RDG - Microsoft Remote Desktop Connection for Windows - mstsc.exe

Configuring the Remote Desktop Gateway in the Remote Desktop Connection application

1. Open the Remote Desktop Connection application

2. Click the Show Options button in the lower left corner of the application window

   
   
   

3. Click the Advanced tab

   
   
   

4. Click the Settings... button in the Connect from anywhere section

   
   
   

5. On the RD Gateway Server Settings window, ensure the following are set:

   • The Use these RD Gateway server settings option is selected

   • The Server Name is set to rdg.austin.utexas.edu

   • The Logon method is set to Ask for password

   • The Bypass RD Gateway server for local addresses checkbox is cleared

   • The Use my RD Gateway credentials for the remote computer is set as follows:

     • For users that will connect to the remote computer with their EID, the checkbox should be checked

     • For users that will connect to the remote computer with an account other than their EID, the checkbox should be cleared

     
     
     
     

6. Click OK to close the RD Gateway Server Settings window

   
   
   

7. Browse to the General tab

   
   
   

8. Click the Save button in the Connection settings section

9. Click Hide Options button
   

Connecting to Remote Desktop resources through the Remote Desktop Gateway

1. Open the Remote Desktop Connections application

2. Ensure that Configuring the Remote Desktop Gateway in the Remote Desktop Connection application section above has been completed before continuing.

3. Fill in the Computer text box with the name of the computer that you intend to access

   
   
   

4. Click Connect
   

   
   
   

5. In the Windows Security window, provide your EID prefixed with AUSTIN\ and your EID password then click OK

   1. If the Use my RD Gateway credentials for the remote computer option was selected in the Configuring section above, the window will show the provided credentials will be used for both the RD Gateway and the remote computer
      

      
      
      

   2. If the Use my RD Gateway credentials for the remote computer option was not selected in the Configuring section above, the window will show the provided credentials will be used for the RD Gateway

      
      
      

6. The Remote Desktop Connection application will start the connection process.

   
   
   

7. Approve the Duo authentication request.

   • The Duo authentication request will be sent to the default authentication method configured for your EID

   • Push notification and phone calls are supported by the Duo for RD Gateway software

   • Passcodes are not supported for two-factor authentication by the Duo for RD Gateway

8. If the Use my RD Gateway credentials for the remote computer option was not selected in the Configuring section above, you will be prompted for the credentials for the remote computer:
   

9. Remote Desktop Connection will show the following window while completing the connection to the remote computer

Ending Your Connection

These instructions assume you are connected to Windows 10, Windows Server 2016, or Windows Server 2019, other operating systems will have different methods for ending a Remote Desktop session. Please contact your desktop support staff for assistance with Remote Desktop resources that run other operating systems.

WARNING:  Selecting shutdown or sleep can cause your host to no longer accessible, it is very unlikely you will want to shutdown your host.

Sign out: Ends the host desktop session and disconnects your remote connection.
Restart: Ends the host desktop session and disconnects your remote connection as well as restarts the target computer.
Disconnect: Keeps the host desktop session running but disconnects your remote connection.  This method consumes remote host resources and can be harmful to servers as resources are consumed by these unused sessions.

Virtual Machine (VM) note: if connected to a VM you will most likely want to 'Sign out' to end your session and conserve resources.

Physical Computer note: if connected to a physical computer you may wish to leave your session running as you may have processes which need to continue.  'Sign out' is still the most common option but you may also will wish to 'restart' or occasionally 'disconnect'.

1. Inside the Remote Desktop session, right click on the Start icon in the lower left hand corner of the Remote Desktop resource

2. Select Shut down or sign out then select Sign out(or other option as needed) to end your session