VNC using Microsoft's Remote Desktop 10 – For MacOS

This manual is written based on Mojave Version 10.14.4

Starting Spring 2021, Remote Desktop Connection must be connected via IIT VPN connection if you are outside of Illinois Tech Network

If you are inside of Illinois Tech Network, skip to Step 5

1. Visit https://ots.iit.edu/network-infrastructure/vpn-remote-access and follow instructions according to your computing environment. Please contact Support Desk directly at supportdesk@iit.edu for further assistance

2. Once installed, execute Cisco AnyConnect from your computer. In the address field, enter vpn.iit.edu. When prompts for Username and Password, enter your IIT Hawk email address (username@hawk.iit.edu) and password. It will perform an update in the first login process.

3. VPN program will now proceed to Illinois Tech Multi Factor Authentication process. On your phone, you will receive a notification from Okta app to approve this request. Click Yes to continue. If you still have trouble connecting to IIT-VPN, please refer to detailed steps from here (https://ots.iit.edu/network-infrastructure/vpn-setup-and-connect-using-cisco-anyconnect-windows) and/or contact OTS Support (supportdesk@iit.edu).

4. In any case the program alerts that the login does not work, please open up a ticket at OTS SupportDesk by emailing supportdesk@iit.edu. OTS will help your ID to work for VPN.

5. Open Terminal on your Mac

6. ECE Server Systems (Saturn, Uranus and Endeavour) can be connected via SSH using Terminal. Type "ssh yourID@saturn.ece.iit.edu" or "ssh yourID@uranus.ece.iit.edu" or "ssh yourID@endeavour.ece.iit.edu". If it is the first time connecting to Saturn, Uranus or Endeavour, you'll encounter a message about RSA key fingerprint. Type "yes" and press enter, then type in your password.

7. Now, use your ID and password to login to Saturn, Uranus or Endeavour. If you see similar windows like the following figure, you are successfully logged in.

8. In order to start your remote session to Saturn, Uranus or Endeavour, you'll need to start VNCserver from your account. With VNCserver, you can choose your desired remote screen resolution. For example, if your desired remote screen resolution is 1440x900, then type "vncserver -geometry 1440x900" like the below figure:

9. Now, Saturn, Uranus or Endeavour will generate your virtual remote desktop on the server with a designated port number for your account. Any VNCserver port number for Saturn, Uranus and Endeavour will start with 59xx. In the below example, the generated port number is 9, thus your VNCserver port number will be 5909.

10. Lastly, you'll need to set up your VNCserver password. This should be done only once at first time using VNCserver. Type "vncpasswd" and type in your password. This password will be used to connect to your remote session. If you have set your VNCserver password previously, you don't need to do this again.

11. Now, your remote desktop session is created on Saturn, Uranus or Endeavour. You'll need to install Microsoft Remote Desktop 10. Go to App Store, and search for Microsoft Remote Desktop 10 and install:

12. Open Microsoft Remote Desktop 10, and you'll see the following window. Click on "Add Desktop"

13. Add a Desktop with the PC name: saturn.ece.iit.edu if you are using Saturn. Type in uranus.ece.iit.edu if you are using Uranus. Type in endeavour.ece.iit.edu if you are using Endeavour

14. Now, you'll see saturn.ece.iit.edu or uranus.ece.iit.edu or endeavour.ece.iit.edu added to the list. Double Click on the server domain name. Click continue if you encounter a message like the following figure:

15.You may encounter a message box asking for your login credential like the below figure. Type in only your username and click Continue.

16. You may encounter the following window. Click on OK.

16. You will first see this from your Microsoft Remote Desktop 10 application. Click the button in red box like the below figure:

17. Click on the second textfield, remove everything by pressing backspaces. Then, type in your VNC port number generated from Procedure 5. In this example, you'll need to type 5909. In the last textfield, type in your VNC password that you set in Procedure 6. Once you are done, click the first button to connect.

18.Once you are successfully logged into the system, you'll see similar window like the following figure:

19.You can now use Saturn, Uranus or Endeavour using Microsoft Remote Desktop 10.

20.Everytime when you are done with your session, be sure to close your current VNCserver by killing the process from PuTTY, by typing "vncserver -kill :port number". In this example, it would be vncserver -kill :9