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UB Information Technology

Macintosh Computers

Using My Virtual Computing Lab from a Macintosh computer requires a special remote desktop app that you download from Microsoft. You can access the software in My Virtual Computing Lab using this app, as well as save work to your UBfs Myfiles (S: drive), your local hard drive (Macintosh HD) or any connected drives and print to any connected printer.

Requirements

To run Remote Desktop, you need:

  • Operating System: OS X 10.5 or above
  • Hardware: Intel processor
  • On-campus: A secure connection using wired ResNet, an OpenPort or UB Secure Wi-Fi
  • Off-campus: A connection using the off-campus VPN client AnyConnect

Downloading and Installing Remote Desktop Client

  1. Browse to Microsoft Office Downloads for Mac (link opens in a new window).
  2. In the left-hand column near the bottom, click the Remote Desktop product category.
  3. In the center column, click on the link for the recommended version: Microsoft Remote Desktop Connection Client for Mac.
  4. Click Download Now!.
  5. You are redirected to the Microsoft Download Center. Click the orange DOWNLOAD button.
  6. A window pops up. Click Save File.
  7. The file is downloaded. Double-click the highlighted file in your browser's Downloads window.
  8. A window pops up showing the RDC (Remote Desktop Client) Installer file you just downloaded. Double click on the "package" icon.
  9. The Microsoft RDC for Mac Installer begins. Click Continue, and follow all instructions. The application is now installed.

Connecting

Connect to My Virtual Computing Lab using Remote Desktop.

  1. Select Finder > Applications > Remote Desktop Connection.
  2. In the Menu Bar, anchored to the top of the screen, click RDC > Preferences.
  3. To make your UBfs Myfiles space (S: drive) and any connected drives available during your remote session, click the Drives tab, then select All disk drives from the dropdown menu.
  4. To make your connected printers available during your remote session, click the Printers tab. Make sure the box next to Use a printer that is connected to the Mac is checked. From the dropdown menu, select the printer you wish to use, or select All printers.
  5. Click the red circle in the upper left of the Preferences window when you have finished setting your options (it is not labeled). The window closes.
  6. To save these settings for future connections, in the top Menu Bar click File > Save. If you do not save the settings at this time, you will be given another opportunity to save them when you exit the remote session. The next time you launch the Remote Desktop Connection, your most recently saved settings will be used.
  7. In the box next to Computer, type ubvcl.buffalo.edu.
  8. Click Connect.
  9. A window appears warning you that, "You are sharing your Mac hard disks with a Windows-based computer." Click Connect.
  10. In the window which says Enter your credentials, enter the following information:
    • User name: your UBITName
    • Password: your password
    • Domain: ad
  11. Click OK.

You are now connected to My Virtual Computing Lab.

Managing My Virtual Computing Lab

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