Remote Desktop Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What is Remote Desktop?
Why would you use it?
How do you use it?
What software is available there?
Additional Information

What is Remote Desktop?

Remote Desktop, also known Terminal Services or Terminal Server, is a Microsoft Windows Server setup for remote application use. It allows WPI to provide a means for staff, faculty & students to access applications or data from off campus. It functions as if you are logged into a PC on campus.

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Why would you use it?

If a desired software package has limited licenses.
If you are off campus & want to use software available in most labs on campus.

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How do you use it?

There are instructions for the following Operating Systems:

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What software is available there?

The software packages below are available on the terminal servers:

Adobe Acrobat Professional
Aspen Engineering Suite
CES Edupack
Camtasia Studio
Design of Machinery
IBM PASW/SPSS
iThink
Labview
Lasergene
Maple
Matlab
MDSolids
Microsoft Office Professional
- Access
- Excel
- InfoPath
- OneNote
- Outlook
- PowerPoint
- Project
- Publisher
- Visio
- Word
Microsoft Visual Studio
PLT Racket
PolyMath
Putty
SnagIt
Tecplot 360
TextPad
UTS TKSolver
Weka
WinSCP
Wolfram Mathematica

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Additional Information

When saving files on the terminal server, by default they will be saved to the My_Documents folder on the terminal server. To make sure your files are accessible from your office computer, be sure to "Save As" (instead of "Save") to save the files to your personal storage (My_Documents on "\\filer.wpi.edu\home") or to a Department file share ( \\admin.wpi.edu\fc\DepartmentName).

If you need to switch back to your local computer at any time, you can minimize the remote window by clicking the minimize icon (it looks like a dash) in the upper right corner. To get back to that remote window, you can click on the tab for it which will automatically show up in your toolbar.

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Last modified: Nov 13, 2012, 18:40 UTC