University Computer Help Desk

Before You Begin

WebVPN utilizes Remote Desktop Connection, which allows you to remotely access Windows computers. Before you can remote into a Windows computer, you must enable Remote Desktop on that computer. For more information, refer to 1316: How to enable Remote Desktop in Windows.

Remote Desktop Connections only work when connecting from Windows to Windows. In other words, you cannot use this method to remotely access a Windows computer from Mac OS X.

Full Computer Name

To remotely access a Windows computer, use its full computer name (or IP address). To find a computer's full computer name, do the following:

1. Click the Start button.
2. Right-click on My Computer (in Windows XP) or on Computer (in Windows Vista).
3. From the pop-up menu, select Properties.
4. Click the Computer Name tab (in Windows XP only).
5. Locate the Full computer name: and write it down. You will use this full computer name when you remotely access it using WebVPN.

Remote Desktop Connections in WebVPN

To add Remote Desktop Connections to WebVPN, do the following:

1. Go to https://webvpn.ilstu.edu and log in.
2. Locate the Terminal Sessions section.
3. Click the Add a Terminal Session icon on the right side of the Terminal Sessions section. This icon looks like a computer with a plus (+) sign next to it.
4. You may add a Bookmark Name if you like.
5. You may add a Description if you like.
6. In the Host: box, type the full computer name (or the IP address) of the computer you want to remotely access.
7. You may leave all other boxes empty. You may also adjust the Screen Size, Color Depth, and other options if you wish.
8. Click Add.
9. You are taken back to the WebVPN Welcome page. Notice the new link to the remote computer in the Terminal Sessions section.
10. To access the remote computer, click the link in the Terminal Sessions section.