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EZproxy - Remote Access Solution FAQ
- What browsers are supported?
- What do I have to do to use EZproxy?
- When I login my name and password don't work.
What's wrong?
- Persistent Article URL (Bookmark and Favorites) does not work with EZproxy?
- I'm at another institution and cannot access the databases, why not?
- Things don't function right with my Internet Service Provider (AOL, Prodigy...)
- I get a Cookie Error. What do I do?
- I get a Hostname error. What do I do?
- Why did I get a "404 Error" (File Not Found)
page or a "Server not Found or DNS Error" page?
- I'm not seeing everything on certain database
sites, what's wrong?
- Why don't certain features or links in the
database seem to function when I'm using EZproxy?
- I'm having trouble with Adobe Acrobat pdf
files?
- Why can I get into some electronic journals
without logging in?
- Why can't I use The AOL Browser for off campus
access?
- What can I do when I get a Page Not Found
message after I've logged in?
- I don't seem
to get very complete results with my online database searches.
- I've read
everything here and still can't access library resources from off campus, who do
I call for help?
1. What browsers are supported?
EZproxy is browser independent, i.e., any browser (Other than AOL) should work
with EZproxy. A current browser should be more reliable.
2. What do I have to do to use EZproxy?
EZproxy should require no configuration on
the user's part. When you click on a link to an online
library resource, EZproxy checks whether your computer is on campus or off.
- If you are on campus, you should bypass EZproxy and be sent
directly to the resource.
- If you are off campus, you will be required to login with
your windows username and your secondary (also called your
phage or dmz) password. This password must be created on campus.
Click here
to set a secondary password.
3. When I login my name and password don't
work. What's wrong?
You must have set up a secondary password before you use EZproxy.
See the previous.
4. Persistent Article URLs (Bookmarks or
Favorites) do not work with EZproxy?
If you want to access the article from off campus, please add
this string:
http://library.cshl.edu:2048/login?url=
in front of the URL for the article. For example, if the URL is:
http://pubs.acs.org/cgi-bin/asap.cgi/jprobs/asap/pdf/pr800217q.pdf
and you want to access the article from off campus, your URL should
be:
http://library.cshl.edu:2048/login?url=http://pubs.acs.org/cgi-bin/asap.cgi/jprobs/asap/pdf/pr800217q.pdf
5. I'm
at another institution and cannot access the databases, why
not?
Some corporate, agency, or institutional, dial-up, cable,
or broadband connections may automatically configure browsers
so their own proxy server is used. It's possible these automatic
settings, if they exist, could interfere with the use of EZproxy.
If these networks have a firewall or preset internet security
settings they could interfere with EZproxy.
6. Things don't
function right with my Internet Service Provider (AOL, Prodigy...)
ISPs that use
proprietary versions of browsers, such as AOL or Prodigy, can cause some
problems for EZproxy. A simple workaround is to connect to the provider,
minimize your session and use your own copy of Netscape or Internet Explorer for
accessing the library?s resources 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. This is another reason to minimize
your session and use your own copy of Netscape or Internet explorer
when using library resources.
7. I get 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.
If your browser reported an error receiving a "cookie" and it may
be currently set to disallow cookies. EZproxy requires that
your browser is set to ENABLE COOKIES.
8. I get a Hostname error. What do
I do?
You will get a Hostname Error page
when you attempt to access a database or journal that has not
yet been set up for use by EZproxy.
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 send the following information to
libraryhelp (or call
x6872):
- the name of the resource you were trying to access
- the computer hostname line listed on the error page
9. 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
- 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.
10. I'm not seeing everything on certain database
sites, what's wrong?
Some products require a particular browser or version. In particular, an increasing
number of websites are no longer capable of being viewed by older
browsers, such as Netscape 4.7 or 4.8 (WebSpirs is an example
of one of those sites).
11. 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 they use (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.
12. I'm having trouble with Adobe Acrobat pdf
files?
A problem can occur with Microsoft Internet
Explorer 5 (or higher) interfacing with Adobe Acrobat 4. Please try the
following:
- Open Adobe Acrobat (from your Start --> Program menu)
- Click on File --> Preferences -->
General
- Uncheck the box next to Web Browser Integration
13. 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. These titles are listed on
the electronic journal pages, but they do not require a login.
14. Why can't I use The AOL Browser for off campus access?
If you are currently using an AOL browser and want to successfully
access the Library's resources from off-campus, please download
Netscape Navigator, Mozilla or Microsoft Internet Explorer.
Minimize AOL and open one of these browsers to access the resources
at CSHL.
15. What can I do when I get a Page Not Found
message after I've logged in?
If you see a "Page Not Found" message after you log in. Click on
"Back" and try the link again. It should work the second
time.
16. I don't seem
to get very complete results with my online database searches.
This is not an access problem. You can call the Library
Reference Desk at x6872 for assistance.
17. I've read
everything here and still can't access library resources from off campus, who do
I call for help?
For assistance, email libraryhelp@cshl.edu or Call the library
at: x6872)
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