VNC using Microsoft's Remote Desktop Connection – For Windows

This manual is written based on Windows 11 24H2

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://www.iit.edu/ots/access/vpn-remote-access and follow instructions according to your computing environment including downloading the IIT VPN software. 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 full 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://www.iit.edu/ots/access/vpn-remote-access/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 Support Desk by emailing supportdesk@iit.edu. OTS will help your ID to work for VPN.

5. Download and Install PuTTY from https://www.putty.org/

6. Type endeavour.ece.iit.edu under Host Name. Use Port 22, and select SSH as your connection type

7. For the first time connecting to Endeavour, you'll encounter this message. Click Yes.

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

9. In order to start your Remote Desktop session on 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 1920x1080, then type "vncserver -geometry 1920x1080" like the below figure:

10. Now, as shown in the above figure, Endeavour will generate your virtual remote desktop on the server with a designated port number for your account. Any VNCserver port number for Endeavour will start with 59xx. In the below example, the generated port number is 1, thus your VNCserver port number will be 5901.

11. 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. Note that this password is different than your Endeavour account password.

12. Now, your remote desktop session is created on Endeavour. You'll now need to open up this remote session using Microsoft Remote Desktop application. This application is a built-in software to all Windows operating system. Click on the Start button or Windows button on your keyboard. Then, type "Remote Desktop Connection" and execute the program. You'll see the program like the following figure and type in endeavour.ece.iit.edu:

13. Once you click "Connect", you'll see the following pop-up window. Click Yes:

14. You will now see the following screen. You’ll need to type in your Endeavour account ID, password that you set using vncpasswd, and the port number. In this example, the port number is 5901, which was generated from Step 10.

15. Click OK and you will be logged into Endeavour Remote Dekstop. Once you are successfully logged into the system, you'll see similar window like the following figure:

16. You can now use Endeavour using Microsoft's Remote Desktop Connection.

17. 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 :1 like the following figure: