Remote Access

View How-To Guides on Remote Access

There are several kinds of remote access available -- the term "remote access" can mean several different things.

  1. Remote Desktop access is a way of accessing and controlling your office computer's desktop as if you were sitting in front of it.  This can be useful for connecting to your office PC to access applications installed there, for example.  You can connect from either a Mac or a Windows client.  From campus, it's just a matter of running the Remote Desktop client software and typing the name of your computer.  To connect from off campus, you'll need one other step...

  2. VPN or Virtual Private Networking is a way to connect to the campus network and attach your computer to it as if it were on the campus network. This allows you "inside the gate" so that you can access things that are not made available outside of campus. Remote Desktop, for example, is not available outside of campus, so if you want to connect from off campus you'll first have to connect to the VPN. The easiest way to get started if you've never used the VPN is to go to the following website:

    https://vpn.gatech.edu

    After you log in, the site will allow you to download the appropriate VPN client for your computer.  Please note that If you have a Georgia Tech owned computer, you should already have this client installed.

    Through the VPN, you can also access NAS storage from off campus using the same techniques mentioned above.  The Office of Information Technology maintains and supports the VPN and provides VPN documentation and guides.

  3. Occasionally you may need/want to access your NAS files remotely without connecting to the VPN. IAC provides a secure file transfer (sftp/scp) service to allow this. You use a software client to connect to your home directory, download files, make changes, and then upload them back to the NAS.  Some clients you can use include:

    • WinSCP for Windows

    • Cyberduck for MacOS

    You can also access your prism file space in this way by connecting to acme.gatech.edu with these software packages.

  4. Sometimes you may just need to access a piece of special software remotely.  Many software applications provided by the college or its schools are available remotely via the Virtual Lab (VLab) system and the IAC Stats Server.