Remote Sessions and Desktop

The Remote Desktop Session Host (RDSH) server provides users with access to computers in the hochstaffl.local domain and published remote applications.

Remote Services

General Information

What is it about

The RDSH server delivers remote applications, i.e. windows based programs executed on RDSH servers (two in the hochstaffl domain) and visualized over the internet on your computer. From a users perspective the remote apps are running side by side with local applications. The applications you will be provided with depends on your user profile. Among those programs is software to view and modify satellite images as well as a comprehensive VFR flight planning tool.

Remote users (i.e. users connecting via the internet) do basically have two options to access the remote applications and desktop.

• One option is to connect via a internet browser using the following URL.
• The second option is to download the remote desktop client which is available for windows 7, 8 and 10 and mac OSX.

Local users using windows have the additional possibility to connect via the RemoteApp and Desktop Connections. After setup via the windows Control Panel, i.e. Systemsteuerung, a remote app directory can be found by clicking Start and then All Programs in Windows 7.

To login to the various services listed below you have to provide your credentials. Those can be obtained by writing me an email requesting a username and password. Login by typing hochstaffl\username into the username field. Alternatively, if you also got an hochstaffl.eu email address, you can use it as the username to login. In this case you use this email address as your username. Enter username@hochstaffl.eu and then your password.

Remote Apps

Overview

Users can connect to an RDSH server to run programs, to save files, and to use network resources on that server. In the hochstaffl.eu domain the remote app programs comprise Microsoft Office Applications such as Word, Excel and Powerpoint. The benefits of delivering or applications through RDSH instead of installing apps on your home computer or laptop include users ability to access apps from the field or at home using devices that would usually not support those apps. When a user access a program on an RD Session Host server, the program execution occurs on the server. Each user sees only their individual session. The session is managed transparently by the server operating system and is independent of any other client session.

How to connect

Mandatory Steps

First the certificate has to be imported in order to establish a secure connection. To do the job follow the subsequent steps:

• download the webserverzertifikat.pfx at ftp://ftp.hochstaffl.eu from the certificates folder
• then right-click and click install or open
• next select local computer/computeraccount and keep pressing the dialog box - the password you have to provide is sent to you in the message with your credentials for login - if you have problems contact administrator[at]hochstaffl.eu
• continue by clicking till finished
• open the mmc and click on the file at the top left - there select add snap-in and add and open certificates
• then right click on the folder trustworthy root certification sites and click on all tasks on import
• next click on the lower right tho display all the filetypes and select the downloaded certificate
• finally continue clicking next until finished - if prompted that import was successful the setup is finished

 

Web-Based Access

The quick solution to get access is:

• open the Internet Explorer (it should be the IE) and https://remote.hochstaffl.eu/RDWeb
• ignore eventual security warnings if it emerges - they are related to the self-signed certificate used for encryption
• log in with your credentials
• username: username@hochstaffl.eu
• password: yourpassword
• then you can see the various applications
• click on one confirm the dialog window (if one pops up) and confirm the username and password again
• IMPORTANT: please make sure to close the applications properly after you are done
• then log off

 

Desktop-Based Access

Follow this checklist to add the remote applications to your programs folder in Windows.

• open the System Control in Windows and select or search for RemoteApp- and Desktop-Connections
• then click Access RemoteApp and Desktop
• next enter the following in the opening field https://remote.hochstaffl.eu/RDWeb/Feed/webfeed.aspx
• username: username@hochstaffl.eu
• password: yourpassword
• if successful the apps should be found in Windows via Start/Programs and below the folder RemoteApps- and Desktops-Connections
• click on one and if you are asked to provide username and password do so again (optionally you can tick-select the option to store the credentials)
• ignore safety warnings (if any) as those are related to the self-signed certificate

Virtual Desktops

Launch a virtual desktop session online

A virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI) is a desktop-oriented service that hosts user desktop environments on remote servers. Remote and local users access the desktops over the internet or the local network. For users, this means they can access their desktop from any location, without having to use a single client device. Since the resources are centralized, users moving between work locations can still access the same desktop environment with their applications and data.

Remote Desktops

Access your desktop online

Local users can access the RDSH server to connect to their local computer at the internal network (i.e. home) from anywhere providing the full desktop and functional range of your home computer. In that remote session you are working on your machine located within the local network at home. The RDSH server acts as a gateway to root the display output and instructions that are sent via the internet to your home computer and vice versa.