The machine Texel runs as a Windows Remote Desktop Server to allow you to access Windows applications from a Linux/MacOS desktop. Texel is only accessible from inside the Sterrewacht environment, if you need to access it from remote, you first need to initiate a VPN connection to get access to Texel.

This service is mainly there to allow access to university servers that don't work from any other system than Windows (the services that used to be on the CITRIX remote campus service of the university).

In order to access the Texel Remote desktop server you need a standard Linux/Fedora desktop installed package xfreerdp. Inside a Linux/Fedora X-terminal you can type:

xfreerdp /v:texel /d:STERREWACHT

You will now be prompted with a for a Password, which is the one you use for logging in to the Linux/Fedora desktop. After successful authentication you will be logged into the Windows desktop server and you will see a new XWindow with in it a Windows desktop environment: On this desktop you see three icons, one for 'SAP Self Service', 'Planon' and the 'BestelPlein'. Click the appropriate icon to open the Edge browser in IE compatebility mode and access the associated UL campus web application.

As an added bonus (compared to the old CITRIX environment): uploading and downloading documents is a lot easier, since texel has your Linux home directory mounted as disk Z:.

It is also possible to configure this connection in any other Linux client that can use the Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP), such as remmina and vinagre (aka remote desktop viewer).
Specify RDP as protocol, texel as server, STERREWACHT as domain, and fill in your username.

Make sure you have the Remote Desktop client installed. See https://support.apple.com/guide/remote-desktop/install-and-set-up-remote-desktop-apdf49e03a4/mac for details on how to get/install remote desktop client on your Mac. Look at https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/previous-versions/remote-desktop-client/remote-desktop-macos in the 'Add a remote resource' section on how to add PC with the Texel based parameters, which are:

• Feed URL - texel.strw.leidenuniv.nl
• User account, chose one of below options
  • Ask when required (if asked, use your Sterrewacht account name and domain STERREWACHT).
  • Add a User account:
    • Username: Your Sterrewacht account name / STERREWACHT
    • Password - The password associated with your Sterrewacht account.

Open the Remote Desktop Application to gain access to the Texel server.