WebLabs: Accessing WebLabs

Penn State students and faculty who need to remotely connect to a Penn State Labs computer.

Penn State WebLabs provides remote access to a Penn State Labs computer.

Using just a web browser, you can remotely access University resources (such as specialized software for coursework) otherwise not normally available from a personal computer or when off campus. Since you are remotely connecting to a physical lab computer, your documents and settings will be available as if you were physically visiting a computer lab.

IMPORTANT: Access to WebLabs requires two-factor authentication. Before connecting to WebLabs, please make sure you are enrolled, or verify your enrollment, at https://get2fa.psu.edu.

Signing in to WebLabs

WebLabs is accessible from any modern web browser. There is no client to download or install.

1. Visit https://weblabs.psu.edu/ in a web browser and click Connect.
   
   
   
   
2. At the Penn State WebLabs screen, enter your Penn State Access ID (e.g., abc123) and password, then click Login.
   
   
   
   

Navigating the WebLabs Portal

After you’ve signed in to the WebLabs Portal, you’ll see a list of labs for which you are authorized on the left side of the screen.

Depending on your campus location, college, and/or course enrollments, you may only see lab or multiple labs:

• Most users typically have access to at least one lab, which is usually comprised of your campus’s general-purpose labs.
  
  
  
  
• If you see multiple labs, they will appear as folders. This means you are enrolled in a course or curriculum that provides additional access to private labs with specialized software above and beyond what’s available in a general-purpose lab.
  
  NOTE: Your local IT or department manager controls access to these specialized resources.
  
  
  
  

  Tip: If you have access to multiple labs and frequently access a single lab more than the others, you can mark it as a favorite by clicking the star next to the name of the lab.

  
  
  This will promote your favorite labs to the top of the list:
  
  
  
  

• If no labs are listed, please see WebLabs Troubleshooting Tips.

Connect to a Lab

1. To connect to a lab, click on a lab desktop icon. The remote connection to the lab computer will appear on the right side of your web browser window.
   
   
   
   
2. Before the lab computer completely loads, you will see a Duo Security two-factor authentication prompt.
   
   
   
   
3. Follow the on-screen prompts to complete the two-factor authentication. If successful, the lab desktop will finish loading.
   
   
   
   

   Once connected, you can use the computer as you normally would if you were physically in the lab.

   NOTE: WebLabs computers are a limited resource intended for use by all students. You will be disconnected after 15 minutes of inactivity or after 12 hours of active use to allow other students the opportunity to connect.

4. When finished with your session, sign off the computer by clicking Start > Account Information > Sign out.
   
   

Navigating in WebLabs

Certain keyboard commands, such at CTRL+ALT+DELETE or ALT+TAB will not work on the remote computer. To use these commands on the WebLabs computer, you can use the shortcuts in the red Command Toolbox icon on the right of your browser window:

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Click the Command Toolbox icon to expand it both horizontally and vertically to send special keyboard commands to the remote computer.

Horizontal Shortcuts

The following commands, from left to right, are available on the Horizontal Command Shortcuts Toolbox:

• ESC – simulates pressing the ESC (Escape) key on your keyboard, typically to exit or cancel.
• TAB – simulates pressing the TAB key on your keyboard, to move your cursor to the next tab stop.
• CTRL + ALT + DEL – simulates pressing the CTRL (Control), ALT, and DEL (Delete) keys simultaneously, typically to launch Task Manager, lock the remote computer, or sign out of the remote computer.
• ALT + TAB – simulates pressing the ALT and TAB keys simultaneously, to toggle through open application windows.
• WINDOWS KEY – simulates pressing the Windows (Command) key to launch the Start menu.
  • Note: Windows Shortcut Key combinations (e.g., WINDOWS KEY + R) are not supported.
• Gestures Help – opens the Gestures Help menu, describing common touchscreen functions and how to perform them.
  • Note: This shortcut is only available on mobile devices.
• Toggle Access Portal Menu – displays or hides the Access Portal menu panel (list of labs) on the left side of the browser window.

To close the Horizontal Command Shortcuts, click the  icon at the left end of the menu or click the Toolbox icon.

Vertical Shortcuts

The following commands, from top to bottom, are available on the Vertical Command Shortcuts Toolbox:

• Disconnect – disconnects the current WebLabs session without signing out/logging off. Typically, only disconnect when you have trouble signing out/logging off.
• Toggle Multi-Touch – indicates whether touch gestures can be used on this computer in applications compatible with Touch Mode.
  • Note: This shortcut is only available on mobile devices.
• Toggle Touchpad – enables or disables the touchpad on your local computer while using the remote WebLabs computer.
  • Note: This shortcut is only available on devices with a touchpad.

To close the Vertical Command Shortcuts, click the icon at the bottom of the menu or click the Toolbox icon.

• WebLabs: Printing from a WebLabs Computer