In order to connect to your work computer you must use a VPN connection. The steps to establishing a VPN connection are found in this document: GrizzVPN Instructions for Faculty and Staff

How do I connect to my work computer?

If you are traveling for a short period of time, your best option may be to use the VPN to connect to your work computer and then execute activities from there. To facilitate this you will need to leave your desktop computer running with a locked screen saver. When accessing your computer remotely it will appear just as if you were sitting down and working in your office. For example you will see all of your desktop shortcuts and running programs. This can be very useful if you are running a program on your computer after hours and you wish to check it and see how it is functioning. However, you must prepare your work computer before you can continue.

Allowing Remote Desktop Connection to Your Work computer

The steps below are how to configure remote desktop connection to a work computer.

Connecting from a Windows Computer

  • Right-click the My Computer icon located either on your desktop or in your Start Menu, and select the Properties option that appears on the pop-up menu.

    prop.jpg

  • Select Remote Settings from the upper left corner.

    remote.jpg

  • Make sure the checkbox labeled: Allow Remote Assistance connections to this computer remotely connect is checked.
  • Make sure the radio button labeled: Allow connections from computers running any version of Remote Desktop is checked.

Click OK.

allow.jpg

Connecting from a MAC

Open Sharing preferences and select the Remote Management box.

You will now be prompted to do one of the following.

  • Select "all users" to let users with a account on your Mac to share your screen.
  • Select "Only these users," to define which user can share your screen.

Access to your Mac has now been enabled.

How to Configure a Work Computer to Support a Desktop Connection

Remote Connection from a Windows Computer

Connecting to a Windows Computer

  • You will need to know the name of your computer. In the Start Menu, select Run.
  • Type in cmd and then click the OK button.
  • In the window that opens type hostname. The name of your computer will be displayed.
  • In the same window type ipconfig. Make note of the line that starts with Connection-specific DNS suffix.

    Fully Qualified Domain Name

  • As shown in the example above, join the hostname (in the example above it is ggriz) and DNS suffix (in the example above it is dhe.oakland.edu) which results in ggrizz.dhe.oakland.edu to obtain your fully qualified domain name. You will need to enter this name when connecting to your work computer. See Figure 3.
  • Ensure that you leave your computer powered on, however you do not need to leave the computer logged in. If you do leave your computer logged in, make sure that it is locked.
  • Once you have performed these steps, you will be ready to connect to your work computer. To connect you will need to navigate to:
    • Start ⇒ All Programs or Programs ⇒ Accessories ⇒ Communications ⇒ Remote Desktop Connection
  • The Remote Desktop window will now appear. In the Computer field type in the computer name of your work computer and then press the connect button.


  • - Type in your Computer's name

  • Remote Desktop PC

    • Figure 3: Windows Example


Connecting to a MAC computer

Follow the same steps as mentioned above under heading "Remote connection from a Windows Computer - Connecting to a Windows Computer"

  • Remote Desktop Mac

    • Figure 4: Mac OS X Example


NOTE: Direct access shares.oakland.edu is not permitted. To gain access to these resources from off campus you must connect to your work computer through Remote Desktop Connection.

Remote Connection from a MAC Computer

Connecting to a Mac Computer

Step 1​​: ​Setup Mac (that you are connecting to) to Accept Remote Connections

  1. Access System Preferences > ‘Sharing’ ( Apple Icon > System Preferences > Sharing )

  2. Ensure ‘Remote Management’ is turned ‘ON’ (left side)
  3. With ‘Remote Management’ selected, click ‘Options’ (lower right)
  4. Ensure ‘Observe’ (and sub-option of ‘Control’) are selected, and click ‘OK’
  5. (Get IP Address of Mac using your preferred method-- ‘ifconfig’ in Terminal is one option)

Remote Desktop Mac

Step 2​​: Connect to Mac (configured above) Remotely

  1. If not on-campus, connect to the VPN (​http://grizzvpn.oakland.edu​)

  2. (click on desktop) Menu bar: Go > Connect to Server (or, ⌘+K from desktop)

  3. In the ‘Server Address’ field, enter: vnc://<IP ADDRESS OF MAC> (without <>)

  4. Click ‘Connect’

Remote Desktop Mac