Questions for Connecting from Home

1. Why do I need to use a proxy server to access library resources from off campus?
2. What is a proxy server?
3. What browsers can I use?
4. Configuring my browser to allow access thru the proxy.
5. Do you have a personal firewall/virus protection installed on your PC?
6. Disabled Cookies?
7. Can you check my computer configuration?
8. How do I authenticate? (What is my username name and password)
9. Using NetZero Hi Speed?
10. Using AOL to connect to the Internet?
    
    

Answers for Connecting from Home

1. Why do I need to use a proxy server to access library resources from off campus?
   Many of the electronic resources provided through the CSUCI Library are licensed to be used only by current CSUCI students, faculty and staff. To comply with these license agreements, access is often restricted to the Internet Protocol (IP) address range associated with the CSUCI campus. For students, faculty and staff who access the internet through third-party internet service providers (ISP's) such as SBC, Earthlink, AOL, etc., this presents a problem. The IP address owned by the ISP will not be recognized as a valid CSUCI address and access to the licensed resource will be denied. To remedy this situation, the Library have installed a proxy server. The proxy server has a valid CSUCI IP address. If the user's web-browser has been configured to use the proxy server, access is available for almost all of the resources.
   
2. What is a proxy server?
   A proxy server is a combination of software and hardware which acts as an intermediary between users and the Internet. It allows authorized users to access restricted electronic resources available through the CSUCI library web pages from home or on the road.
   
3. What browsers can I use?
   The Proxy is browser independent. Use any browser that takes cookies and runs java script.
   
4. Configuring my browser to allow access thru the proxy.
   No configuring needed, just enable cookies and java script, which is the default setup on most browsers.
   
5. Do you have a personal firewall/virus protection installed on your PC?
   A firewall may block you from getting to the proxy. To let the proxy work through your firewall, temporarily disable your firewall/virus protection and see if that allows you to connect properly. You will need to consult your software manual and/or contact the software company's technical support for help in setting your security software so that you can access our library resources.
   Settings in Norton Internet Security
   
6. Disabled Cookies?
   Your browser must be set to accept cookies. The proxy needs cookies to remember your authentication.
   
7. Can you check my computer configuration?
   Show me my browser configuration
   
8. How do I authenticate?
   info/passwords you need to connect
   
9. Using NetZero Hi Speed?
   The NetZero HiSpeed service works with proxy by hostname using port 80, but it does not work with proxy by port and may not work with proxy by hostname using ports other than 80.
   In most instances, an icon has appeared in the system tray in the lower-right corner of the screen which contains an option to disable HiSpeed. Using this option enables service for most users.
   
10. Using AOL to connect to the Internet?
    ISPs that use their own versions of Internet Explorer (such as AOL or Prodigy) sometimes present a problem. An easy workaround is to connect to the Internet using the copy of Internet Explorer provided by the ISP, minimise the browser session and then launch another copy of Internet Explorer. Use this second copy of Internet Explorer to search our electronic resources.