Remote Computer Lab Access - How to Connect

Owned by Sean Stockburger (Unlicensed)
Last updated: Sept 19, 2023 by Peter Atwater
4 min read

To enhance access to general university computer lab workstations and software while still maintaining health official and government requirements of social distancing, you may now access computer lab workstations remotely.

Three things to consider:

  1. You will need VPN to connect. View our VPN instructions.

  2. Expect decreased performance, especially with graphics- and video-intensive applications.

  3. Due to the large amount of bandwidth this process takes, it impacts everyone else who needs to connect to on-campus resources for learning, teaching, or working so please use only as needed.

  4. If you have macOS, see the additional instructions at the bottom of this document.

How to Connect

These instructions show the steps and screenshots for a home computer that is running Windows 10. If you have macOS, a Chromebook, iOS, Android, or even Linux you can find a free download for Microsoft’s Windows Remote Desktop. It is available in the Apple App Store and the Google Play Store/Chrome Web Store. The steps will be the same, but the screens that appear will look a little different.

  1. Open the Cisco AnyConnect client (Click here for installation instructions if it is not already installed) and connect to remotevpn.wwu.edu. Sign in using your username@wwu.edu and your universal password.

     

  2. Once connected, click the following link: Remote Computer Lab Access

  3. Browse the available computers and click the CONNECT button next to one.

     

  4. Download the shortcut to the computer.

     

  5. Launch the shortcut after it downloads.

     

  6. Click CONNECT when you are prompted with the following security warning:

     

  7. Enter your username@wwu.edu and your password. Click OK.

     

  8. Ignore the certificate warning and click YES.

     

  9. The remote computer’s desktop should load and fill your screen. If you want to switch between the remote computer and your home computer, use the controls at the top of the remote desktop window to minimize or “restore down” (make smaller) the remote desktop window. You can always maximize the window again if you like.

To sign-out and disconnect from the remote computer

  1. On the remote computer click the START button, then the profile button, and then the sign-out button as shown below.

     

  2. Your remote desktop session should automatically disconnect. If it is still up and shows you the lock screen on the remote computer, click the 'X' in the remote desktop window controls (or in the upper right corner of the window if it is not full screen) to disconnect.

  3. Disconnect from VPN by clicking the Cisco AnyConnect VPN icon in your system tray, and then clicking the Disconnect button.

     

If you are disconnected by accident

You may be disconnected if your internet connection is lost, your VPN session is disconnected, or if the Remote Desktop software (or your computer) crashes. If you reconnect within 5 minutes you should be able to connect to the same workstation. If more than 5 minutes passes, that workstation will become available for new connections. Make sure you are connected to VPN before launching the shortcut to the remote computer again.

Additional Instructions for macOS

After you install the Remote Desktop app and download a shortcut to a lab workstation, you may need to modify the shortcut as follows:

  1. Open the Remote Desktop app and then drag the shortcut to the lab workstation onto the Remote Desktop app window.

  2. Click the EDIT button and change the user from wwu\ to 'ask when required'

  3. Launch the connection and enter wwu\yourusername when prompted for your username.

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