How to RDP into a CSIL physical workstation with SFU VPN
This page focuses on assisting people with SFU VPN access, with detailed instructions on how to RDP (aka Remote Desktop Connection) into a CSIL workstation (both Ubuntu and Windows) and the CSIL Windows Terminal Server.
Important: since there is only 1 RDP session active on a CSIL workstation, please logout when you finish using it. The CSIL workstations are commonly scheduled to reboot about 3:00am Vancouver local time.
Remember: we recommend using CSIL VDI over RDP into a CSIL physical workstation if you need CSIL Ubuntu GUI interface.
If you have any comments and/or suggestions, please contact us.
Some of the terminologies we are using on this page:
username: your SFU Computing ID
FQDN: fully qualified domain name, ending in .sfu.ca (e.g. asb9700-c09.csil.sfu.ca)
RDP: Remote Desktop Protocol; it is also called Remote Desktop Connection
SFU VPN: Virtual Private Network
SFU MFA:
Multi-Factor Authentication; mandatory for all SFU users. Please sign up now!
OTP: One-Time Password; the password appears and changes every 30 seconds on your SFU MFA device.
Quick start - RDP into a CSIL workstation
- Which CSIL workstations I can RDP into?
- May I RDP into the CSIL workstation I used last time?
Step by step guides:
- RDP into a CSIL Windows system
- RDP into a CSIL Linux workstation
RDP from different devices
Quick start - RDP into a CSIL workstation
- Please ensure that the SFU VPN is connected on your device.
- For security reasons, standard RDP port is not used. Please check this page for the port number to use in CSIL.
For example, from your Windows laptop, run the command (first change "workstation" to a real workstation name):
mstsc /v:workstation.csil.sfu.ca:portnum
(username: ad.sfu.ca\myusername)
(login here to know the portnum)
If you want to connect to a non-CSIL Windows system, please check out another guide.
Goto the step by step guide on RDP into a CSIL Windows system.
Fast forward to the step by step guide on RDP into a CSIL Linux workstation.
Which CSIL physical workstations I can RDP into?
For Fall 2024 (1247) semester,
The CSIL users can RDP into these (login to see the full list):
- 162 designated Linux workstations
- 124 designated Windows workstations
The MPCS students can RDP into 90 designated Linux workstations - (login to see the list for MPCS).
Please note: on-site users may boot these workstations to different OS.
May I RDP into the CSIL physical workstation I used last time?
Yes and No.
Since there is only 1 active RDP session allowed on a workstation, please be sure no other people's session is running on it.
- If there is none available, please inform us. In the meantime, please try our CSIL Windows Terminal Server if a remote Windows system is what you need.
And please logout (sign-out) when you finish using it. TIA!
Step by step guide: RDP into a CSIL Windows system
Before we begin: on this page, we use "workstation.csil.sfu.ca" as the sample hostname - it is not a real workstation name. Be sure to replace it with the FQDN (Fully Qualified Domain Name) of the CSIL workstation you want to use!
We will use Windows Remote Desktop Connections (legacy application) as the example on this page. The instructions would be very similar with other applications and on other platforms.
Be sure you are connected to the SFU VPN. Do *not* use any RD gateway server.
Launch Remote Desktop Connections (e.g. run mstsc without any parameters); a window like this shows:
Replace the Computer and Username values highlighted in red below with your own username and the full name of an available workstation:
Computer: the full name of the CSIL Windows workstation you want to connect to followed by a colon ":"
and the special secrete port number.
Username: use the format "ad.sfu.ca\username".
special note: for other RD client applications, there might be different ways to specify username.
Under the tab "General", click button "Save As..."
Key in a name to reflect that it is a random CSIL Windows workstation for future use.
You could save this "rdp" file anywhere you want, but it is recommended to place in a folder you will use regularly; for example, the "Desktop".
Click button "Save".
Now, we are back to the first window, click button "Connect";
If a warning window shows, (claims identity of remote computer cannot be verified), ignore it by clicking "Yes". We are sure our workstations are safe to use.
Now, a "Windows Security" window shows, key in the password for your SFU Computing ID
Please make sure the check button for "Remember me" is UNCHEKED.
