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Set Up Remote Desktop

These are instructions for setting up your home computer to connect to your work desktop.

Requirements:

  • A home personal computer (PC).
  • An internet connection at home.
  • An active connection to our VPN.  You can only be connected to your remote desktop while you are connected to our VPN.
  • A computer at work that is turned on and you know the computer name. Contact IT Help Desk if you need help determining the computer name or if you need the computer turned on.

Steps:

  1. Open the Remote Desktop Connection (RDC) application on your home PC:
    1. Click the Start Menu and type "Remote Desktop Connection".
    2. Click "Remote Desktop Connection"
  2. Configure RDC to connect to your work PC:
    1. Click "Show Options" in the lower left corner of the window to open additional options:
      Remote Desktop Connection window with "Show Options" highlighted
    2. Click the "Advanced" tab.
    3. Click "Settings..." in the "Connect from anywhere" section.
      the Advanced tab with the settings button highlighted
    4. In the window that appears, select the "Use these RD Gateway server settings" radio button and type "remote.spscc.edu" into the "Server name" field.
      window with the above mentioned controls highlighted
    5. You can check the "Use my RD Gateway credentials for the remote computer" box to reduce the number of times you have to key in your password.
    6. Click "OK".
    7. Click the "General" tab in the original Remote Desktop Connection window.
      General tab with the controls in the next three steps highlighted
    8. Enter your on-campus computer's name in the "Computer:" field.
    9. Enter your username (your SPSCC email address) in the "User name:" field.
    10. Leave the "Allow me to save credentials" checkbox UNCHECKED. Checking this box is a security problem.
  3. Sign in:
    • When you click "Connect", you will be prompted for credentials:login credentials screen
    • Enter your email credentials. Do NOT select the "Remember me" checkbox. (This is another security issue).
    • These settings should now be your defaults, and will be offered to you the next time you run Remote Desktop Connection.
  4. Ending your Session:
    • There are two ways to exit your session. You can "sign out" inside your remote desktop using it's startup menu, or you can click the "X" on the "Remote Connection" banner at the top of your remote session window:
      Image of the remote connection banner
    • It is most important that you do NOT Shutdown your remote machine. If you do, you won't be able to reconnect until someone goes and physically turns it on.