Terminal Server Information

The Department of Sociology maintains two servers running Microsoft Windows Server with Terminal Services. These servers permit Sociology graduate students, staff, and faculty to run statistical software from anywhere in the world and analyze datasets stored on our file servers. When you log in to a terminal server, you get a familiar Windows desktop environment (called a "session") in which to open and edit files, run analysis programs, or use specific software packages.

How to Connect to the Terminal Servers

You will want to find the package (specific to your Linux distribution and window manager) that acts as a graphical front end to the Linux program "rdesktop" - in Gnome or KDE, this is part of the internet tools suite and is often called "Terminal Server Client", "tsclient", or "Remote Desktop Client"

1. If you're using Windows (XP/Vista/7/8/10)

   Use Windows' built-in Remote Desktop Connection client. It's usually located in the Start Menu under All Programs --> Accessories --> Remote Desktop Connection. In the "Computer" field, enter the DNS Name of the server you want to use; see the table below. For example, to log in to TSGRAD, type tsgrad.soc.washington.edu and click "Connect".

   A shortcut to users running Windows Vista or 7 - click on the Start Menu and start typing "Remote Desktop" (without the quotation marks) and the icon for Remote Desktop Connection will automatically appear in the menu.
    

2. If you're using a Mac, or an older version of Windows (Windows 95/98/2000) 

   Download a version of the Remote Desktop Connection client that is appropriate for your computer:
    

   • Click here to download the RDC client for Windows
   • Click here to download the RDC client for Mac OS X
      

   When your download finishes, find the file and run it to install the software. After installation, you can connect to a terminal server by running the RDC program in the Start Menu under All Programs --> Accessories --> Communications --> Remote Desktop Connection. (If you're using a Mac, find Remote Desktop Connection in your Applications folder and double-click its icon.) Then, in the "Computer" field, enter the DNS Name of the server you want to use; see the table below. For example, to log in to TS3, type ts3.soc.washington.edu and click "Connect".

Important Note About Logging In: When you connect to the terminal servers, you'll need to use your SOCIOLOGY domain credentials. This means that you'll want to enter your username in the following manner:

SOCIOLOGY\myusername

Which Terminal Server Should I Use?

There are two terminal servers available for use by Sociology faculty, staff and students. These servers -- TSFAC, and TSGRAD -- carry a full complement of software that is geared toward statistical application use.