Safety caution: please never save password on a mobile device.
Click button "OK" and the connection will be made successfully.
done.
Step by step guide: RDP into a CSIL Linux physical workstation
Before we begin: on this page, we use "workstation.csil.sfu.ca" as the sample hostname - it is not a real workstation name. Be sure to replace it with the FQDN (Fully Qualified Domain Name) of the CSIL workstation you want to use!
We will use Windows Remote Desktop Connections (legacy application) as the example on this page. The instructions would be very similar with other applications and on other platforms.
Be sure you are connected to the SFU VPN. Do *not* use any RD gateway server.
Launch Remote Desktop Connections (e.g. run mstsc without any parameters); a window like this shows:
Enter a value in the field highlighted in red below:
Computer: the full name (FQDN) of the CSIL Linux workstation you want to connect to with a colon ":" then the special secrete port number.
Username: leave this field blank.
Click the tab 'Display", select "True Colour (24bit)" for the colour depth.
Click the tab 'Experience", select "LAN (10 Mbps or higher)" for connection speed.
Click the tab "General", click button "Save As..."
Key in a name to reflect that it is a random CSIL Linux workstation for future use.
You could save this "rdp" file anywhere you want, but it is recommended placing in a folder you will use regularly; for example, the "Desktop".
Click button "Save".
Now, we are back to the first window, click button "Connect";
Now, a dialogbox shows and asks for credentials; enter your SFU Computing ID and your SFU Mail password.
Click button "OK" and the connection will be made successfully.
Now, the familiar CSIL Ubuntu desktop shows.
If this is a CSIL@Burnaby Linux workstation, the desktop looks like this:
If this is a CSIL@Surrey Linux workstation, the desktop looks like this:
done.
How to RDP into a CSIL physical workstation from a Mac system
Preparation:
You must have Microsoft Remote Desktop 10 app installed on your Mac system. Please search for "Microsoft Remote Desktop" in the App Store and follow the instructions to get its latest stable version installed.
You must have SFU VPN connected on your Mac while establishing the RDP connection.
* important *:
use the FQDN of the CSIL Windows workstation you want to connect - replace "workstation.csil.sfu.ca".
use the special secrete port number - replace the "portnum".
Steps:
launch the app Microsoft Remote Desktop; key in the following information:
Connection name: a CSIL workstation
PC name: workstation.csil.sfu.ca:portnum
use the following method for credential:
User Account: ad.sfu.ca\myusername
Password: SFU Mail password
Remember: please logout (sign-out) instead of disconnecting after you finish using this system.
How to RDP into a CSIL physical workstation from iPad
Preparation:
On the iPad, from the App Store, download & install the free app "Microsoft Remote Desktop" (vendor: the Microsoft) - be sure to use latest stable version.
You must have SFU VPN connected on your iPad while establishing the RDP connection.
* important *:
use the FQDN of the CSIL Windows workstation you want to connect - replace "workstation.csil.sfu.ca".
use the special secrete port number - replace the "portnum".
Launch "Microsoft Remote Desktop" (aka RD Client), create & save a new connection like this:
Connection name: a CSIL workstation
PC name: workstation.csil.sfu.ca:portnum
User name: ad.sfu.ca\myusername
Please leave the "Password" field blank - never save your password!
Now, you could start your connection, use your SFU Mail password to logon.
Remember: please logout (sign-out) instead of disconnecting after you finish using this system.
How to RDP into a CSIL physical workstation from a Linux system
Please be sure you have a RDP client tool on your Linux system. We use Remmina as example here - please see the following images for details.
A few important points:
- have SFU VPN connected on your iPad while establishing the RDP connection.
- use the FQDN (Fully Qualified Domain Name) of the remote system you want to connect - replace the portion "workstation.csil.sfu.ca"
- use your SFU Computing ID in place of "myusername"
- use the special secrete port number in place of "portnum"
- specify "ad.sfu.ca" as the domain
- leave the password field BLANK, never save your password
Remember: please logout (sign-out) instead of disconnecting after you finish using this remote system.
If you could not find answers to your questions here, please email helpdesk.
Last updated @ 2024.11.29