Software Navigation

Remote Access from a Windows Computer

The most common uses of remote access are for:

  • file transfer - copying files between a user's computer and the campus AFS file system.
  • running applications - accessing campus computers to run software for class, homework, research, etc.

A high-speed broadband connection is recommended to perform either of these tasks, particularly if you are transferring large or multiple files, or if the applications you run are complex and graphically intensive. Connection over the campus wireless network is supported, but usually slower.

Transfer Files between a Windows Computer and AFS

If your home or personal computer is a Windows computer running XP or Vista, you can use either ExpanDrive or WinSCP to transfer files between your personal computer and NCSU AFS file space.

ExpanDrive

ExpanDrive is commercial software licensed to any currently employed faculty or staff or currently enrolled student at NCSU for use on university owned or personal computers. ExpanDrive acts like a drive on your local system allowing you to open and save files from any application on your local computer.

WinSCP

WinSCP is a free, open-source Secure FTP client for Windows. Its main function is secure file transfer between a local and a remote computer. It also offers basic file manager functionality. WinSCP uses Secure Shell (SSH) and supports SFTP and SCP protocols. It was developed by Martin Prikryl, http://winscp.net, and is distributed under the GNU General Public License (GPL).

  • Download WinSCP
  • WinSCP Usage Instructions

    To launch and run WinSCP on your Windows computer:

    1. Double-click the winscp.exe icon to bring up the WinSCP Login window.
      WinSCP Executable Icon
    2. Select one of the Stored sessions (e.g., ftp.ncsu.edu, remote.eos.ncsu.edu, etc.).
      WinSCP Stored Sessions
    3. Select the server you want and Login. You will be prompted for your Unity ID and password. The window that comes up is split, displaying the contents of your local drive on the left and the contents of your home directory in AFS on the right (other drives are available on the pull-down).
    4. Click-and-drag files and/or directories between panes to copy files from one file system to the other.
    5. Consult Help inside the program to bring up the WinSCP manual, or see the WinSCP manual at http://winscp.net/eng/docs/start.

Run Campus Software Applications Remotely

Depending on the applications you want to access remotely, you will either be connecting to VCL and running an Windows based application, connecting to VCL and running a Linux or Solaris application, or you'll be connecting to one of the COE Remote Access servers to run a Linux or Solaris application.

Using VCL to Connect to a Windows Application

You will need a Remote Desktop Connection (RDC) to run a Windows application in the Virtual Computing Lab (VCL).

  • RDC Client for Windows XP or Vista

    Remote Desktop Connection software is already installed and available on your computer. Open Remote Desktop Connection by clicking the Start button, clicking All Programs, clicking Accessories, and then clicking Remote Desktop Connection.

  • RDC Client for Windows 2000 and older

    Windows 2000 and older versions of the Windows operating system do not come with a Remote Desktop Connection client installed. You will need to Download a Remote Desktop Connection client from Microsoft

  • Connecting to VCL to Run a Windows Application Instructions
    1. Go to http://vcl.ncsu.edu and log in through NCSU WRAP with your Unity ID and password.
    2. Make a New Reservation for an application, or select a Current Reservation you have already made.
    3. Select the Connect! button to connect to the reserved application. A "Connect!" page will display with the temporary password you need to connect to the remote computer.
    4. Select the Get RDP File on the Connect! page to download a Remote Desktop Protocol (.rdp) file.
    5. Select Connect in the Remote Desktop Connection box to open a window to the remote computer.
    6. Log in with the user name and temporary password provided to you on the Connect! page (also sent to you in email). The desktop of the remote Windows computer will appear in the window.
    7. Double-click the icon of the application you reserved to open it and begin working.
      Note: If the RDP file fails to log you in automatically, run Remote Desktop Connection and enter the IP address provided to you on the VCL Connect! page into the Computer: field. Select Connect to open a window to the remote computer, and log in with the user name and temporary password provided on the Connect! page (also sent to you in email).

Using VCL or COE Remote Access Servers to Connect to a Linux/Solaris Application

In order to utilize either VCL or the COE Remote Access Servers you will need two pieces of software, PuTTY and X-Win32, to access Linux or Solaris based applications.

PuTTY is a SSH client that gives you terminal access to run commands and command-line applications. X-Win32 is an X-Server that enables you to display a windowed Solaris or Linux application with a graphical user interface (GUI) on your Windows computer.

  • Download and Install PuTTY
  • Download and Install X-Win32
  • Running PuTTY and X-Win32

    To run graphical Solaris and Linux applications remotely from your Windows computer requires installing PuTTY and Installing X-Win32 and running them together.

    1. Run Start -> Programs -> X-Win32
      Note: IMPORTANT! You must run X-Win32 EVERY time you want to run a GUI application remotely. If running X-Win32 for the first time, you will be asked to register the application. Select the Register button and enter the license number available in the Special Instructions area on the X-Win32 Agreement Page located on the Eos Software Downloads Page (login required).
    2. Locate the X icon at the bottom right of your screen to confirm that X-Win32 is running.
    3. Run your SSH Client, PuTTY.
      • Double-click the putty.exe icon to bring up thePuTTY Configuration window.
      • Select and Load one of the Saved Sessions: Eos to connect to the Solaris 10 remote.eos.ncsu.edu server; Linux to connect to the RHEL 5 remote-linux.eos.ncsu.edu server.
      • Select Opento open a terminal window (accept the PuTTY security alert, if prompted).
      • Log in with your Unity ID and password in the terminal window that comes up.
    4. Run applications just as you would on Solaris and Linux workstations. Type add on the command line to get instructions. For example, to launch the NEdit editor, type nedit &. Accept the "Allow connection from host 'IP'?" prompts.
    5. When you are finished using the application, type logout at the prompt.
  • Connecting to VCL to run a Linux/Solaris Application Instructions
    1. Make sure that X-Win 32 is running on your computer. (Locate the X icon at the bottom right of your screen)
    2. Make a reservation for a Solaris or Linux lab machine at http://vcl.ncsu.edu.
    3. Select Connect! when prompted.
    4. Copy the Remote Computer IP number from the Connect!page.
    5. Launch PuTTY and select Vcl under Saved Sessions and click Load.
    6. Paste the IP number into the Host Name (or IP address) field and click Open.
      PuTTY VCL session
    7. Select Yes to the PuTTY security alert.
    8. Log in with your Unity ID and password in the terminal window that comes up.
    9. Run applications just as you would on Solaris and Linux workstations. Type add on the command line to get instructions. For example, to launch the NEdit editor, type nedit &. Accept the "Allow connection from host 'IP'?" prompts.
    10. When you are finished using the application, type logout at the prompt.

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