UC Merced IT Department - Guides & FAQs: Remote Access

Remote Access

Remote Access Overview

ISP FAQ

VPN Software

VPN Tutorial
Guides & FAQs

Email configuration - Find out more information about your email account, access and setting up email clients.

Directory and Calendar services - Information about UC Merced's central electronic directory and the services it helps drive.

Safe computing - Information about viruses, spam, firewalls, operating system updates, and other methods of insuring the safety of your computer's data.

Document management and file storage - Information on the two complementary facilities available for document management and file storage.

Wireless networking - Information on and help with the wireless networking services being deployed throughout UC Merced on an ongoing basis.

Remote access - Information about ISPs and the UC Merced VPN (Virtual Private Network) facility.

Using web services - Including myUCMerced, UCM Mail, UCM Calendar, and other UCM web services.

Interim CMS - An introduction to UC Merced's Interim Content Management System.

Using UCMCrops - Guides to using UCMCrops including the Blogger.

Faculty CMS - A guide to the Faculty Content Management System.

Illegal File Sharing Notice - No Illegal File Sharing.

Banner INB - A guide to Banner Student Information System.

Web Site and Application Design, Development, and Hosting - Information and help for faculty, staff and students.

Information About Mobile Devices - Information about cell phone acquisition, cell phone coverage, and calendar and email synchronization on PDAs.

Printing to Public Access and Departmental Printers - Information about setting up access to printers with CatCard readers and Departmental printers for staff and faculty.

Information About Microsoft Windows Vista - Information about updating to Vista and which version of Windows is recommended by UC Merced IT.

How to protect your Digital Information - Tips and guidelines for backing up data, recommended storage media, and resources to keep information safe.

Desktop Support for Faculty/Staff computers - Information regarding request resolution timelines and outline of what services are offered.
IT Service Centers

Who should I contact? - Help deciding which IT Service Center you need to contact for your problem.

IT Help Desk - List of provided services, hours of availability, and contact information.

Identity Management Office (IDM) - An explanation of what the IDM office does, its hours of availability, and contact information.
IT Site Links

About IT - Mission statement & strategies

IT Jobs - Find IT jobs at UC Merced

Policies - Service policies & legal notice

Updates - Periodic info on service updates

Remote Access

Overview

Most UC Merced network services (email, calendar, portal, ...) are designed in such a way that they are securely accessible across the Internet. These services can be accessed from home or on the road using virtually any Internet Service Provider (ISP). However, some ISPs block certain kinds of traffic so that only the web interfaces work completely for some of our services. This specifically tends to happen when using Eudora, Outlook, or similar e-mail clients to send mail. Information about some local and national ISPs in use by the UC Merced community is given in our ISP FAQ.

Virtual Private Networking (VPN) facility

Some applications, often older administrative ones, are not designed to run securely across the Internet (they do not encrypt passwords or data). Other applications, including access to electronic materials, have licensing restrictions that permit access only to those with UC Merced network addresses. Both of these problems are addressed by our VPN facility which encrypts all data exchanges and provides a UC Merced network address to remote users.

Client software is required to use VPN services. Clients are available for Windows, Macintosh, and Linux platforms. An Online tutorial on configuring and using the UC Merced VPN facility is available for Windows and Mac users.

Looking for help?

We offer a number of tutorials and FAQs available in the Guides & FAQs section.

If you have any questions, problems, or comments, please contact the IT Help Desk via email at helpdesk@ucmerced.edu, via phone at 209.228.HELP (4357), or visit them in the Classroom and Office Building room 132A.