Remote Desktop Connection

------VPN ------

(Last Update: January 8, 2019)

(See notes at end.)

On the PC in your Office (or the PC that will be remotely accessed):

  1. The Office PC* must have a Windows logon password.
    If your Office PC does not have a password setup, you will need to do it now.
    (Start; Control Panel; User Accounts; select user (if more than one);
    Create a password (if this is not an option, there is already a password in place)).
  2. Obtain your Office PC’s IP address.
    You will need this when you get to your remote location.(Start; Run; CMD; ipconfig; Exit;)
  3. Enable Office PC to except remote access.(This process requires administrator privileges.)

Windows XP:
Right click My Computer; Properties; Remote Tab:
Check the box in front of “Allow users to connect remotely to this computer.”

Windows 7:

Right click My Computer; Properties; Remote Settings, Remote tab:
Check the box in front of “Allow connections from computers running any version of Remote Desktop (less secure).

  1. Verify Firewall is properly configured.(This process requires administrator privileges.)
    Step 3 often times will automatically make this change for you.
    Windows XP:

(Start, Control Panel; Windows Firewall).
Best: Click on Exceptions tab and place a check in front of ‘Remote Desktop’.
Acceptable: Turn Firewall off (on the General tab).
Windows 7:

(Start, Control Panel; Windows Firewall, Allow a program or feature through Windows Firewall, scroll down to “Remote Desktop, Click “Change Settings” button, Check Home/Work (Private) column for remote desktop, Click OK).

  1. Confirm User Name.

Click Start, Right click Computer (Windows XP = My Computer), Click Manage, Double Click “local Users and Groups” (left column), Click Users (left column), make a note of the user name.

  1. Leave your Office PC on.

On the remote or offsite PC:

  1. Bring up a web browser.
    Navigate to
    (The ‘s’ is needed (use https instead of http).)
  2. One may see something similar to the image at right.

First click on OK in the dialog window in the center of the display, if this dialog box is displayed. Secondly, in order to get past this, one could click on the “Allow once” button, but this will have to be done each time access to the VPN is required. A better way to accomplish this is to identify the VPN server to ones browser as an acceptable source for popups. To do this, see not on line).

  1. One should now see:

This window must remain “open” throughout the VPN session, it can however be minimized.

If one sees the Extender dialogue box, click the “Run” button.

This window must remain “open” throughout the VPN session, it can however be minimized.

  1. Now start (or connect to) the Remote session by clicking on, the windowsStart button, “All programs”, “Accessories”, “Remote Desktop Connection”.

If this box appears, click on “Don’t Block” button.

If this dialogue box appears, click on the “Trust server” button.

Click OK.

  1. The blankRemote Desktop Connection window should appear.Input IP address. Click Connect.

Progress bar will appear indicating it is attempting to connect to the remote PC.

  1. Problem with connection.

This connection failure box may appear. This must be corrected before the connection will be successful.

  1. If no problems were found with the connection, the following should be displayed:

There should be a yellow key in the system tray, bottom right of display.

If this dialogue box appears click on the “Allow access” button.

  1. Logon to the remote PC:

When this window appears, it should have (in place of 10.10.10.10) the IP address of the device one is attempting to connect to. Input ones user name and password, and click OK.(Your remote PC will be logged out of windows, if logged in at the time.)

This may follow:

If this dialog window appears, first try ones credentials again. If the result is the same, click on “Use another account, and input user name and password here.

Click “Yes”.

  1. The remote desktop should now be displayed with something similar to the following at the top of your screen.
  1. When done, Disconnect from your Office PC.
    The ‘X’ on the bar above will do this or Start; Disconnect.
    You should get a message saying your session has ended or you have been disconnected.

After you have disconnected from your Remote PC (your Office PC), the yellow key in the system tray will remain. This means you are still connected to the VPN client. You will want to disconnect from VPN. To do this right click on the yellow key and click Disconnect.

Connect Remotely From Within the Network (i.e. On campus):

Start; All Programs; Accessories; Remote Desktop Connection; IP address; Login.

NOTES:

*For clarification purposes this document uses the term Office PC to refer to the PC on your desk at work, and Remote PC to refer to your PC at home or wherever you are.
If you forget to disconnect your Remote PC from your Office PC, you can do this in your office by logging onto your Office PC. The VPN connection will however, still be connected.

Prior to this process being completed you will need the following:
A.) Administrator privileges on both PC’s,
B.) Your Zimbra User id and password,
C.) Your Office PC’s IP address.

Originally compiled October 2009.

1/8/2019 - KilpatrickVpn-Remote_Desktop_Connection2.Doc1