Due to a dramatic increase in attack volume on Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP), TheCAT now requires a Virtual Private Network (VPN) connection to be estiblished prior to attmpting to access a Remote Desktop enabled system. Directions on setting up the VPN can be found here. Please be aware that when connected to the VPN, all of your internet traffic will be routed through PSU.

In the event that you are unable to successfully VPN to MCECS before attempting to RDP to some Windows box, you can use SSH tunneling to accomplish the same goal. Directions on setting up an SSH tunnel to allow you to RDP to an MCECS Windows box can be found here .

The Remote Desktop Protocol allows remote access to any Windows computer running Windows XP or later. Users that have been granted the appropriate permissions on particular MCECS Windows machines may connect to those machines from wherever they have an internet connection.

In addition, all users with a MCECS Windows account have the ability to use the Terminal Server at ts.cecs.pdx.edu

Note: Full computer name (or hostname) means it must include *.pdx.edu. Short computer name means that you may omit the *.pdx.edu. For example:

Full computer name: borr.cecs.pdx.edu
Short computer name: borr

From Windows on the CECS domain (Tier 1, Tier 2, Tier 3 Desktops):

1. Open the Start Menu > [All] Programs > Accessories > Remote Desktop Connection.

2. Enter the short computer name of the machine you wish to access remotely.

3. Log in with your MCECS Windows credentials.

From Windows off the CECS domain (Tier 3 Laptops, Personal computers):

1. Connect to the VPN. (Click here for instructions.)
   

2. Open the Start Menu > [All] Programs > Accessories > Remote Desktop Connection.

3. Enter the full computer name of the machine you wish to access remotely.

4. Log in with your MCECS Windows credentials. Make sure that the domain is specified correctly by prefixing your username with ‘CECS\’ i.e. CECS\username.

From *nix:

1. Connect to the VPN. (Click here for instructions.)

2. Download and install rdesktop from your package manager or from the web:
   http://sourceforge.net/projects/rdesktop/

3. Open a Terminal and use the command: rdesktop full_computer_name

4. Log in with your MCECS Windows credentials.

From OS X:

1. Connect to the VPN. (Click here for instructions for 10.5 and 6.)

2. Download and install Remote Desktop Connection Client:
   http://www.microsoft.com/mac/remote-desktop-client

3. Open it from Finder > Applications > Utilities > Remote Desktop Connection

4. Enter the full computer name of the machine you wish to access
   remotely.

5. Log in with your MCECS Windows credentials. Make sure that the domain is specified correctly by prefixing your username with ‘CECS\’ i.e. CECS\username.