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Remote Access to Desktop or Network Files

There are three ways to remotely access files that are stored on the Forestry network.

Remote Desktop (requires an OSU VPN connection and your office computer must be turned on)

This method allows Forestry faculty/staff to log in and use their office computer from a remote location, thus providing access to all of the software and files that are available on that office computer.  A broadband internet connection from the remote location is required.

  1. Establish a VPN connection.  Instructions to setup/install the VPN software are available at http://oregonstate.edu/helpdocs/vpn/setup/windows.
  2. Determine the hostname of your work computer.  The hostname is usually the computername followed by ".forestry.oregonstate.edu".  For help on getting this information, contact the Forestry Computing Helpdesk and let them know the name of the office computer on which you wish to use remote desktop.
  3. Detailed instructions for setting up Remote Desktop are at http://helpdesk.forestry.oregonstate.edu/configure-remote-desktop.

 

Secure File Transfer

Allows faculty/staff/students to download/upload network files.  This includes files that are stored on personal N: drives, as well as files stored on the S: and T: drives.  With this method, files must be downloaded to the home computer before you can use the files (that is, files are not accessed via a mapped network drive).  If you make any changes to the downloaded file(s), then you'll most likely want to upload the modified file back to the network location.

  1. Install a secure file transfer program (e.g.- WinSCP) on your home computer.  View the "Installing WinSCP on a Home Computer" guide on our WinSCP software page (http://helpdesk.forestry.oregonstate.edu/software/winscp).
  2. Using WinSCP, make a connection to the Forestry SSH server named floo.forestry.oregonstate.edu.  View detailed instructions at http://helpdesk.forestry.oregonstate.edu/remotely-access-network-files-using-winscp.
  3. In WinSCP, look in the right-hand pane to locate the network file(s) you want to access.
      a) The GROUPS folder contains files found on the T:\Groups drive
      b) The SHARE/Commons folder contains files found on T:\Commons.
      c)  The SHARE/Teach folder contains files found on T:\Teach.
      d) The HOMES folder contains files found on your N: drive (see the next note for more detail).
  4. To access files stored on an N: drive, you'll need to know the name of your home server (e.g- Larix, Rhus, Rhamnus, etc).  Contact the Forestry Computing Helpdesk if you need help getting that information.

 

Mapping a Network Drive (requires an OSU VPN connection)

This connection method is similar to Secure File Transfer, except you'll manually map a network drive and use Windows Explorer to access any network files.

  1. Establish a VPN connection.  Instructions to setup/install the VPN software are available at http://oregonstate.edu/helpdocs/vpn/setup/windows.
  2. You'll need to know the name of the server that contains the files you want to access.  Contact the Forestry helpdesk for assistance with this type of information.
  3. On your home computer's desktop, right click on Computer (My Computer on Windows XP) and select 'Map Network Drive.'
  4. To access files on your N: drive: In the Folder field type \\{Your_Home_Server}.forestry.oregonstate.edu\home\{username}.  Press <Enter>.
  5. To access files from T:\ in the folder field type \\abies.forestry.oregonstate.edu\forshare\. Press <Enter>.
  6. You will be prompted for a user name and password. You can enter either:
      a) {yourfirstname}.{yourlastname}@oregonstate.edu or
      b) forestry\{yourusername}
    in the user name field and then enter your Forestry network password in the password field.

You should now have access to the files in your Windows home directory and any subdirectories. Important Note: If you are running Windows XP and have the Windows XP firewall enabled, you must disable it when you connect to the VPN, and you must have "Enable NetBIOS over TCP/IP" selected in order to access your files and browse the network. See the Helpdesk if you are unsure where these settings are located on your Windows XP machine.

 

 

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