Remotely Access Your Building Automation System
Remotely accessing a Building Automation System via the internet is an effective tool for operating and maintaining your system. Many solutions are available in the marketplace today ranging from 3rd party software like Symantec’s pcAnywhere or Laplink’s Laplink Gold to web based solutions like LogMeIn, GoToMyPC or WebEx’s PCNow. An often overlooked no cost solution is Microsoft’s Remote Desktop Connection (RDC).
If your building automation system has a broadband internet connection, a router and has Windows XP Pro or Windows Vista installed on it, you can access it from any other computer running Windows from anywhere in the world using Remote Desktop Connection. Remote Desktop software is pre-installed with Windows XP and Vista. The other versions of Windows, like ‘98, Me, and 2000 do not have Remote Desktop included however the software is available as a free download from Microsoft.
A few steps are required to configure your building automation system to accept connections from outside computers and additional security measures are required to keep your system safe from people who might be scanning for computers with RDC installed.
SETUP “STRONG” PASSWORDS
Remote Desktop relies on Windows passwords for login. If you currently do not have a password, or if your password is not “strong”, change it. At a minimum, your password should be 10-12 characters long, with a combination of letters, numbers and special characters. Change the password for your Windows user account from the Users section of the Control Panel. Finally, don’t forget to setup strong passwords for all your energy management, access control and CCTV applications.
ENABLE REMOTE DESKTOP
First, we must enable Remote Desktop on the building automation system. Open System Properties by right clicking the My Computer icon in the Start menu and choosing properties or Windows Key + Pause/Break on your keyboard. Click the Remote tab in System Properties and check the box next to Allow users to connect remotely to this computer.
CONFIGURE YOUR ROUTER
If your router still has the factory default password, change it. Again, a strong password of 10-16 characters, with a combination of letters, numbers and special characters is advised.
The next step in the procedure is to configure your router to allow inbound connections to Remote Desktop on your building automation computer. This requires mapping a port on your router to a port on your local computer. The process is called “port forwarding” and it varies depending on the type of router, but in general there are a similar series of steps. Routers made by Linksys refer to the port forwarding page as Applications & Gaming, most other routers refer to port forwarding options as Virtual Servers. To forward a router port to your building automation system your need to configure it as follows:
TEST YOUR CONNECTION
To test the RDC connection you will need to access your BAS remotely but first you will need to know the Internet or WAN IP address provided by your ISP to make the connection. You can usually be found by reviewing the status page of your router or you can find it at: http://whatismyip.com/.
To run Remote Desktop from a remote location using Windows XP, start the Remote Desktop Connection as follows: click Start, click All Programs, click Accessories, and then click Remote Desktop Connection. You should now be able to logon and operate your building automation system as usual.
CONCLUSION
The remote desktop connection is a free (included in XP Pro and Vista), reliable and fairly secure tool that allows you to access your building automation system. These computers can be located anywhere in the world – provided you have network access and appropriate permissions on the building automation computer.
If your building automation system has a broadband internet connection, a router and has Windows XP Pro or Windows Vista installed on it, you can access it from any other computer running Windows from anywhere in the world using Remote Desktop Connection. Remote Desktop software is pre-installed with Windows XP and Vista. The other versions of Windows, like ‘98, Me, and 2000 do not have Remote Desktop included however the software is available as a free download from Microsoft.
A few steps are required to configure your building automation system to accept connections from outside computers and additional security measures are required to keep your system safe from people who might be scanning for computers with RDC installed.
SETUP “STRONG” PASSWORDS
Remote Desktop relies on Windows passwords for login. If you currently do not have a password, or if your password is not “strong”, change it. At a minimum, your password should be 10-12 characters long, with a combination of letters, numbers and special characters. Change the password for your Windows user account from the Users section of the Control Panel. Finally, don’t forget to setup strong passwords for all your energy management, access control and CCTV applications.
ENABLE REMOTE DESKTOP
First, we must enable Remote Desktop on the building automation system. Open System Properties by right clicking the My Computer icon in the Start menu and choosing properties or Windows Key + Pause/Break on your keyboard. Click the Remote tab in System Properties and check the box next to Allow users to connect remotely to this computer.
CONFIGURE YOUR ROUTER
If your router still has the factory default password, change it. Again, a strong password of 10-16 characters, with a combination of letters, numbers and special characters is advised.
The next step in the procedure is to configure your router to allow inbound connections to Remote Desktop on your building automation computer. This requires mapping a port on your router to a port on your local computer. The process is called “port forwarding” and it varies depending on the type of router, but in general there are a similar series of steps. Routers made by Linksys refer to the port forwarding page as Applications & Gaming, most other routers refer to port forwarding options as Virtual Servers. To forward a router port to your building automation system your need to configure it as follows:
- Application or Description field: Remote1 (for example)
- Port Range Start: 3389
- Port Range End: 3389
- Protocol Type: Both (or TCP if a both option isn't available)
- IP Address of your BAS: Type ipconfig at the command line if you don't know this.
- Enable: check a box to enable the port forward
TEST YOUR CONNECTION
To test the RDC connection you will need to access your BAS remotely but first you will need to know the Internet or WAN IP address provided by your ISP to make the connection. You can usually be found by reviewing the status page of your router or you can find it at: http://whatismyip.com/.
To run Remote Desktop from a remote location using Windows XP, start the Remote Desktop Connection as follows: click Start, click All Programs, click Accessories, and then click Remote Desktop Connection. You should now be able to logon and operate your building automation system as usual.
CONCLUSION
The remote desktop connection is a free (included in XP Pro and Vista), reliable and fairly secure tool that allows you to access your building automation system. These computers can be located anywhere in the world – provided you have network access and appropriate permissions on the building automation computer.
Labels: Remote Access
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