We have installed a system to provide Remote Windows Desktops which can be used by anyone with an account in the Observatory of LION. This system is currently build out of three components, a Remote Desktop Server which is the entry point to the system and to physical servers that perform load balancing for all remote deskop requests. You start a Remote Desktop Service (RDS) client on your laptop, or any appliance for that matter, and contact the main server through an ssh tunnel (how to do this is described below). Once you connect to the main server you are redirected to one of the two physical servers which will host your Remote Desktop session. You then have a fully operational Windows desktop environment running inside your RDS client.

You may find on some desks in the Observatory standard docking stations (ThinkPad) that can be used for any Windows, Mac or Linux based laptop, provided it has a USB-C connector. Our docking stations are connected to a keyboard, mouse, two screens, cabled internet and a power supply. You just have to connect your laptop using the available USB-C cable and boot it.

• Windows: you need to go to the settings->Display wher you can set you preferred screen orientations and layout.
• MacOS: you need to install the free package DisplayLink Manager once before you connect to the docking station. Follow the instructions to enable the software (System Preferences → Security)
• Linux: normally your window manager has a Display menu item in which you can set the layout and orientation of the different screens.

For details on how to access the Remote Desktop service:

• Remote Desktop Clients