Remote Desktop

Below are instructions for setting up remote desktop on your in Chamberlin work computer so that you can use it remotely.

These instructions are for connecting Macintosh to Macintosh, Macintosh to Windows, and Windows to Windows.  Email help@physics.wisc.edu for other combinations.

Configuration needs to be performed on both your work and home computer. See the two sections below.

This is an accordion element with a series of buttons that open and close related content panels.

On the work computer

  1. Send the MAC of the ethernet device connected to the wired network to help@physics.wisc.edu. How to get MAC.  We will send you a DNS host name of the remote desktop server.
  2. Add a strong password to all accounts.
  3. Enable remote desktop connections on the work computer.  Macintosh, Windows
  4. Disable sleep for the computer. (Monitor sleep is ok.)
    • Windows
    • Macintosh – in System Settings -> Energy Saver either move the “Computer Sleep” slider to “Never” or check the box “Prevent the computer from sleeping automatically when display is off”.  If you see the box “Start up automatically after a power failure”, check it.

On the home computer

  1. On  your home computer install WiscVPN. (You only need to do this step the first time.)
  2. Connect to WiscVPN.
    • The portal name is uwmadison.vpn.wisc.edu
  3. Connect via remote desktop to the work computer.  Note: You will be logging with the username and password as you normally do when accessing the computer from work.  This might be different than your netid info.
    • Windows to Windows: use Remote Desktop Connection and enter the DNS host name we sent you in the “Computer” box,  example
      • Instructions for sharing files on local windows with remote windows computer.
    • Macintosh to Macintosh: use Finder as shown in this video.  Use the DNS host name we sent you for the “Server Address”.
      • Note E.g.: vnc://nameofhost.physics.wisc.edu
      • When using a laptop to access a desktop, the displayed remote screen can be very small.
        • One can decrease the display resolution to increase the size of everything.
        • Alternatively, adjust the scaling and scrolling:  When connected to a computer: View (top menu item) -> Turn off scaling.  Then Screen Sharing -> Preferences -> Display, select “(Scroll the Screen) Continuously with the Cursor”
    • Macintosh to Windows: Download and install Microsoft Remote Desktop from the Apple App store.  For screen shots showing how to complete setup skip down to “Connecting to Windows 10 from macOS over Remote Desktop” on this page.
      • Accept any security certificate prompts which appear.
      • Log in as if logging in to your computer. (Username and password may not match your NetID).
      • Instructions for sharing files on local macintosh with remote windows computer.