Remote Computing

Need a program that’s only available on Windows and you have a Mac? Really need to log into a lab computer but campus is closed? The College of Engineering offers multiple solutions to utilize computer resources in or out of the computer labs. Most of the applications available in the engineering computer labs are also available remotely. See below for both Windows and Linux remote options.

Windows Remote Computing

Updated Fall 2021: New URL vdi.engineering.iastate.edu

IMPORTANT: You must be running the latest version of VMware Horizon Client to connect to VDI.

For instructions on how to connect to VDI from a PC, click here

For instructions on how to connect to VDI from a Mac, click here

Have you already used VDI in past semesters? Click here to update to our new server, vdi.engineering.iastate.edu

Windows App Streaming – New Winter 2021

Engineering students now have access to app streaming through Microsoft Azure. This can be accessed through a webpage or using the Microsoft Remote Desktop App (Windows, MacOS, iOS, Android). Apps available for streaming are: ANSYS, AutCAD, Inventor, Civil 3D, Mastercam, MATLAB, Microsoft Project, Star-CCM, and Mathematica.

For instructions on how to connect, click here.

Linux Remote Computing

There are several ways to access Linux systems remotely. The protocols that we support are the Secure Shell (SSH), Secure Copy (SCP), Secure File Transfer Protocol (SFTP), and VMWare Virtual Desktop (VDI).

SSH, SCP, and SFTP are widely used, reliable, and there are several good free and simple-to-install programs available that you can use from your own computer. All data transferred using SSH, SCP, and SFTP are encrypted, making it difficult for anyone to steal your data or your password.

SSH is used for command line access.
SCP and SFTP are used for remote file access.

SSH Access by OS

From UNIX/Linux

Most UNIX and Linux variants have SSH programs installed, frequently the OpenSSH version. To use the OpenSSH SSH client program on UNIX/Linux, simply type SSH followed by the name of the computer in a command shell.


From Mac

The Terminal application included with macOS can be used for SSH or there are several other 3rd party SSH client programs for Mac.


From Windows

There are several good SSH client programs for Windows. A very simple and easy to install SSH client program for Windows is called PuTTY.

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