How to remote in to your on-campus computer from home

Overview

Some faculty and staff use a desktop computer on campus that they occasionally need to access remotely. 

• Jump to instructions for Windows to Windows computer
• Jump to instructions for macOS to macOS computer
• Jump to instructions to connect from a macOS to a Windows computer

Windows to Windows

1. From your off-campus Windows computer, connect to the MHC VPN.
2. Open the Remote Desktop Connection app by typing "remote" from the Start menu.
3. Enter the computer name of the Windows machine you want to connect to, followed by .ms.mtholyoke.edu, and select Connect. 
   • Ex. MLYON-000000.ms.mtholyoke.edu
4. Enter your MHC Account password (the same password that you would use to log into your MHC email or my.mtholyoke.edu account) then select OK.

macOS to macOS

Via shared network

1. From your off-campus macOS computer, connect to the MHC VPN.
2. Open Finder. Your MHC macOS computer should appear under "Shared".
   • If you don’t see the Shared section, choose your device (listed under “Devices”) → Network → double click your MHC Mac.
   • The Network tab may also appear under “Locations,” depending on your Mac.
   • In the unlikely case your MHC computer does not appear under Shared or Network, scroll down and follow the steps for connecting via terminal before returning to this step.
3. Once you’ve double-clicked on your MHC device, choose Share Screen. 
4. The Screen Sharing app will open. Enter your MHC username and password. 

Via Terminal

1. Open the Terminal app. 
   • To find Terminal, select the magnifying glass in the top right corner of your screen to open Spotlight Search. Type “terminal,” and double-click the app when it appears in the search results.  
2. Type the ssh command to connect to your MHC Mac, then select Return.
   • The general format of the ssh command is ssh username@IPAddress.
   • If you don’t know the user name and IP address for your MHC Mac, open the Remote Login pane of Sharing preferences (on your MHC Mac). The ssh command you need is shown below the “Remote Login: On” indicator.
3. Enter your password, then choose Return.
4. When you are successfully logged in, return to Step 2 of Connect from an at-home Mac to an MHC Mac. 

macOS to Windows 

1. From your off-campus macOS computer, connect to the MHC VPN.
2. Download the Windows App (formerly called "Microsoft Remote Desktop") from the Mac App Store.
3. Open the app, and choose Add PC.
4. Enter the computer name of the Windows machine you want to connect to, followed by .ms.mtholyoke.edu, and select Add. 
   • Ex. MLYON-000000.ms.mtholyoke.edu
5. Double-click the computer from your Windows App dashboard. 
6. Enter your MHC username and password when prompted, then Continue.
7. If you receive a notice that your connection may not be secure, choose Continue.