RDS – what is it?
RDS provides access to a Windows desktop and Windows applications. You can access RDS from a range of platforms including Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, and iOS. This is available to all computers that are connected to the network. External access is also possible as long as you have an VPN connection.

RDS – what does it do?
You can launch individual applications which each appear in their own window, or launch a full desktop which acts like a normal Windows PC.RDS provides access to the applications listed below.

Remote Apps
When running the Apps from Windows or OS X the Apps interact seamlessly with the active desktop.

Microsoft Office

Browsers

Applications

Remote Desktops
This icon launches a full screen desktop session which includes all of the published Remote Apps listed above

RDS – how do I access it?
Access to RDS is available to all devices on the NBI network using either a wired or wireless connection.

To access RDS remotely outside of the NBI network a VPN connection must first be established.

Connect using Windows devices
You can use the Remote Desktop Connection program or a web browser to access RDS on Windows.

Using Remote Desktop:

Method 1 [Recommended Option]

Download the connection files from a Web browser – https://winrds.nbi.ac.uk. Login in your username@nbi.ac.uk to launch the apps.

Method 2

Create a permanent connection so that applications can be launched directly from the Start Menu.

 

Using the web client:

Browse to https://winrds.nbi.ac.uk/RDWeb/webclient/. Login in your username@nbi.ac.uk to launch the apps.

Connect using a Mac
There are two methods for accessing RDS using a Mac.

Using Remote Desktop: [Recommended Option]

Use the Remote Desktop Application so that applications can be used in a similar way to any other App. This method is best if you frequently want to access RDS resources.

Using the web client:

Browse to https://winrds.nbi.ac.uk/RDWeb/webclient/. Login in your username@nbi.ac.uk to launch the apps.

Connect from Linux
There are two methods for accessing RDS using Linux

Using the web client: [Recommended Option]

Browse to https://winrds.nbi.ac.uk/RDWeb/webclient/. Login in your username@nbi.ac.uk to launch the apps.

Using FreeRDP v2: 

This gives you a full desktop window within your session.

Connect using mobile devices
Microsoft have released Remote Desktop clients for Android and iOS which can be used to access the published resources.

Follow the relevant procedure below to get started: