Remote Desktop Services

Overview

The Middlebury College Remote Desktop Services (RDS) Cluster was created to allow for the running of applications or web pages that can't or shouldn't be run on a standard Middlebury desktop or laptop computer.

The infrastructure is created in such a way that it is redundant and can be scaled by adding more resources as necessary. Rather than replacing Servers when they reach end of life and having to connect to a new Server, we can replace Servers in the RDS Cluster without the need for changing the connection method.

 

What Programs or Applications Can be Run?

The following are configured, as of 2/25/21:

• Able
• Banner Admin
• Famis
• Hyperion Studio
• Hyperion Workspace IRC
• Microsoft Office 2016
• Sierra

• A few applications not listed here that are restricted to certain Departments or users.

 

What if I Don't Use Any of The Titles Listed?

As computers are upgraded to newer operating systems, we may find that some existing business processes are no longer compatible. We can use this system to run these processes while keeping individual computers up to date. You may not use the system now, but could end up needing to use it in the future.
 

How do I Get Connected?

Click the appropriate link below to learn how to connect using a PC or a Mac:
 

• Using Remote Desktop Services on a Mac

 

• Using Remote Desktop Services on a PC

 

Why am I seeing pop ups when I connect?

There are currently two servers to support load balancing. When you connect for the first time for each day, you may connect to either of them. When you connect for the first time, a profile is created for you and some initial popups may appear. If you a similar one again, you have likely connected to the other server.

We have tried to remove as many potential popups as possible. There are still a couple you will likely see. If you see the "Unavailable Version of Java Requested" popup, please select the “Run with the latest version” button.

If you see the “Java Update Needed” popup, please select “Later” and optionally check the “Do not ask again…” checkbox. This message pops up when Java is not at the latest version. We need to check and make sure updates do not break Applications before we update Java in the RDS Cluster.

Working with Files and Printing

Please review this section if you have a need to save or print data you are working with.

Connecting to Middfiles and other network locations

You should have two network drives mapped when you connect. N: connects directly to Middfiles so you can access any folder on Middfiles that you have access to. O: connects to Orgs on Middfiles,

Local drive redirection is enabled, allowing you to see the drive letters that you have configured on your local computer from the applications. Some people have mapped their own drives and would like to use them. The drives will show up as a letter, followed by the name of your local computer. In the screenshot below “C on GERYON” is the C: drive on my local computer while “Local Disk (C:)” is the C: drive on the server I am connected to. Please DO NOT save files to “Local Disk (C:)”. The hard drives on the Servers do not have the space for everybody to be saving files to them. “O on GERYON” as shown below is the O: drive that is mapped on my local computer. It is functionally the same as the "Orgs on Middfiles (O:)" connection shown in the image above. Not everybody has the O: drive mapped on their local computer.

 

If you have moved your Home directory to OneDrive and you are syncing it to your local computer, you can access that folder by browsing to it through your redirected local drive.

On a Windows PC, you need to go to: C: on your local computer, then Users\yourusername\OneDrive - Middlebury College. See the image below.

Insert directions here for browsing to OneDrive from a Mac

Printing

Your local printers will be redirected so you can print. When you attempt to print from an application, you will see the queue name followed by “(redirected 2)”. The number (2 in this case) may be different depending on the number of connections you currently have. See the image below for an example.