -  Download an RDP client from the AppStore;  Wyse Pocket Cloud package will work well.  You'll need to specify the Gateway settings as outlined below.

Google ChromeBooks (chrome OS) - Unfortunately, Google don't build in any kind of support for RDP connections to Chromebooks.

 

Get connected

The simplest way to connect is to open the connection file from the button above.  Either "Open" the file that is presented for a single use or you can click "Save" 

 to store the connection on your personal PC. 

 

In Internet Explorer then you can either "Open" the connection file to connect, or save the file to your computer for an easy way to connect in the future.

This window may appear differently in other browsers; in Firefox, you should choose to open the file and just click on "OK".

On Apple systems,  Safari will automatically download the connection file and you can open it from your downloads list or through Finder.

 

1) Specify your computer

  You will need to enter the full network name (“FQDN”) of the phsyical computer you want to connect to. 

 

For modern Windows systems this is most often in the format <ITassettag>.users.bris.ac.uk,  i.e. IT0001.users.bris.ac.uk

Enter this name in the box next to “Computer”.  You can then click "connect".   If your computer name is correct, you will be prompted for your credentials. 

(Finding Asset Tags: You can find your computer name from the asset tag on the red and white IT Services label which will be attached to your computer)

Entering your Username and Password

How this will appear depends on which Operating System you use on your personal computer.

 

• Windows: Enter your username and password in the format UOB\username, e.g. UOB\ab1234

• OS X: Enter your username and password in the format username@UOB, e.g. ab1234@UOB

• On some Apple systems you will see a "Domain" box.  Type UOB or ads.bris.ac.uk

Your password is the password that you use for systems and email on campus and is case sensitive.

Click "I understand and agree to this policy" and then click OK.  You will then be connected to your University computer and see the Windows desktop as normal.  

Using storage devices

Once you have connected, you will see the desktop of the actual machine you specified– you can use your software, files and applications as normal.

If you want to load and save from a USB drive then just plug this in to your PC. You can find the device in “Computer” on the University desktop and copy / paste files between devices, just as you would on a machine on Campus

Please note: You should not copy any sensitive data to your local computer or memory sticks and should only work on such data directly on a University system or the Staff Desktop Service.  Please refer to the Information security policies.

Manual Settings

If you are using the connection file provided from this page, you don't need to do anything else.   For manual connections, you'll need to provide some additional information. This is outlined below.   The two most important settings for manually configuring any connection software will be the name of the Remote Desktop/Terminal Services Gateway Server, which is UOB-Gateway.cse.bris.ac.uk and the name of the computer you wish to connect to.These instructions are for connections using Windows Remote Clients.  The basic information is valid for any OS/client you may be using.

 

1.     Click Options in the bottom left of the connection window and then click the Advanced tab, and then, under Connect from anywhere, click Settings.

2.       Select Use these TS Gateway server settings, and then type the server name.  Our University server is called:

UOB-GATEWAY.cse.bris.ac.uk

3.       Select the Logon method:

·         Ask for password (NTLM). This option prompts you for a password when you connect.

4.       Select Bypass TS Gateway server for local addresses check box.

Selecting this check box prevents traffic to and from local network addresses from being routed through the TS Gateway server, which can make your connection faster if you use your computer within the University (i.e. via Eduroam etc).

·         Select the General Tab.

·         Click the Save As button, and specify a meaningful name for your connection so your settings will be saved.

·         When you click connect, you see a message box welcoming you to the University and asking you to acknowledge your Data Protection responsibilities. 

·         You will then be asked for your username and credentials.

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Troubleshooting

Please make sure that you are allowed to actually Remote Desktop to your University machine.  Your local IT team may need to allow this permission for your desktop computer.   You can contact the service desk to request access if you don't already have it.