Reaching RDS Resources (Mac)

Reaching RDS Resources (Mac)

 

 

The MicroAge Lab maintains a Microsoft Remote Desktop Services (RDS) infrastructure to broker access to Windows-based servers in the lab. These RDS components allow a user to work on these machines running on the lab's servers via a remote connection.

Launching RDS Resources from a Mac

These instructions are for Mac users. Please instead see this page if you need instructions for connecting from a PC.

To access RDS resources from a Mac, the Microsoft Remote Desktop 10 app needs to be installed.

1. Go to App Store.

2. Search for Microsoft Remote Desktop 10  in App Store.

Image
Search for Microsoft Remote Desktop 10 on Apple App Store

 
3. Download and install the Microsoft Remote Desktop 10 app on your Mac.

Image
Download and install Microsoft Remote Desktop 10 app

 
4. Go to the MicroAge Lab RDS web access site: https://rdgw.microagelab.arizona.edu

5. For the domain\user name, put catnet\<your NetID>. (For example, my userID is xiaol, so I put catnet\xiaol here). Make sure to put backslash here (not a forward slash); otherwise it will not work!
For password, put your NetID password. When done, click Sign In

Image
Sign in to the RDS system with your NetID credentials.

 

Image
Sign in to the RDS system by clicking the button.

 

6. On the Work Resources RemoteApp and Desktops page, you will be presented a list of remote machines that you are permitted to access. To begin working with one of them (in this example, we're trying to access the MicroAge Lab Staff resource; your resource will have a different name), click on it to download the .RDP file to your machine.

Image
List of RDS resources that you can access.

 
7. After the file is successfully downloaded, click on the downloaded file in your browser it to launch. Once launched, the file should automatically open with the Microsoft Remote Desktop 10 app.

Image
Click on the downloaded RDP file to launch it in the Microsoft Remote Desktop app.

 

You may also find the file in your computer's Downloads folder:

Image
Run the .RDP file from your Downloads folder to launch it in the Microsoft Remote Desktop app.

 

8. When connecting, you'll be prompted again for credentials. Input your catnet\<your NetID> and password again, same as step 5, then click OK. This will attempt the login process.

Image
Use CATNET\<NetID> and your NetID password to log into the remote resource.

 

10. You will be logged in and your remote resource is ready for use.

Image
Start using your resource.

 


More Information About Our RDS Resources

Some other things you should know about machines in our RDS system:

  • We apply idle session limits to our machines. This is similar to a screen lock; when a user does not interact with the remote resource screen for a period of time (for example, 30 minutes), the connection will be terminated but the session itself will still be running on the remote computer. A user can log back in to the system to continue their work where they left off, so long as the session hasn't been disconnected for 2-3 days.
  • We apply disconnected session limits of 2-3 days, to allow for background patching and administrative activity to take place. This means that if you become disconnected from your session and don't reconnect within 2-3 days, you will be logged out, and any work still running won't be saved!
  • If you need additional users to have access to your machine(s) over the RDS, please contact us with a detailed support request. 
  • MicroAge Lab staff retains administrative access rights to all machines under our purview, but generally only use these when needed, and expect our administrative end-users to manage their own machines in accordance with our University's information security policies and with security best practices.

  

Technical Support

If you have questions or feedback on this guide, or are having trouble with the MIS department's software license systems, remote desktop services, or other systems, please contact the MIS Academic and Research Technologies Group by e-mailing artg-support@email.arizona.edu. Please include as many details as you can, and provide screenshots if necessary. We generally respond to support requests within 1-2 business days.

If you experience technical issues with your computer, you may want to contact The 24/7 IT Support Center. The 24/7 provides computing support to University of Arizona students, faculty and staff. You can find their contact information on the 24/7 IT Support Center webpage

If you do not know your NetID credentials, or are having trouble with the WebAuth system, please contact the 24/7 IT Support Center at 520-626-TECH.