Creating a Remote Desktop Icon

In order to create an icon on a UAH or personal computer to allow you to easy access and log in to your office computer on campus, there are a few preparations that need to be made. The first step is to install the UAH VPN client to the computer that will be used off-campus. The second is to gather a network address from your on-campus/office computer so it can be identified when the remote connection is set up. If you have trouble with obtaining the computer's IP address, OIT can try to assist you in gathering it.

From Your Office Computer (Windows OS)

1. First you will need to have some information from the computer you want to be able to connect to. This information is called the IP address, which identified it uniquely on the UAH network.
    
   1. Open up the Windows command line tool by typing in cmd.exe into the Run field of your start menu (Windows 7) or the search box to the left of it (Windows 10). Click the icon for the result that comes up.
      
      
       
   2. In the window that comes up, type ipconfig /all and press Enter.
   3. Use the scroll bar to find something called the IPv4 Address. For UAH systems it will likely begin with 10.1 or 146.229. The entire address will be a set of four numbers. Make sure that you get them from the correct line. Below is an example screenshot with the IP address boxed in red.
      
      
       
2. Write down the IP address to reference when you create the icon on the other computer.

On Your Laptop/Home Off-Campus Computer (Windows OS)

1. Minimize any windows so you can see your computer’s desktop. Right-click in any empty space, then go to New and Shortcut.
   
   
    
2. In the window that opens you will have to type in the location to point the shortcut. You will want to enter in:
            
               mstsc.exe /v:XXX.XXX.XXX.XXX
   
   However, you will want to replace the XXX.XXX.XXX.XXX with the IP address you recorded from the computer in your office on campus. Click Next.
   
   
    
3. Finally, enter a name for the shortcut. Usually UAH Remote Desktop is a good option. Click Finish.

You can now use this icon after connecting to the UAH VPN to remotely connect to and control the computer in your office from a computer off-campus.