Remote access instructions for the Meliora 178 computing classroom
Preface
I'm Chris Freemesser, the IT Manager for Brain & Cognitive Sciences.
To allow you to complete your coursework for this semester I've reconfigured the Meliora 178 computing classroom so you can access the computers in the lab remotely. If you experience any problems with the system please email me directly at "cfreemes@ur.rochester.edu" for assistance...University IT can NOT help you with this.
When using this system please act responsibly and be respectful of your other class members during this difficult situation. Abuse of the remote access system will result in increased security restrictions that may restrict/prevent your ability to access the classroom.
How this works
There are two steps to the process:
1) You will make a secure network connection to the lab network using VPN (Virtual Private Network)
NOTE: This VPN system is unique to the Meliora 178 classroom and is NOT the same as the main VPN systems operated by University IT.
2) You will remotely control one of the computers in the lab using VNC (Virtual Network Connection)
Both steps require you to perform some basic configuration on your personal computer.
Step 1 - set up VPN
Virtual Private Network, or VPN, allows you to securely connect to a remote network (in this case the network in Meliora 178). Both MacOS and Windows 10 have a built-in VPN client that will work so no additional VPN software is needed.
VPN configuration for Windows 10
1. Select ‘Start → Windows System → Control Panel’.
2. Select ‘Network and Sharing Center’.
3. Click on the ‘Set up a new connection or network’ link.
4. Click on ‘Connect to a workplace’, then click on ‘Next.
5. Select 'Use my Internet connection (VPN)'.
6. For 'Internet address', enter the IP address '128.151.170.65'. For 'Destination name', enter 'Meliora 178'. Uncheck the box for remembering your credentials. Click ‘Create’.
7. Back in the Network and Sharing Center control panel, click on 'Change adapter settings' in the column on the left.
8. Right-click on the icon labeled 'Meliora 178' and select 'Properties' from the resulting menu.
10. Under the 'Security' tab, change the type of VPN to 'Layer 2 Tunneling Protocol with IPsec', then click on the 'Advanced settings' button underneath that field.
10. Click on the 'Use preshared key for authentication' button and enter the key that was e-mailed to you. Click 'OK' to close the window, then 'OK' again to close the previous window.
11. In the system tray (bottom right corner of screen), there will be either a grey and white monitor icon or an icon with 5 bars in it. Click on the icon to bring up the menu of available network connections...your Meliora 178 VPN connection should be at the top. Select it and enter "bcsuser" for the username. The password is the same one you used to log into the computers in 178...if you don't remember it e-mail me from your UR e-mail account and I'll send you a reminder.
12. NOTE: When you are connected via VPN other network-related traffic on your personal computer may stop working. This is expected behavior.
VPN configuration for MacOS
1. Click on the Apple menu in the top left corner of the screen, select 'System Preferences', and open the 'Network' preference pane.
2. In the window on the left, click on the '+' button in the bottom left corner. Set 'Interface' to 'VPN', set 'VPN Type' to 'L2TP over IPSec', and 'Service Name' to 'Meliora 178'. Click the 'Create' button.
3. For 'Server Address', enter '128.151.170.65'. Enter the account name "bcsuser". Click on the 'Authentication Settings' button. Set the 'User Authentication' type to 'Password'. For the 'Password' field enter the same one you used to log into the computers in 178...if you don't remember it e-mail me from your UR e-mail account and I'll send you a reminder. Set the 'Machine Authentication' type to 'Shared Secret', and enter the key that was e-mailed to you in the 'Shared Secret' field. Click 'OK' to close the window.
4. Click 'Apply' in the previous window, then click on the 'Connect' button to test the connection.
5. In the top right corner of your Finder, you'll see a new icon that looks like a black ticket. This is a shortcut for opening up your VPN connection.
6. Note: VPN configurations are specific to your network location. If you have multiple network locations on your computer from which you might make a VPN connection, you need to repeat this process for each location.
7. NOTE: When you are connected via VPN other network-related traffic on your personal computer may stop working. This is expected behavior.
Step 2 - Installing VNC & remotely connecting
VNC Viewer is a free app that allows you to remotely control another computer. You will use this to remotely control one of the computers in Meliora 178.
1. Go to https://www.realvnc.com/en/connect/download/viewer/ and download the correct version of VNC Viewer for your operating system
2. Install the program on your computer...the installer is straightforward with no options to choose.
3. Run the "VNC Viewer" application.
4. The VNC Viewer application has field for you to enter the address of the computer you want to connect to. Each computer in Mel178 has an address equal to:
10.0.1.x
Where "x" is a number between 2 and 21. Pick a number within this range (for example 10.0.1.4), enter it into the field, and hit Return.
5. VNC Viewer is going to complain that the connection isn't secure....this is NOT true. The VPN connection you've made to the classroom is providing the connection security, so checkmark the "Don't warn me about this again" box and then click the Continue button.
6. You will now see a login box...enter "bcsuser" for the username. The password is the same one you used to log into the computers in 178...if you don't remember it e-mail me from your UR e-mail account and I'll send you a reminder.
7. If everything went well, the desktop of the lab computer should now appear. PLEASE NOTE: It is possible for two people to connect to the computer simultaneously. If you log into a computer that somebody else is using, please be respectful and disconnect your VNC connection IMMEDIATELY.
8. When you are done using the lab computer, please close whatever program you were using and simply close your VNC window. Do *not* use the Sleep/Restart/Shutdown/Log Out" commands under the Apple menu on the lab computer!