EZproxy Remote Authentication FAQ
- How do I get started? (including HomeNet and OSUWeb.net users)
- I don't know my OSU Username or password. How do I find out what it is?
- How do I know that I have successfully logged in?
- My name and password don't work when I login.
- Which part of the sign-in form should I complete?
- What browsers are supported by EZproxy?
- Why do I need to be "authenticated"?
- Do I need to configure my PC or my browser to connect? (including firewalls and security settings)
- Things don't function right with my Internet Service Provider (Road Runner, AOL, Prodigy, etc.)
- What OSU Library resources can be accessed from off campus? What resources cannot be accessed from off campus?
- Things don't function right when I connect from work.
- I got an error message What do I do? (Hostname error, Cookie Error, "404 Error" (File Not Found) page or a "Server not Found or DNS Error" page.
- Why did I get prompted to login while I am on-campus?
- I get through the Library authentication, but the database wants me to login again.
- Why don't certain features or links in the database seem to function when I'm using EZproxy?
- I need help using an online database
- How do I search OSCAR from off-campus?
- Why can I get into some electronic journals without logging in?
- ACS (American Chemical Society) e-journal access.
- I can't access resources from off-campus, how do I get help?
How Do I get started?
Off-campus access to electronic journals and databases requires that you be recognized as a valid OSU user. The Libraries uses a proxy server for this validation.
Click the Off-campus Sign-in link in the gray toolbar on the Libraries' Web site (http://library.osu.edu) and enter your OSU-assigned Name.number and password. When the system verifies that you are a valid OSU user the Libraries' Web site will redisplay with the phrase 'proxy.lib.ohio-state.edu' in the middle of the URL. This is your clue that your sign-in was successful. Now you can connect to electronic resources accessed via the online catalog or Research Databases Web page.
I don't know my OSU Username and/or Password. How do I find out what it is?
If you do not have or do not know your OSU/University username and password, please refer to,
Long-term employees may have a username that is a holdover from a former Magnus email account and need to use that username and not Name.N. Check your email software to determine what your username is or contact the OIT Help Desk, 688-help or 8help@osu.edu.
How do I know when I have successfully logged in?
The following string of characters will appear in the middle of the URL: ....proxy.lib.ohio-state.edu/...
My name and password don't work when I login.
If you believe you know your OSU/University username and password and are typing it correctly and still can't login:
- Contact the OIT Help Desk (688-help or 8help@osu.edu) if you get a message that your username/password are incorrect.
- Be sure that CAPS LOCK is not on (passwords are case-sensitive)
- Be sure you are NOT adding extra information when typing your name. Only your last name is required.
Which part of the sign-in form should I complete?
OSU Students, Faculty, and Staff
Persons enrolled or employed by the following should complete the OSU Students, Faculty, and Staff portion of the sign-in form:
- Agricultural Technical Institute
- Ohio Agricultural Research & Development Center
- OSU Columbus
- OSU Lima
- OSU Marion
- OSU Mansfield
- OSU Newark
Regional Campus Technical College Users
Persons enrolled or employed by the following should select the OhioLINK option near the bottom of the sign-in form:
- Central Ohio Technical College in Newark
- Marion Technical College in Marion
- North Central State College in Mansfield
- Rhodes State College in Lima
What browsers are supported?
EZproxy is mostly browser independent, i.e., any browser (Other than AOL) should typically work with EZproxy.
Browsers that work: Netscape, 4.x or 7.x; Internet Explorer, 5.x and higher;
Firefox or Mozilla, 1.x or higher; and Safari, 1.x or higher.
Why do I need to be "authenticated"?
Online databases and electronic journals subscribed by The Ohio State University Libraries are restricted, by the vendors, for use by OSU students, faculty and staff.
Most online resources control access by your computer's IP address. Anyone coming from a campus IP address gets access, but are refused access if they connect from off campus.
To provide off-campus access for OSU users a proxy server is used. It performs two primary functions:
- Authenticates users as student, staff or faculty by requiring a login, thus ensuring compliance with vendor restrictions
- Serves as an on-campus intermediary (with a valid IP address) by passing information between off-campus users and restricted online resources.
Off-campus users connect to the proxy server, login to verify they are affiliated with OSU, then the proxy server connects to the resource for them and passes information back and forth. Since the proxy server is coming from on-campus, its IP address is accepted by the online resources.
