There are several methods of remote access available depending on how much you want to access, how frequently you need access, and what domain you are a part of. This page will help you decide which is right for you.
If you are unsure whether you are part of the Medschl, BioSci or SLCU domains, please see – confluence article – What domain am I on? if you are unsure.
Accessing your Email / Calendar / Contacts / Tasks
If you have an @Medschl or @SLCU email address, this is what is called your Microsoft “Exchange” account, and this contains your email, calender, contacts and tasks. If you use an @Cam address then you probably use the University central ‘Hermes’ system which just provides email. Whichever you use, there are multiple ways of accessing these accounts, and which is best for you depends on your working habits:
Via a browser
Domains Supported: All Platforms Supported: All browsers
To access your account from any computer or mobile device without installing or setting up Outlook, you can use the webmail interface:
School of Clinical Medicine – CSCS Supported – https://webmail.medschl.cam.ac.uk
Department of Zoology – https://webmail.hermes.cam.ac.uk/
Sainsbury Laboratory : https://email.slcu.cam.ac.uk
School of Clinical Medicine – Not CSCS Supported – https://webmail.hermes.cam.ac.uk/
On your Mobile device
Domains Supported: All Platforms Supported: Android, iOS, Windows Phone, Blackberry
If you want your mobile device to access email, calendar and contacts, as well as receive new mail notifications then you will need to configure a mail application on your device.
We describe how to configure the default apps in our User Guide
On your Home PC or Mac
Domains Supported: All Platforms Supported: Windows, Mac OSX
If you frequently access your email from home, you may wish to set up Outlook on your personal PC:
Set up Outlook on a home PC – User Guide
Set up Outlook on a home Mac – User Guide
Accessing your Network Files
Every CSCS customer has a 50GB network “home” drive for secure storage of their files (also called the U: drive). On a Windows PC, your ‘Documents’ and ‘Desktop’ are automatically saved here. On a Mac or Linux PC it is available as a separate drive . You might also have a group drive. You can access these drives remotely with multiple methods – even if your PC is off.
Offline Files
Domains Supported: All Platforms Supported: Windows
If you take a Windows laptop off-site, then it will automatically take a copy of your home drive files for you to work on while you are away. This is known as “Offline Files”. When you return on-site, any changes you have made will be automatically synced with the home drive versions. It is important to realise that changes you make while offline are not backed up until you sync on-site. More information in the User Guide.
Via a browser using WebSFTP
Domains Supported: Medschl Platforms Supported: Windows, Mac OSX, Linux
You can download files from your network drives to any computer using the webSFTP service https://me-sftp.medschl.cam.ac.uk. You will need to upload files files back to your Home Drive or Group Drive if you make any changes.
Instructions on using WebSFTP in our User Guide.
via SFTP Client
Domains Supported: Medschl. Biosci Platforms Supported: Windows, Mac OSX, Linux
With an FTP client such as Filezilla installed on your PC, you can transfer files to and from your network drives.
Instructions in our User Guide.
via File Syncing (Dropbox / Druva / OneDrive)
If you regularly work across multiple PCs and work off-site, a file Syncing solution might be the most appropriate solution. Most people have heard of Dropbox, but there are other (and better) solutions.
The University has recently purchased a Microsoft Agreement that entitles all staff to a 1TB OneDrive for Business account. These will be available in 2016.
For sensitive data we have a system using in-house storage called Druva – contact the Service Desk for details.
Citrix Remote Access (formally Mints@Home)
Domains Supported: Medschl Platforms Supported: Windows, Mac OSX, Linux
With Citrix Remote Access you have browser-based access to a Virtual Desktop running Windows 7, Office 2013 and other business orientated applications. Your email account, desktop, documents, home and group drives are all loaded automatically, making this an exceptionally simple solution to working off-site. You will also have access to University resources such as UFS or library journals.
Citrix Remote Desktop costs £7.37 per month and requires you to install a software application called “Citrix Receiver” on the PC you wish to connect from. CSCS supported computers have Citrix Receiver pre-installed.
Apply for Citrix Remote Desktop via the Online Form
Instructions on using Citrix Remote Desktop in our User Guide
Accessing the Internal Network or Systems
If you work off-site regularly and wish to access multiple on-site resources, you can use one of the following solutions:
Citrix Remote Desktop – Remote Apps
Domains Supported: Medschl Platforms Supported: Windows, Mac OSX, Linux, Android, iOS, Windows Phone
Citrix Remote Desktop also provides applications including Remote Desktop Connection and Putty (SSH / Telnet), allowing you to connect to on-site resources such as other computers, network storage, websites, journals. See above for details.
VPN (Virtual Private Network)
Domains Supported: All Platforms Supported: Windows, Mac OSX, Linux (Linux has unofficial client support)
A VPN is a way of connecting your off-site computer directly to the University network. It allows you to access internal resources such as other computers, network storage, websites, journals using the applications already installed on your off-site computer.
To use the VPN service you must be subscribed to both the CSCS network connection and User Account services. Please note that the VPN service requires a moderate amount of technical ability to use – If you are a beginner then we recommend using another service, such as Citrix.
The VPN service is free, but must be applied for using this online form.
Instructions on using the VPN service in our User Guide
