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Using TS-ACCESS for Remote Desktop Access

Introduction

TS-ACCESS is a remote desktop access feature available to CUA faculty and staff who need to access

administrative systems or other computing resources that are not reachable from outside the main

campus network.

TS-ACCESS is a set of Microsoft Windows servers running Remote Desktop Host Services. Microsoft

Office 2010 is available on the TS-ACCESS servers. (Because TS-ACCESS is shared among multiple users,

some configuration and other functionality are not available.)

Requirements

Security configuration for the remote computer

The remote computer (your local system) that will be used to connect to the TS-ACCESS Remote

Desktop servers must meet the following requirements. The goal of the requirements is to ensure that

the remote computer is and remains free of malware to prevent compromising the communication

between it and the CUA Remote Desktop Host servers.

1. Up-to-date operating system software is required. The operating system updates

recommended by the manufacturer must be installed when they are released. The best way to

do this is to enable automatic delivery of the latest software updates to the computer.

2. Antivirus software use is required. Antivirus software on the Microsoft Windows or Mac OS X

remote computer must be installed and in use, the antivirus software updated regularly, on-

access virus scanning enabled, local hard drive scans performed at least weekly and any

malware infections remedied immediately.

3. Software firewall use is required. A software firewall must be enabled on the remote computer,

and configured to block unauthorized access from the network to the computer.

4. Check for and remove unexpected external devices. Malicious software can be running on USB

or other external devices attached to the remote computer. Check your computer’s ports,

including those in the back of the computer, to be sure no unexpected devices are connected.

Please review the "Safe Computing Practices" article in the Security section of the the

computing.cua.edu web site for more detailed information.

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Remote Desktop Connection software TS-ACCESS uses the Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) to allow a remote computer to connect. Your

computer needs to have RDP client software installed. The most common RDP client, and the one

supported by Technology Services, is Microsoft Remote Desktop Connection (RDC), available for both

Windows and Mac OS.

Microsoft Windows

Remote Desktop Connection is built into Windows. On Windows 7, it is found under the Start

menu, in Accessories. On Windows 8, you can search for it in the tile interface. You should

make sure that the Remote Desktop Connection software on your computer is up-to-date by

performing a Microsoft Update that includes optional updates.

Apple Mac OS X

You can download the free Microsoft Remote Desktop application from the Mac App store.

Once installed, Remote Desktop is found in Applications.

Remote Desktop Connection only

Although there are other RDP clients available, Technology Services supports only the use of Microsoft

Remote Desktop for TS-ACCESS.

Using TS-ACCESS

Run Remote Desktop Connection

Run the Remote Desktop Connection software to connect to TS-ACCESS. On Windows 7, it is found under the Start menu, in Accessories. On Windows 8, you can search for it in the tile interface. On Mac OS X, Remote Desktop is in Applications.

You may want to pin the application to the Start menu (place it in the Dock), or create a desktop shortcut (alias).

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Connect to TS-ACCESS

Remote Desktop Connection prompts for the computer to which it should connect.

Enter ts-access.cua.edu at the Computer prompt.

Then click the Connect button.

Log on to TS-ACCESS

Depending on your version of Remote Desktop Connection, you will be prompted for your credentials.

Enter your CUA network logon username, preceded by “CUA\”, for example, “CUA\lincolna”. (Do not include the quotation marks.)

Then enter your CUA network logon password.

Read the information on the TS-ACCESS logon screen and click OK.

The first time you log on, TS-ACCESS sets up your user profile.

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Run applications on TS-ACCESS

Once you are logged onto TS-ACCESS, you can run Office 2010 or use Internet Explorer to access CUA administrative systems such as Cardinal Station, Cardinal Financials and Cardinal Advancement.

The first time you use the system, Outlook must be configured, and you will need to map your network drives. These steps need to be done only once per TS-ACCESS server, and are described in detail below.

Configure Microsoft Outlook The first time you use Microsoft Outlook 2010 on a TS-ACCESS server, its Account Configuration wizard will run to get you connected to your CUA mailbox. In the Account Configuration dialog box, select Yes to configure an e-mail account and click Next. Click Next again to begin the Startup wizard. On the Auto Account Setup screen, although it looks like you need to type something, instead wait a moment or two and the Outlook Startup wizard will identify your address automatically. Click Next. The Setup wizard configures your e-mail server settings. Click Finish once your account has been successfully configured. You need to do these steps only the first time you log onto a TS-ACCESS server.

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When you log on subsequently, Outlook will start normally, without invoking the Startup wizard.

Map Network Drives

The first time you connect to a TS-ACCESS server, you will need to map your office network drives (shares) if you need to access files on them. Make a note of the drive letters and share names you need while you are on campus, before you use TS-ACCESS. (Note: you can’t map to drives on your remote computer, only to CUA network drives.)

To map to a CUA network drive on a TS-ACCESS server, click Start and then select Computer.

In Computer, click Map Network Drive.

Use the pull down list to specify the drive letter. Type the Folder as “\\servername\ sharename”, for example “\\cuasentk\xyz_common$”. Be sure to check the “Reconnect at logon” box.

Once you have mapped a drive this way, it will map automatically on subsequent logons to that TS-ACCESS server.

Map Network Printers

If you need to send printed output to a network printer on campus, you need to map the printer before using it for the first time. Make a note of name of the network printer that you need while you are on campus, before you use TS-ACCESS. (Note: you cannot print to a printer attached to your remote

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computer, only to networked printers on campus.)

To map a network printer on a TS-ACCESS server, click Start, then select Computer.

In Computer, click Open Control Panel.

In Control Panel, in the Hardware section, click View Devices and Printers.

In Devices and Printers, click Add Printer.

In Add Printer, click “Add a network, wireless or Bluetooth printer”.

If you see the printer that you want in the list, click to highlight it and click Next to map it. Otherwise click “The printer that I want isn’t listed”.

Select option “Select a shared printer by name”. Enter the name of your printer, e.g., “\\NTSRVA\XYZ_HP4300”. As you type the name, a printer list will appear. If you find your printer in the list, highlight it and click Next to map it.

TS-ACCESS will load the driver software for that printer. Once the printer has been installed with the appropriate driver, click Next. Then click Finish.

You need to do these steps only the first time you use that printer on a TS-ACCESS server. When you log on to that TS-ACCESS server subsequently, the printer will be available for your use.

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Using nVision Drilldown for Cardinal Financials

Internet Explorer is the default browser on TS-ACCESS. Cardinal Financials users needing to use the nVision Drilldown Excel macro should use Internet Explorer.

Ending the TS-ACCESS Session

When you are finished using the TS-ACCESS remote access server and have saved all your work,

1. Log out of TS-ACCESS: Click Start, then click Log off.

Do not just close your Remote Desktop Connection software. The correct way to disconnect is to log off.

Last Revised 11/14/2014.