Announcements

Redwood does not have internet access.  In order to process data, your data must be put on everest (files) or fuji (videos) ahead of time.  Contact me if you need help getting data files onto the server.

Redwood does not have backups!  You need to keep your important files on Everest (or saved in Titanium) so they get backed-up regularly.  Maintenance cycles may require erasing files from Redwood from time to time.

Redwood must comply with departmental and university security requirements.  Redwood must also comply with all software licenses.  If at any point we discover that Redwood is out of compliance with any requirements, the necessary changes will be made accordingly.  Compliance has priority over usefulness for this server.

What is it?

Redwood is our departmental server designed to let students access departmental software from their computers while off campus.

Available Software and Servers

Redwood currently allows students to access the following software and files:

  • SPSS
  • Titanium Schedule
  • RStudio
  • Python
  • VSCode
  • Matlab
  • HLM Student
  • Lisrel Student
  • MPlus
  • MS Office (without outlook)
  • Open some data files on Everest (files cannot be downloaded to client computers)
  • Open some video files on Fuji (files cannot be downloaded to client computers)

Restrictions

The following restrictions are in place in order to remain in compliance with security requirements:

  1. Internet access is restricted. The following websites are available:
    • Most VT websites
    • Department website
    • Canvas (not all sections available)
  2. Uploading and Downloading files is blocked.
    • Users can access files saved on Everest and Fuji.
    • Contact me if you need help uploading data files.
  3. Remote printing is blocked
    • Printing to PDF and saving to Everest should work.
  4. Storage space is limited to 2GB, everyone should save their work on Everest.
  5. Backups are not running on this server, important files should be saved on Everest.

Getting Started

NOTE: While I cannot directly support personal computers, I am glad to give advice as necessary.  Please read this webpage fully before contacting me with questions.

  1. If you are on a computer (with ethernet) in Williams Hall, the PSC or the CSC, you can skip this step!
    Install the VT Pulse VPN, and sign in with "VT Traffic over SSL VPN" (Note that the 'All Traffic' option will not work)
  2. Start your Remote Desktop Client (RDP Client)
  3. Using your Remote Desktop Client, connect to redwood:
    • computer 'redwood.ad.psyc.vt.edu'
    • username: [pid]@AD.PSYC.VT.EDU (substitute [pid] with your VT PID, and match the case)
    • password: [department password]

Frequently Asked Questions / Common Error Messages

Cant start/use Titanium Schedule?

Everyone who uses Titanium Schedule will need to request access and be approved to the PSC or CSC in Account Assistant.  If you have not been approved you will not be able to start Titanium Schedule.

Cant get Pulse VPN to connect?

  • Make sure you are using your VT PID for the username, and your VT Network Password for the password.

Cant get Remote Desktop to connect? 

  • If you are using PulseVPN, make sure you have connected Pulse VPN with "VT Traffic over SSL VPN"
  • Make sure you have entered 'redwood.ad.psyc.vt.edu' as the computer (sometimes called the hostname).
  • Make sure you have entered '[pid]@AD.PSYC.VT.EDU ' (substitute [pid] with your VT PID, and match the case) for the username, and your Dept Password for the password.

How do I attach documents in Titanium Schedule?

Students from home are able to type out their notes into word on redwood or copy/paste them into word on redwood.  Once the notes are saved into word on redwood you may attach them in TI.

Students on campus have the additional option of saving attachments to everest, then uploading them via everest to TI.

"Location is not available" error message

Could not determine directory to use for Titanium Schedule application files locally

NOTE: You should always use this procedure to sign-off titanium, simply closing the remote desktop window will increase the chances you will see this error. 

Try to close out everything your doing, and press 'CTRL+ALT+END', then click 'sign out'.  This will sign you out of redwood.  After you reconnect everything should be back to normal.

An authentication error has occurred.  The function requested is not supported

The error message occurs when you are not using the correct username and password as described in the Getting Started section above.  (This can also happen if your department password has expired)