The server winsrv01.cs.virginia.edu is a general purpose Windows server that provides multiple simultaneous Remote Desktop (RDP) sessions. The server is running Windows Server. Users can create unique RDP desktop sessions on this server and run Windows applications. This server is useful for students or faculty who need to run a Windows application but do not have a PC desktop or laptop.

The server can be accessed by using a typical Remote Desktop client application. This is freely available from Microsoft for Windows. It is also freely available from the Apple Store for Mac (https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/microsoft-remote-desktop/id1295203466?mt=12). Linux users can use Remote Desktop Viewer or Remmina, available through the Ubuntu software utility.

Once you have installed the Remote Desktop client application, specify winsrv01.cs.virginia.edu as the “Computer” to which you wish to connect. You may have to include the CS Dept domain when you specify your “Username”, for example “CSDOM\abc1de” (note the backslash unique to Windows).

UVA blocks RDP sessions from off Grounds, so you must create a VPN session before attempting an RDP session from off Grounds. See: Linux Server Access for more information about VPNs.

If you have just gotten a new CS Dept. account, you will have a default password that must be changed on first login. However, Windows Server doesn't allow a login with a default password. So you have to change the default password somewhere else, typically on our Linux servers. So, open a terminal window, and use ssh to portal.cs.virginia.edu to change the default password (i.e. “ssh <userid>@portal.cs.virginia.edu”, for example, “ssh abc1de@portal.cs.virginia.edu”). You will be prompted for your current password, and then for your new password. Once you have changed the default password, you can use the Remote Desktop application to connect to winsrv01.cs.virginia.edu with your new password.