Remote Desktop

  • Faculty & Staff

In order to connect to your Work Computer from home, please follow the steps below.

 

Table of Contents

 

Getting Started

Before you are able to use Remote Desktop, you'll need to be set up with UPenn's Virtual Private Network (VPN) service.  Please click here for more information about getting started with the VPN.

You will also need to have Two-Step Verification using the Duo Mobile App with push notifications.  For more information about this please click here.

Once you are set up with the VPN, you'll need to check with your Local Support Provider (LSP) to make sure your on campus machine is set up properly to allow for Remote Desktop access.  You can find your LSP by clicking here.

You will also need to know the hostname or IP Address of your on campus machine you are connecting to.  Your LSP can provide this information to you while setting this up.

Make sure you do not shut your campus machine down when you leave for the day.  Please log off as usual.

 

Connect to GlobalProtect (VPN Client, Windows)

  1. Open the Duo App on your phone (if you use push notifications) and be prepared to approve the push notification
  2. Right click GlobalProtect VPN icon in your taskbar
  3. Select Connect to “SAS VPN”
  4. Put in your Pennkey user name and Pennkey password
  5. A push notification will be sent to your phone, you will need to choose Approve
    1. If you use Voice/Text for Two-Factor Authentication, you will instead receive a phone call and need to follow instructions
  6. The taskbar icon should show a lock once connected properly

 

Connect to GlobalProtect (VPN Client, Mac)

  1. Open the Duo App on your phone (if you use push notifications) and be prepared to approve the push notification
  2. Left click the GlobalProtect icon in the Menu Bar
  3. Select Connect to SAS VPN
  4. Put in your Pennkey user name and Pennkey password
  5. A push notification will be sent to your phone, you will need to choose Approve
    1. If you use Voice/Text for Two-Factor Authentication, you will instead receive a phone call and need to follow instructions
  6. The taskbar icon should show a lock once connected properly

 

Connect to office PC using Microsoft Remote Desktop (Windows to Windows)

  1. Click Start and type Remote Desktop.  Click on the Remote Desktop Connection app
  2. In the box labeled Computer, type the hostname or IP address of your on campus machine.  Please ask your LSP for the specific information you'll need here to connect properly
  3. Click Connect
  4. When the Windows Security window pops up, type your Windows username (SAS\username) and password.  This would be the same credentials you use to log into your work computer
  5. Click Ok

While remotely connected, if you want to see the desktop of your personal computer, move the mouse to the top of the screen. From small connection bar, choose minimize or close to close the session without logging off.

Connect to office PC using Remote Desktop (Mac to Windows)

If you have already set up Remote Desktop before, please skip to step 4.
  1. Make sure you have Microsoft Remote Desktop installed.  You can download the program from the App Store if you don’t have it already
  2. Open Microsoft Remote Desktop
  3. Click “Add Desktop”, then put in the following information:
    1. PC Name: Hostname or IP address of your on campus machine.  Please ask your LSP for the specific information you'll need here to connect properly
    2. User Account: change to Add User Account (new window will pop-up)
    3. User Name: SAS\pennkey
    4. Click Save on Both Windows
  4. Connect to your PC by double clicking on the computer icon in Microsoft Remote Desktop with your hostname or IP address as it’s title
  5. Click on Continue when the Verify Certificate Window appears

While remotely connected, if you want to see the desktop of your personal computer, move the mouse to the top of the screen. From small connection bar, choose the green dot to Exit Full Screen or the red dot to close the session without logging off.

Connect to office Mac using VNC or Apple Remote Desktop (Mac to Mac)

  • First, check with your LSP that your on campus Mac is set up to allow Remote Desktop connections from home.
  • For connecting with VNC:
    1. Click Finder in the Dock
    2. Press Command+K, or click Go in the top Toolbar, then 'Connect to Server...'
    3. Type in vnc://'your on campus computers hostname or IP address'.  Your LSP can help with this information
    4. Click connect
    5. Put in your on campus Mac's user name and password
  • For connecting with Apple Remote Desktop:
    1. Open Apple Remote Desktop
    2. Click Scanner on the left-hand toolbar
    3. Change the dropdown bar to 'Network Address'
    4. Type in your on campus computers hostname or IP address.  Your LSP can help with this information
    5. Double-click the result
    6. Put in your on campus Mac's user name and password.  Click Add
    7. You should connect to your on campus Mac.  In the future, the machine will automatically show up in Apple Remote Desktop under All computers

 

Ending the Remote Desktop Session (Windows)

  1. Quit all open applications on your on campus machine
  2. Click the Start Menu, then right click the Person icon on the left hand side, then click Log out
  3. Right-click the FortiClient icon then click 'Disconnect from SAS VPN'

 

Ending the Remote Desktop Session (Mac)

  1. You don't have to fully quit applications and log out of your on campus machine if you don't want to. You can just click the red X in the top left corner to close the window you have open on your home machine.  Below are instructions if you do want to log out of the on campus machine
    1. Quit all open applications on your on campus machine
    2. Click the Apple in the top left corner on your on campus machine, and select "Log out (user name)"
    3. Once you see the log in screen for your on campus machine, click the red X in the top left corner on your home machine


If you have any questions, please contact your support person here.