Accessing the Remote Desktop Server

For Windows 10 computers

These instructions allow students using Windows to connect to the remote desktop server for access to tools that are not available on their personal laptops, namely MS Access database.

Before you start!

Remember, you can access your G Suite applications (Gmail, G Drive, etc.) from a browser on your local computer without accessing VPN.

You must turn off or suspend any personal VPN (ExpressVPN, NordVPN, etc) you have running while connecting to the SHC VPN.

Note that you cannot connect to the VPN from campus networks (wired or wireless).

How do I access campus resources from home?

Accessing your work computer remotely requires two distinct steps:

Configure a VPN Client to establish a secure, encrypted connection to the campus network
Connect to the SHC remote desktop server via Remote Desktop Connection

If you have problems...

Please submit a support ticket to the IT Helpdesk. Use "PC Support" for the Problem Type.

Connect to VPN from your home computer…

Install and configure Sonicwall Global VPN Client

Download the Sonicwall Global VPN Client from Sonicwall
Double click the installation file to begin
When the VPN client starts, you will see the New Connection Wizard
Click Next

On the New Connection screen, enter the following values…

IP Address or Domain Name: 209.83.2.254

Connection Name: SHC Secure

To allow easier access, click both check boxes on the Completing the New Connection Wizard screen

When the VPN client starts, your virus protection software may complain. (You do have virus protection, right?) You definitely want to “allow access” for the VPN client.

When asked for login credentials, use the first part of your username, not your full email address. Eg "user," not "user@shc.edu"

You should now be connected to the SHC VPN

Begin a Remote Desktop Connection

Start the Remote Desktop Connection app

If you do not have this application Download and install Microsoft Remote Desktop client or install it from the Microsoft Store

If you download the Remote Desktop client, you can safely accept the default values during installation.

Enter "remote.shc.edu" into the Computer: field and click Connect

A new window will open and begin your remote desktop session

When you are done

Sign out of the remote desktop computer
Close the Remote Desktop application
Disconnect from the SHC VPN by selecting SHC Secure in the VPN Client and clicking Disable

Accessing the server after initial set up

Open the VPN client and connect to the SHC VPN
Open the Remote Desktop App and double click the "remote.shc.edu" tile

Here's a quick screencast of the entire process (no audio). Use this as a review after reading the instructions carefully.

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