Remote Access

A summary of remote access methods for computing resources.

VPNs

Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) enable IP traffic to travel securely over a public TCP/IP network (e.g. the Internet) by encrypting all traffic from one network to another. Effectively you get an IP address on the private network.

Information about the Departmental VPN service, including downloadable installer packages, is available.

The University Computing Service provide a VPDN Service which will get you an IP address in cam.ac.uk but most chemists will probably want to use the Chmeistry service as that gives you more access to journals.

Proxy service for journal access

The University Library offers a proxy server which can be used for off-site access to some journals for which the University has a subscription.

Raven Access to Web Resources

ssh Access via a Bastion host

Our Department perimeter firewall blocks most incoming traffic, but ssh is allowed to some computers/hosts.

You'll need to get an account on one of the Chemistry Department Bastion Hosts (remote access with ssh).

There's documentation for simple use of SSH (Secure SHell), SFTP (Secure FTP) and SCP (Secure Copy).

From outside the CUDN: 

ssh mr349@arwen.ch.cam.ac.uk (fails)
ssh mr349@citadel.ch.cam.ac.uk
ssh mr349@arwen.ch.cam.ac.uk (works)

If you want remote display to work (e.g. xclock to run on the remote computer/host and to display on the computer you are using (remotely) then you want X11 forwarding. Please check the specific details for Windows / OSX / UNIX 

ssh -XC mr349@citadel.ch.cam.ac.uk
xclock &
ssh -X arwen (note the lack of -C as we do not need compression inside the Chemistry Department Network)
emacs thing.html &

Remote Access to Windows Desktop

Configuring Windows for remote access with remote desktop (client and server)

SSH Tunnel Windows Terminal Services/Remote Desktop 

ssh -CL 3390:renown.ch.cam.ac.uk:3389 mr349@citadel.ch.cam.ac.uk
rdesktop localhost:3390 &

More Technical Tricks You Can Play With ssh Tunnels

To direct all of your web browser traffic via the Cambridge webcache (therefore browsing as though you are inside the CUDN): 

ssh -L9871:wwwcache.cam.ac.uk:8080 mr349@citadel.ch.cam.ac.uk
point your browser at locahost:9871 as a web proxy

Note: this will not cover https (port 443).