Do I need to configure my PC or browser? (including firewalls and security settings)
Authentication should require no configuration on your computer. When you click on a link to an online library resource, our server checks whether your computer is on-campus or off.
- If you are on-campus, you will bypass authentication and be sent directly to the resource.
- If you are off-campus, you will be required to login with your username and password, then be sent to the resource.
If there are problems, you may need to make sure the
browser is accepting cookies and that your browser is not
currently configured to use another proxy server.
Your browser security setting should be set to Medium and you may need to alter your firewall settings.
Things don't function right with my Internet Service Provider (Road Runner, AOL, Prodigy, etc.)
ISPs that use proprietary versions of browsers, such as AOL or Prodigy, MAY cause some problems for EZproxy. A simple workaround is to connect to the provider, minimize your session and use your own copy of Netscape, Internet Explorer, Firefox or Mozilla for web surfing instead of their browser.
Another common problem is that during set up of dial-up, cable, or broadband connections, certain browser settings get configured according to THEIR preferences.
NetZero uses a proxy in their HiSpeed service. You must disable this setting in order to sign in via the Libraries' EZproxy software.
What Library resources can be accessed from off campus?
At this time, the authentication server is used only for providing off-campus access to online resources (databases, electronic journals, e-books) subscribed to by your campus. Almost all online library resources are made accessible to off-campus users this way.
What Library resources cannot be accessed from off campus?
Due to license restrictions some resources may be available only on selected
computers in specific campus libraries. This information may be indicated two
ways.
1) Search the resource name via the Research Databases Web page and look for a
Public Note about access. For example see the SciFinder
resource record.
2) Check the Web site of the appropriate campus library. For example the Business
Library’s Web site has an In-House Resources link listing business resources
available only on selected computers in the Business
Library.
Things don't function right when I connect from my place of work.
EZproxy's method of proxying should minimize these problems, and provide greater options for correction.
Most problems using EZproxy from work need to be resolved with your company's IT staff. Many corporations use firewalls and/or proxy servers for network security reasons.
Some companies have employee's browsers configured to use their own proxy server (or not enable acceptance of cookies, or some other security setting) that may interfere with EZproxy's functioning.
Please check with your system administrator at work to see if this could be causing you trouble.
I got an Hostname error. What do I do?
You will get an Hostname Error page when you attempt to access a database that has not yet been set up for use by EZproxy.
The EZproxy administrator must specify all the domains (i.e., silverplatter.com) and computer hostnames (i.e., spweb.silverplatter.com) for which EZproxy should be used. In this case, all the online library resources.
Database vendors often change domain names, or pull content from new computer hosts without ever informing libraries. Thus, when a hostname error occurs, EZproxy's configuration must be updated to include the new host for proxying.
To expedite correction of this error, please note:
- the name of the resource you were trying to access
- the computer hostname line listed on the error page
and report it via the Problem form.
I got a Cookie Error. What do I do?
Both EZproxy and certain databases send "cookies" when you connect to them to verify, during your session, that you are an authorized user.
Your browser reported an error receiving a "cookie" and MAY be currently set to disallow cookies.
- Internet Explorer 6.x: Tools -> Internet Options -> Privacy -> Advanced -> check "Always allow session cookies"
- Internet Explorer 5.x: Tools -> Internet Options -> Security -> Custom Level -> check "Allow per-session cookies (not stored)"
- Netscape 6.x: Edit -> Preferences -> Privace and Security -> Cookies -> check "Enable cookies for originating web site only"
- Netscape 4.x: Edit -> Preferences -> Advanced -> enable "Accept only cookies that get sent back to original server"
- Firefox 1.x: Tools -> Options -> Privacy -> Cookies -> check "Allow sites to set cookies"
- Safari: Preferences -> Security -> Accept Cookies -> enable "Always"
Why did I get a "404 Error" (File Not Found) page or a "Server not Found or DNS Error" page?
EZproxy delivers error pages to users for certain common problems. These will usually have the Libraries' header and information relevant to explaining the problem and solution.
There are a variety of common errors that occur during general surfing of the Internet. When they occur, the web server (or web browser) sends an error page for you to view - usually without a lot of explanation. These may or may not be related to EZproxy. Two common Internet errors are:
- 404 Errors (Page not Found)
- "Server not Found or DNS Error"
Users may get these errors for a variety of reasons.
