How to access Windows Instances on Openstack

There are 2 main ways to get access and control a Windows Instance on Openstack. This tutorial will cover both methods.

Prerequesites

A newly created Windows Server Instance on Openstack
Access to Infra via OpenVPN OR On the Cyberlab Secure Network

Preparation: Recover your Windows Instance Password

For some windows instance images, you will need to retrieve the password so you can set a new administrator password. You will only be able to retrive the password if the instance was created with an SSH key and you have the private key.

The key needs to be an ssh-rsa key

Step 1: Access intance (use images from repo)
1. On the left pane, choose Compute and then Instances.
2. Locate the instance you want to retrive the password from
3. Click on the downwards arrow under the action column of you instance and click on "Retrive Password"
4. Now you will upload your private key from the SSH key pair utilized to create the instance. (You can also copy the key into the text box)
5. Click on "Decrypt Password" and you should see the password.

Setting a new password

There are 2 different ways to set a password on your windows instance. For some instances you will be asked to set a new password and for others you will need to retrieve the password first.

Windows instances: New password automatically

Windows 2025
Windows 2022
Windows 2019
Windows 2012
Windows 2008

Windows instances: Retrieval needed

Windows 11
Windows 10
Windows 8.1
Windows 7

New password automatically:

Head over to the console and send a ctrl+alt+delete to the server by pressing the Send CtrlAltDelete button in the upper right hand corner.The Console will receive you with a message “The user's password must be changed before signing in”.

Click on OK
Set your new password and you will be done!

Retrieval needed: Please look at the retrieval guide at “Recover your Windows Instance Password

Once you have retrieved your password you may RDP into your virtual machine.

You can go to Settings -> Change Password and then Click on Change
You may enter the retrieved password
Finally set your new password and don't forget to use it next time you sign in!

Method 1: Connect Using the Openstack Console (Must be used for initial Windows Setup)

Openstack has a built-in console viewer for Instances which allows you to get a true console view of the Instance allowing for easier debugging of the Instance. You will have to log in using this method to initially set up any new Windows Instance.

Steps:

On the left plane, choose Compute and then Instances.
Locate the instance you want to access the console of, and click on its name.
Select the Console tab under the instance name.
Send a ctrl+alt+delete to the server by pressing the Send CtrlAltDelete button in the upper right hand corner.
Log into the instance. If this is your first time, it may ask you to change the password. If it asks you for the pervious password, enter the password you retrieved earlier, then enter in the password you would like, make sure to note it down.
You may now access the instance through the openstack console normally as you would any other windows device.

Method 2: Using Remote Desktop Connection (RDP)

Remote Desktop Connection (Also known as RDP somtimes) is a program in Microsoft Windows that allows you to access another Windows computer over a network. Using this method has added benefits such as easy folder sharing, viewing the Instance in full-screen mode, clipboard sharing and more!

By default, Openstack blocks all inbound connections to Instances and therefore we need to make a security group to allow inbound RDP access

Important Note: You cannot directly use this method on the very first time you startup your Instance as Windows requires you to set an Administrator password upon Instance creation. Follow Method 1 to gain initial access to the machine and add a password.

Part 1: Opening RDP Access for your Instance

Step 1: Creating a security group

Connect to Infra via OpenVPN or Cyberlab Secure
Go to horizon.hackucf.cloud and log into your account
Click on Network on the left-hand pane and then Security Groups
On the right-hand side, click on Create Security Group and give it a name and description, then press Create Security Group
On the Manage Security Group Rules screen, click Add rule
Choose the RDP Rule in the Rule dropdown, leave all other options as default and click Add

This new group can be applied to any future Windows Instances to quickly allow RDP access

Step 2: Adding the security group to your Instance

On the left plane, choose Compute and then Instances
Click on the Instance to add the security group to
Click the dropdown arrow on the right and select Edit Security Groups
Select the appropriate security group and select Save

RDP will now be allowed through the Openstack firewall for the instance!

Part 3: Connecting to your the instance

For the purposes of this guide, we will use the following applications for RDP. * Windows Clients: Open Start Menu > type in "Remote Desktop Connection" * MacOS Clients: Windows App * Linux Clients: Remmina

Connecting from Another Windows Device

This is the most simple way to access a windows instance with RDP, as Windows comes with the needed software pre-installed. Make sure you are connected to the HACK@UCF infrastructure via OpenVPN before attempting to connect

On the left plane, choose Compute and then Instances
Locate the name of the instance you want to access and note down it IP address.
Open the Windows Start Menu, type in "Remote Desktop Connection", and open the Remote Desktop Connection application
In the Computer: field, enter in the IP address of you noted in step 2, and press Connect.
When windows security prompts you to enter your credentials, select Use a different account.
In the User name field, enter "Administrator", and in the Password field, enter in the password you set when first logging in to your Windows instance, then select OK.
If you recieve a warning from windows stating that "The identity of the remote computer cannot be verified", check the Don't ask me again for connections to this computer option, and then select Yes.
You are now logged into your instsance, and you can navigate as you would any windows device.

Connecting to your Windows instance from a Linux Device

For connecting to a windows instance with RDP for Linux, we will use the Remmina client. See https://remmina.org/how-to-install-remmina/ for more help with installing the Remmina client.

Open Remmina, either from your applications menu or the console.
Press the + add new connection button in the top left corner.
In the Name field, enter in what you would like to name the connection to your windows instance.
Select the Protocol dropdown and select RDP - Remote Desktop Protocol as your protocol.
In theServer field, enter in your instance's IP address.
In the Username and Password fields, enter in the username (likely "Administrator") and password you set for the instance earlier.
Select Save and Connect.
When prompted to accept the server's certificate, select Yes.
Verify the authentication credentials, then select OK.
You should now be logged in to the windows instance and be able to navigate as you would any windows device.

Connecting to your Windows instance from a mac device

For connecting to a Windows intance with RDP from MacOS, we will use the windows app. See here for more information.

Open the Windows App.
Press the + botton in the top right color and then select Add PC.
In the PC name field enter the IP address of your instance and in the Friendly name enter what you would like to name the connection to the instance.
Select Add to save the connection.
Select the new connection with the friendly name you entered previously.
In the Username and Password field enter in the username (likely "Administrator") and password you set for the instance earlier, and then select Continue.
When prompted to accept the server's certificate, select Continue.
You should now be logged in to the windows instance and be able to navigate as you would any windows device.