The Research Studio

Steps to Remote Access

Note: These instructions are for users who have booked at least one reservation for remote access in the past.  First time users, please see the New Users Reservation Calendar.

1. Make a Reservation

Create a reservation in our RESERVATION SYSTEM 1 hour ahead of your desired appointment time,

• Click Next available or if you have a specific date in mind, click Go to date. 
• Read and agree to the terms of services and conditions before continuing. Continuing with the reservation implies you agreed with terms of service.
• Enter your details and indicate what software you intend to use.

2. Confirmation

You will receive a confirmation email with login instructions.

3. Time of Reservation

• Log into a WashU VPN.
• Follow the connection link under directions in your confirmation email.
• Download the connection link (this is a .rdp file)
  • Mac users: you will need to install the Microsoft Remote Desktop Application
• Click on the connection link (.rdp file)
• When prompted, log into the system with your WUSTL key.  Be sure to include the "accounts" domain with your WUSTL key username - accounts\<your wustl key>.  For example, if your WUSTL key is jsmith you would enter accounts\jsmith in the username field.

4. Please log out at the end of your session and remember these systems reboot daily at 5 am; any personal files will be lost.  Store your working files between sessions in a remote location (i.e. Box or other network drive).

Note: Research Studio new-user access and technical support requests are only monitored 8:30am-5pm, Monday-Friday. We do not have staffing in evenings or on weekends, but we will attend to your issue ASAP on the next business day.

By submitting this request you agree to:

1. While the standard booking time is 2 hours per day, the maixum booking time 6 hours per day.
2. Only access the system during your confirmed session time.
3. Log out a the end of your scheduled time.
4. Having your privilege revoked if the agreements or terms of service are breached.
5. Terms of Service:

WashU Libraries provides the Research Studio remote desktop connection to WashU students, faculty, staff, and other authorized members of the Washington University community.  The Research Studio workstations provide access to specialized software and tools for conducting data analysis (full list of software available here). This is a shared resource available only to members of the WashU community to further educational, research, medical, service, and University-related activities and missions.  

WashU community members are responsible for all activity involving their WashU accounts, and are granted privileges and responsibilities with these accounts. These privileges must not to be used to violate any university policy, or city, state, or federal laws or regulations.  

Circumventing WashU policies to compromise the security of an account, system, devices, network, or WashU partner will not be tolerated. Users will adhere to the terms of all End User License Agreements and Terms of Service for the software provided, and consent to the terms by the log in and use of the software on the Research Studio workstations. Access may be revoked immediately in cases of misuse or threat to WashU systems and networks. 

For questions about use of Research Studio remote desktop, please contact WashU Libraries. 

VPN provides a virtual means to connect to campus-restricted resources.

• VPN instructions for Danforth students: https://techden.wustl.edu/resources-2/network-guide/washu-vpn/

• VPN for others: https://it.wustl.edu/items/connect/

Having trouble connecting to a Research Studio machine? Try these troubleshooting steps:

1. Confirm that you have made a reservation and received a confirmation email from Libcal.  Note that first-time users require a two-day lead time for reservations.

2. Reboot your computer.

3. If attempting to connect from an off-campus location, confirm that you have successfully signed in to a WashU VPN.  If you have questions about the WashU VPN options or requirements, see WashU IT's Connect page. Note that in most cases, this means the Cisco AnyConnect application should be installed on your machine.

4. If attempting to connect from an on-campus location, confirm that you are using a WashU network that requires credentials (e.g. wired network or wireless network that requires a login, not a guest network).

5. If you are using a Mac, confirm that you have installed the Microsoft Remote Desktop application.

6. Confirm that you are entering your credentials correctly, including the accounts domain ("accounts\") before your WUSTL key.  No other domains will work. 

Sometimes computers will attempt to "pass through" credentials from the user account on the machine.  This will cause issues. See the example below.  This computer has attempted to pass through credentials from a domain that is not 'ACCOUNTS' - click the "More choices" and "Use different account" links to enter a different domain and username (e.g. accounts\jsmith).

7. Uninstall and reinstall the Cisco AnyConnect application (used for connecting to the VPN).  After reinstalling, reboot your computer and attempt to connect to the Research Studio machine again.

8. If you have tried all of the above steps and are still seeing a connect error similar to the following image:

It is possible that the machine to which you are trying to connect is turned off.  Go back to the reservation page and make a reservation for a different terminal and try to connect to that machine.

9. If you continue to experience issues, please contact the Data Services team. Research Studio access and support requests are only monitored 8:30am-5pm, Monday-Friday. We do not have staffing in evenings or on weekends, but we will attend to your issue ASAP on the next business day.