Connecting to LRDC Fileserver Remotely
Using Windows XP & SRemote VPN
October 2013
In order to access the LRDC file server remotely/off campus, or from Wireless Pittnet, you must first authenticate to LRDC using Pitt’s Secure VPN.
Connecting to the Secure VPN Service
To connect to the Secure VPN service, open Internet Explorer (other browsers are incompatible with this service). In the address field, type https://SREMOTE.PITT.EDU and then press the Enter key.
You may want to add this address to your Favorites.
Authenticating to the Secure VPN
You will need to enter your University Computer Account username and password in order to authenticate to the Secure VPN. Please make sure you use the username and password for your Pitt email and NOT the LRDC file server at this screen.
1 Type your username and password.
2 Click the Log In button to continue.
Note: If after clicking the Log In button you see an error message, click the browser’s Back button and make sure that you have typed in all information correctly.
Install Juniper Network Connect
The first time you access the Secure VPN, you must install a small program. If you are using Internet Explorer, you will likely see the following alert:
1. Click on the information bar.
2. Click on Install Active X Control.
3. You will then be prompted to Install Juiniper Network Connect; click Run or Allow
Network Connect Launch
1. You will see an initial screen that indicates the various access groups available to you (see Fig.
#1 below). Click on Firewall-LRDC-Users-NetworkConnect. (If you do not see this, please contact LRDC Computing Services at x4-7033 to request access to the LRDC Network Connect Mode on Pitt’s Secure VPN)
2. You will then see the Welcome screen for the Secure VPN service (see Fig.#2 on next page) To connect to the VPN, click the Start button across from Network Connect.
Fig.#1
Fig.#2
Network Connect Load Process
After you have clicked the Start Session button, the Network Connect ActiveX control will be loaded onto your workstation. This process may take several minutes depending on the configuration of your workstation and the performance of your network connection. Once the Network Connect software is fully loaded, there will be a new icon in the Windows system tray. Doubleclicking on this icon will bring up the Network Connect status window.
Fig.#3
If the load and program initiations were successful, the Network Connect Status will change from Connecting to Connected, as in the following window:
Disconnecting from the Secure VPN
Double-clicking on the Network Connect icon in the system tray area of your workstation desktop provides an option to terminate the connection. (See Fig.#3 on previous page.) Prior to ending the connection you should terminate any applications running on your workstation that use the secure connection, and click the Sign Out button to terminate all connections to the Secure VPN.
Note: You may use the Secure VPN service for a maximum of four hours at a time. After four hours you will be automatically disconnected from the service. You will also be automatically disconnected from the Secure VPN service if you are idle for thirty minutes.
Connecting to the LRDC File Server
Once connected to the Secure VPN, you may access the LRDC File Server one of two ways:
Connecting through the Run command
Connecting through ‘Add a Network Place’
Connecting through the Run command
Connecting to the file servers through the Run command is best for situations where you want to gain quick access to a file server for a single use. For example, it can be helpful when you need access to your files from another LRDC computer.
Click on Start and then select Run. In the dialog box, enter: \\fileserver.lrdc.nt.pitt.edu
When prompted, enter your file server username and password. When typing your username, you will need to precede it with the domain lrdc\ - for example, if your username is tomj, you will need to type “lrdc\tomj”.
You are now connected to the file server. A server window will open with all available server shares – the majority of users will connect to the Project share. If you are part of a group that uses one of the others, you will have already been granted access.
Connecting through Add a Network Place
Adding the file server as a network place will add selected server shares to your Network favorites.
This allows you to easily maintain a list (favorites) of all shares that you wish to connect to. This method is recommended for people involved in several projects who need quick access to multiple file servers. (Note: This process only needs to be completed once; you do not have to run the Wizard every time you wish to connect to the file server.) Please note that you must choose a share name when doing it this way, you cannot just choose the server itself as you can when using the RUN command.
Use the following steps to create a list of “favorite” server shares:
1. Navigate to My Network Places either through the Start menu or the Desktop icon.
2. Click Add a network Place from the left side bar to begin the Add Network Places Wizard.
3. Press Next at the Add Network Places Wizard welcome screen.
4. Select Choose another network location and click Next.
5. In the text box, enter the full UNC path to the share you would like to add. For SHARENAME, choose the share that you wish to access (for example, PROJECT).
6. When prompted, enter your file server username and password. When typing your username, you will need to precede it with the domain lrdc\ - for example, if your username is tomj, you will need to type “lrdc\tomj”.
After specifying the name of the network place, you can click Finish to complete the wizard.
You are now connected to the file server. You may now also gain access to the network share that you just added, through My Network Places.
In addition, you can right-click and drag the shortcut from the My Network Places window onto your desktop and select Create Shortcut Here from the context menu to create a desktop icon.
If you have any questions regarding connecting to the LRDC File Server on a Windows XP computer, please call Computing Services at x4-7033.
