Preparing to Use Remote Desktop - Faculty & Staff (Windows)

Preparing to Use Remote Desktop - Faculty & Staff (Windows)

Overview

This article will discuss the preparation required for using Remote Desktop to access a campus computer.
Remote Desktop is a feature on Windows desktops that allow users to remotely connect to and control a computer and use the computer as if in person.

NOTE: This article describes the process for faculty & staff needing to remotely access a computer in their office.
A separate article describing the process for students remotely accessing computer lab stations may be found here (Windows & Mac) and here (Chromebooks)

 

Installing VPN (if accessing from off-campus)

In order to remotely access an office computer while off campus, users must be connected to a SEMO virtual private network (VPN). A VPN causes the remote computer to appear as if it is physically on the SEMO network, and allows for Remote Desktop access.

For information on the VPN's available, and the process for gaining access checkout the article Southeast VPN Information.

WHEN OFF CAMPUS - Users MUST be connected to a SEMO VPN before attempting to connect to an office computer using Remote Desktop 

 

Preparing Office Computer for Remote Access

During the spring semester of 2025, local administrator rights were removed from SEMO computers. One side affect of this change, is that users no longer have the ability to connect their computers via Remote Desktop by default. Therefore, this access needs to be requested prior to attempting to connect. This only needs to be requested once. 

NOTE: If this is the first time the user is attempting to connect to an office computer via Remote Desktop, the user must submit a Request for Remote Desktop Access. 

 

Locating PC Name

Before a computer can be remotely accessed, the computers address must be determined. In this case the address can either be the computer's hostname or IP address.

While either will allow the remote connection, the hostname is the preferred address to use.

Locating Hostname and IP Address - Method #1 - Command Prompt

  1. In the search bar to the right of type cmd
  2. The Command Prompt system application will be presented. Click to Run.
  • To determine the computer's hostname, do the following:
    1. Type hostname and press Enter.
    2. The computer's hostname will be displayed. For campus computers it will likely be displayed in the format of "a-12345678".
    3. Make note of the hostname for future reference.
  • To determine the computer's IP address, do the following:
    1. Type ipconfig and press Enter.
    2. The computer's IP address will be displayed as the IPv4 address in the format 150.201.xxx.xxx
    3. Make note of the IP Address for future reference.

Locating Hostname and IP Address - Method #2 - System Settings

  • To determine the computer's hostname, do the following:
  1. Click or press the Start button 
  2. Click Settings 
  3. Click System
  4. The computer name will be listed under Device specifications
  5. Make note of the hostname for future reference
  • To determine the computer's IP address, do the following:
  1. Click or press the Start button 
  2. Click Settings 
  3. Click Network & internet
  4. Click Advanced network settings
  5. Click Hardware and connection properties 
  6. Locate the section for the type of connection being used (i.e. Ethernet (wired) or Wi-Fi (wireless)
  7. Find IPv4 Address in the list - it should be in the format 150.201.xxx.xxx
  8. Make note of the IP address for future reference​.​​​​​​ 
NOTE: While the hostname of a computer is a single "name", the fully qualified hostname includes information about the network the computer is part of.
In the case of SEMO computers, the fully qualified hostname will be in the format hostname.semo.edu. This is the format that should be used in Remote Desktop.

 

Verifying the Best Address Option

Now that the computer's hostname and IP address are known, the best address to use for remote access can be determined.

As in Method #1 above, access the Command Prompt

  1. Type nslookup ip address and press Enter
  2. The Name and Address should match the hostname and IP address respectively
  3. If they match use the Hostname (as shown here)*
  4. If this is not the case, use the IP Address to remotely access the computer

 

If there are any questions or issues regarding this information,

please contact the IT Help Desk at 573.651.4357 or helpdesk@semo.edu.

Print Article

Related Articles (3)

Local Administrator Rights and Remote Desktop
This article provides guidance to those employees who need to access their office computer remotely.
Southeast VPN Information
To accommodate remote working and teaching, Southeast has developed Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) that can be used to access university resources and university office computers while off-campus.
Using Windows Remote Desktop to Access Office Computer (Windows)
This article demonstrates using the Remote Desktop Utility to connect to a remote Windows computer.