WebLabs: Accessing Remote WebLabs

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

Penn State Remote 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.
• Also, if you are remote or on a non-PSU network, it is a requirement to connect to the GlobalProtect VPN first.

Signing in to Remote WebLabs

Remote 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.
   
   
   
2. On the Microsoft Single Sign-On screen, enter your Penn State email address (e.g., abc123@psu.edu) and password, then click Next.
   
   
   
   
3. Locate the "Remote WebLabs" option and click Connect.
   
   
   
   
4. On the next login screen, enter your Penn State User ID (e.g., abc123) and password, then click Login.
   
   

Navigating the WebLabs Portal

Once 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 see only one lab or multiple labs:

• Most users typically have access to at least one lab, which is usually one of your campus’s general-purpose labs.
  
  
  
  
• If no labs are listed, please see WebLabs: Troubleshooting Tips.
  
  
• If you see multiple labs, they will display as folders. This means you are enrolled in a course or curriculum that provides additional access to private labs with specialized software not available in a general-purpose lab.
  
  NOTE: Your local IT or department manager controls access to these specialized labs.
  
  
  
  
• Click on a folder to view the individual labs at that location. The individual labs available for you to connect to will display with a computer monitor icon to the left of the name.
  

  TIP: If you have access to multiple labs and access a particular lab more frequently than 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:
  
  
  
  

Connect to a Lab

1. To connect to a lab, click on a lab icon in the left-hand pane. The remote connection to the lab computer will appear on the right side of your web browser window.
   
   
   
   
2. Read the WebLabs Export Compliance notification and click OK to finish connecting.
   
   
   
   

3. 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 as 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:

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 Command 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, you should only disconnect when having 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 Command Toolbox icon.

• Available WebLabs Locations
• WebLabs: Available Software on WebLabs Computers
• WebLabs: Troubleshooting Tips
• WebLabs: Printing from a WebLabs Computer
• WebLabs: Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)