- An incorrect URL, outdated link or a missing page
- Attempting to use the old Library Proxy Server (or a company or ISP's proxy server) to access resources set up to use EZproxy
- Some aspect of your network is down or very busy
Whenever you get an error page, especially one that doesn't come from EZproxy, it is important you note what the error page says, the URL you were trying to access (and from where) and other relevant information.
and report it via the Problem form.
Why did I get prompted to login while on-campus?
There are two possibilities: you are trying to access a restricted resource or there is some other problem.
Try your off-campus login information. That will work for resources that we have been asked to authenticate. Normally, you should not have to do this because for regular resources, EZproxy is set up NOT to be used when users are on computers with on-campus IP addresses.
If this does not work, please note which resource for which you receive a login prompt. Report it via the Problem form.
I get through Library authentication, but the database wants me to login again.
There are two possibilities: an error or a password-protected resource.
Almost all online resources validate users by their IP address. Occasionally, a vendor requires usernames and passwords. You must use these resources in a campus library.
Otherwise, a login screen is an indication of an access error, perhaps requiring a change in our server's configuration.
Report it via the Problem form.
Why don't certain features or links in the database seem to function when I'm using EZproxy?
The various database vendors use a variety of programming methods on their database web sites. Some of these methods can make it hard for our server to keep passing information between you and the site. If certain links or other aspects of the site aren't functioning, there are a few primary possibilities:
- EZproxy's configuration for the database needs to be adjusted
If these features function when accessing the resource from on-campus (which doesn't use EZproxy), then EZproxy's configuration may have to be adjusted to adapt to the database's particular method - Problem is with vendor's site
Like any information technology, there are often problems on the vendor's end that lead to problems with the database. These problems are generally resolved fairly quickly once the vendor is aware of them. - Problem is with your browser's ability to handle site's programming
Problems could also be due to your browser not working with the programming the database vendor uses (Java or JavaScript, Active Server pages, etc.) You browser's settings might be preventing certain functionality, or, sometimes, an error occurs in the browser that can't be resolved until you reboot your computer. - Certain content or features are not part of the library's subscription
In a few databases, the library's subscription does not provide access to all features or content on a site. In this case, you may get an error message or login screen - though it may also be that what appear to be links to those features are simply not active.
I need help using an online database.
This is not an access problem. You can call the Main Library reference desk at 292-6175 for assistance, or Ask-A-Librarian online.
How do I search OSCAR from off-campus?
You can search OSCAR, view your patron record, and access electronic reserves from off-campus without first signing-in to the Proxy Server. However you will not be able connect to electronic journals or electronic reserves articles hosted on a non-OSU computer unless you sign-in to the Proxy Server. If you expect to use such resources via OSCAR you should sign-in to the Proxy Server before connecting to OSCAR.
Why can I get into some electronic journals without logging in?
Some full text journals are freely available to anyone on the Internet, either for a limited time or permanently.
ACS (American Chemical Society) e-journal access
Most of the ACS electronic journals available to OSU users are accessed from the OhioLINK Electronic Journal Center (EJC). The OSU Libraries and OhioLINK use different software to validate users for off campus access to electronic resources. We discovered that off campus access to ACS e-journals works differently via the Libraries' proxy software and the OhioLINK authentication process, but regardless of which sign-in method you use, one of the following pathways to ACS journals should work.
From the OhioLINK Electronic Journal Center, locate the journal title, open the table of contents and click the Article Description link. Then try one of these two options.
- In the Article Description click the Get Article link in the upper right to be routed to the ACS server. Once the citation displays on the ACS server click the html or PDF links. If the article full text does not appear try the next pathway.
- Click the browser BACK button until you reach an EJC screen with the journal cover image, click the image to connect to the ACS Web site; a list of ACS journals appears; click the desired title and locate the volume/issue and citation you want; click the html or PDF links.
The OSU Libraries also subscribes to some ACS e-journals that are not part of the OhioLINK Electronic Journal Center. We successfully connected to these ACS e-journals and accessed full text when connecting from off campus and signing in via the Libraries' proxy software.
I can't access library resources from off campus, who do I call for help?
If you have tried all of the above options and think that our EZproxy remote authentication service may be down, report this via the Problem form. Evenings or weekends please call the Main Library Circulation Desk at 614-292-6154 and ask them to notify the Libraries IT staff.