The Windows operating system has a built-in function that allows a user to access another machine remotely.  This is known as Remote Desktop.

Instructors using Remote Desktop can connect to their office desktop or laptop system even when they are teaching class in a technology-enhanced classroom, such as UC 105.

• Allowing Access to Your Desktop
• Connecting to another System with Remote Desktop
• Disconnecting a Remote Desktop Session
• Advantages of Using Remote Desktop
• Disadvantages of Using Remote Desktop
• Important Notes

Allowing Access to Your Desktop

Before you can use Remote Desktop to connect to a system, you first need to allow ensure you are able to access that system remotely.

Note:  You will need to have administrator rights on the machine you will be allowing access to.  If you do not have administrator rights, contact the IT Help Desk at 573-341-HELP for assistance.

1. Right-click on My Computer (on your desktop).
   
   
2. Click Properties.
   
   
   
   
3. Click the Remote tab.
   
   
   
   
4. Check the box (if it is not already checked) next to Allow uses to connect remotely to this computer.
   
   Note: If you have a standard campus desktop or laptop install of Windows XP, then your userid will already be able to connect to the remote system.
   
   
5. Note the first half of the Full computer name before the period.  You will use this name to connect to your system remotely.
   
   
6. Click OK

Connecting to another System with Remote Desktop

Before you can establish a remote desktop connection, you will need to have been granted access rights on that system (see above).

The remote system will need to be turned on (powered up) in order to establish a Remote Desktop Connection.  It is not necessary to be logged out of the remote system.

1. Click Start, click Programs, click Accessories, click Communications, and click Remote Desktop Connection.
   
   
   
   Note:  To set up a shortcut to Remote Desktop on your local machine (the system you will be connecting from), click Start, click Programs, click Accessories, click Communications. Right-click Remote Desktop Connection, click SendTo, and then click Desktop (create shortcut).  This will put a Remote Desktop Connection icon on your local desktop and will be available every time you login to the local machine.  Simply double-click the icon on your local system’s desktop and you will initiate the Remote Desktop Connection program.
   
   
2. Type in the computer name (e.g. r01joeminer).
   
   
   
   
3. Click Connect.
   
   Note: The remote machine that you are attempting to login to must not have anyone else logged in or it will not let you login.
   
   
4. Login to the remote system using your university userid and password.

You should now be remotely connected to your office desktop or laptop (or whichever computer you have remotely connected to).  At the top of the screen you will see the Remote Desktop Connection bar which indicates the name of the machine you are connected to and has the standard Windows resizing options (Minimize, Restore Down, and Close).  There is also a pin icon at the left end of the bar for enabling the Auto-hide option.  This will hide the Remote Desktop Connection bar when your mouse cursor is not at the top of the screen.  Click the Restore Down icon (between the Minimize and Close icons) to turn your Remote Desktop into a standard window.

Disconnect a Remote Desktop Session

1. Click the Close icon at the far right of the Remote Desktop Connection bar (or window).
   
   
2. You will be prompted that your Remote Desktop Connection is about to be disconnected and asked if it is OK to continue.
   
   
   
   
3. Click OK.  This will terminate your Remote Desktop Connection.

CAUTION:  Clicking the Logoff icon within the Remote Desktop window will disconnect you from the Remote Desktop session AND log you off the remote computer.

REMEMBER TO LOGOFF YOUR LOCAL MACHINE WHEN YOU ARE FINISHED.  This is especially important if you use Remote Desktop while teaching a class in a technology-enhanced classroom. 

Advantages of Using Remote Desktop:

• Access data stored on your office computer (desktop or laptop) as well as data stored on the campus network.
  
  
• Access software applications available only on your normal desktop or laptop system.
  
  
• Access to your preferred desktop environment (with all of your usual desktop shortcuts and Internet favorites).

Disadvantages of Using Remote Desktop:

• Slower computer response time as all communication with your remote system takes place over the campus network, resulting in some response lag time.
  
  
• Differences in screen resolution between remote system and local system may cause windows to display differently (local system resolution takes precedence over remote system screen resolution).
  
  
• Video and audio presentations are not suitable for viewing/hearing over Remote Desktop connection (the lag time causes significant stuttering issues).

IMPORTANT NOTES:

• Accessing a system using Remote Desktop means any interaction you have with the remote system will be through the campus network.  As a result, the remote system will appear more “sluggish” than normal.  Please be patient.
  
  
• IT does not recommend running audio or visual elements through a Remote Desktop connection due to the significant lag you will encounter.  Video and audio will perform very poorly.
  
  
• The resolution of the remote desktop system displayed at the local system will match the local system’s native resolution.
  • In other words, if your remote system has a normal resolution of 1600 x 1200 pixels, and the local system has a normal resolution of 1024 x 768 pixels, then the Remote Desktop window will show your remote desktop with the 1024 x 768 pixel resolution. 
  • You may need to resize windows in order for them to be displayed properly on the lower-resolution machine.