Access Your Computer from Off Campus !

1. Access Your Computer from Off Campus! Justin Sellers and Gabe Whitt

2. How does it work? • VPN (Virtual Private Network) • Using the Open VPN client and your full email address and password you can establish a secure connection to the West Georgia Campus Network. This connection allows you to access most of the same resources you can access from on campus. • Remote Desktop • Once a connection is made, you can then use Microsoft’s Remote Desktop to view your Office or Work computer from anywhere you have internet access (home, hotel, etc…). • Note: You must connect through the VPN before you can use Remote Desktop!!

3. VPN Connection • Step 1: • Go here: http://www.westga.edu/vpn to get the appropriate instruction and client files. • You can get the appropriate instructions for installation here. There are links for “Windows use and instructions” and “Mac use and instructions”. • Click on the appropriate one for your computer, and follow the instructions exactly as it tells you.

4. VPN Connection • Step 2: • Once you have installed the client and connected using your full Westga Email address and email password.

5. Remote desktop connection • Step 1: Getting Access • Make sure you turn on Remote Desktop on the computer you want to access remotely. (See Instructions) • Make sure to write down your computer name so that you will be able to connect to the proper machine. To find the name of your computer right-click on “My Computer” and choose properties. Your computer name should look something like: ITS-jdoe-w1.uwg.westga.edu. You will need the full name. • Note: Make sure to leave your office computer or the computer you wish to access ON!! If you shut it down you will not be able to access it remotely.

6. Remote Desktop Connection • Step 2: Connect • Connect using Remote Desktop Connection • Go to 'Start Menu', ‘All Programs’, ‘Accessories’, ‘Remote Desktop Connection’ • Type in you’re the computer name you want to connect to (the name you wrote down earlier). Then press Connect.

7. Remote Desktop connection • Step 3: Sign In • Logon just like you are sitting in front of your computer with your username and password.

8. Remote Desktop Connection • Tips and Things to Know • You are now logged into your remote computer. • Any changes you make will be permanent. • Printer Redirection • If you have a printer attached to the local computer that you are using, you can print to that printer from your Remote Desktop session. • Connection Loss • If your Home computer or Laptop goes into sleep mode or loses it’s internet connection you will lose connection to your remote desktop. If this happens you much reconnect to the VPN first and then to Remote Desktop.

9. Known Issues • Both Systems: • Active Connection • The connection will be active as long as you do not end it, lose internet access or log out of your computer. • The VPN connection will only last eight hours. • Windows Vista and Windows 7 • You wiillneed to run the OpenVPN GUI with administrator privileges, so that it can add routes to the routing table that are pulled from the OpenVPN server. You can do this by right-clicking on the OpenVPN GUI desktop icon, and selecting "Run as administrator". (See Instructions)

10. The end • Presentation will be available online at the • ITS Training Website: • http://www.westga.edu/its/index_8232.php • Under Tutorials and Tips click on: • Accessing Your Computer from Off Campus