Remotely access the web roles deployed with C1 CMS Azure

(Please also see the official guide "Enable Remote Desktop Connection for a Role in Azure Cloud Services".)

Microsoft Azure Portal allows you to configure remote access to a web role.

For that, you need to upload a valid certificate to the cloud service where your web role is running. Then configure the remote access to the role using this certificate for encryption.

Preparing the certificate is up to you and is not part of this guide. The certificate file should be in PFX format.

Uploading a certificate to the cloud service

Before having the certificate installed in the web role, you should prepare and upload a certificate to be used for secure communication (SSL).

Preparing the certificate is up to you and is not part of this guide. The certificate file should be in PFX format.

To upload the certificate to the cloud service:

1. In Microsoft Azure Portal, open the cloud service in use (All Resources / [your cloud service]).
2. Click “Certificates” below “Settings”.
3. Click “Upload” to upload your certificate.
4. Browse to, and select, the certificate (.pfx).
5. Specify the password for it.
6. Click “Upload” down below.
7. Make a note of, or copy to the clipboard, the name (“Subject”) of the certificate. You'll be using it in the next step.

It could read, for example, “CN=Windows Azure Tools”.

Configuring remote access

To configure remote access:

1. Make sure you have uploaded the certificate to the cloud service as described above.
2. In Microsoft Azure Portal, open the cloud service in use (All Resources / [your cloud service]).
3. Click “Remote Desktop” below “Settings”.
4. In the “Remote Desktop” view that opens, set these parameters:
   1. Roles: Select “All roles” unless you want a remote access to a specific role in a multi-role setup.
   2. Remote Desktop: Click “Enabled” to enable the access.
   3. In the user name and password fields, specify the remote access user name and password.
   4. Specify when the account expires. By default, it is set to expire in 24 hours.
   5. Encryption certificate: Select the certificate you’ve uploaded as described above, for example, “CN=Windows Azure Tools”.
5. Click “Save”.

Normally, it takes some time to enable remote access on the role and the role might be temporarily unavailable.

Remote accessing the web role

To remote access the web role:

1. In Microsoft Azure Portal, open the cloud service in use (All Resources / [your cloud service]).
2. Click “Remote Desktop” below “Settings”.
3. Click “Connect”.

You'll be prompted to connect to the role by opening the connection with Remote Desktop Connection, or saving the connection settings as an *.rdp file. In the latter case, you'll be able to start the pre-configured Remote Desktop Connection by clicking the file in your file manager.

Note. You may want to connect to the web role either via "Connect" from within the Microsoft Azure management console or using the *.rdp file downloaded before. The connection may fail if you simply run your Remote Desktop Connection client and pointing it to the site URL of your role.