Off Campus Access to Axe Library Databases
Reported issues: Internet Explorer 8
Using databases off campus
When you are off campus and click on a database title that requires identification and a password, you will get the following screen:
User Name: Enter the last 7 digits of your PSU ID number
Password: Enter your GusPIN
A successful login will take you immediately to the database.
If you receive an error message when logging in, check the following troubleshooting tips:
If you still cannot get into the database
If you do not have a GusPIN
Internet Explorer 8 issues:
June, 2009
Since Internet Explorer 8 is beginning to "appear in the wild", we need to point out a few issues with proxying databases that are caused by the "enhanced security features" of this generation of browsers. Some of the problems also seem to be effecting later versions of Firefox, but to a lesser extent.
Basically, these browsers are restricting cookies more than previous versions, and since session information (login status, identity, etc.) is tracked by Ezproxy using cookies, this can cause a variety of problems, up to and including a complete inability to login.
Other symptoms include:
The "easiest", quickest way to get around this is to add library.pittstate.edu to the "Trusted Sites" in the browsers Security Settings. This also has the added benefit of not changing the security settings for any other websites in the users browser......it only effects library.pittstate.edu.
For Internet Explorer 7 and 8: Click TOOLS > INTERNET OPTIONS > SECURITY tab. Click "Trusted Sites" with the Green checkmark over it as shown below.
Click the SITES button. On the "Trusted Sites" popup, take the checkmark off under "Require server verification (https:) for all sites in this zone", then type: "http://library.pittstate.edu", or simply type "https://library.pittstate.edu" and click ADD. Click APPLY. Click OK to close. This should eliminate the cookies issues, since your telling the browser that our website can be treated as a "Trusted Website".
For Firefox 3.x: TOOLS > OPTIONS > PRIVACY tab. In the COOKIES box, click EXCEPTIONS. In the ADDRESS OF WEBSITE bar type "library.pittstate.edu" and then click ALLOW below the bar. Click CLOSE, and you're done.
If any of our users object to using cookies, please note that Ezproxy only uses "Session Cookies" which are deleted when the browser is closed. No trackable information is retained.
Please let us know of any browser issues you encounter when accessing databases.
Last Modified: Aug 19, 2009 - 11:48
http://library.pittstate.edu/db/proxyfaq.html
