About Off Campus Sign In
Some of the Library's resources - databases and electronic journals, and selected Virginia Tech electronic theses and dissertations - are restricted to currently employed faculty/staff and currently enrolled students registered in degree or credit courses. Access is controlled by Internet address. Users connecting from computers that are defined as part of the Virginia Tech "domain" (on campus users or those connecting via the Virginia Tech inbound modem pool or Virginia Tech VPN) have direct access to these resources via the Library's web pages, while persons outside the domain must take the additional step of authenticating their university status.
You are authenticated through a program called EZproxythat prompts you to enter a Virginia Tech PID and password.
EZproxy Access
Before you start, be sure that previous proxy settings have been removed and that cookies and JavaScript have been enabled (depending on your browser settings, you may not have to do anything).
- Go to the 'Off Campus Sign in' from any library page, enter your Virginia Tech PID and password, then hit the Submit Query button. You may see a Security Alert window where you should answer Yes to the question Do you want to proceed? You can suppress this window on future visits if you click on View Certificate and then follow the instructions to Install Certificate.
- Authorized users will then pass through to the library page, where restricted resources can be accessed.
- The links to restricted resources will look different than the on-campus direct links. EZproxy links include the string ezproxy.lib.vt.edu somewhere in the URL. If you do not see this URL pattern when you hover your mouse over a restricted link you may have exited out of EZproxy and you will have to login again.
LibX proxy shortcut
LibX is a Firefox browser extension that can make reconnecting to a resource via EZProxy (Off Campus Sign In) much easier. If you have reached a restricted resource, such as a database or ejournal, but forgot to use Off Campus Sign In first, and thus are not able to access the resource, a simple right-click on the page will bring up a menu including a Reload via EZProxy option. Simply log in and the page you were trying to access will now work.
We also have a solution for users of Internet Explorer. A bookmarklet is a script or short program that that can be installed on your web browser's Bookmarks Toolbar or in your bookmarks/favorites list. Go to the Library's Bookmarklet page and see section on VT Proxy. If you go to a site that is restricted you can click on the bookmarklet which will take you first to EZproxy login and then return you to the original page but now you are authenticated for entry.
Notes on EZproxy access
- You must type the full address including the http:// prefix: <http://ezproxy.lib.vt.edu:8080> to obtain the EZproxy login page. The web address <ezproxy.lib.vt.edu:8080> will not work in some browsers.
- The EZproxy address listed on this page actually gets redirected to a different, more secure URL <https://ezproxy.lib.vt.edu:2443>.
- In order to access restricted library resources, you must first pass through the EZproxy login screen. This means you cannot go directly to Addison and click on an electronic journal link and have it work. You must start initially with the EZproxy login screen and then your Addison electronic journal links will work properly.
- If you have previously set your browser to use the library proxy server, remove these settings.
- In Internet Explorer go to Tools > Internet Options > Connections > LAN Settings (or Settings) > uncheck the Use a proxy server box. Also click on the Advanced button and erase the proxy address and port information in the HTTP section.
- In Netscape or Mozilla go to Edit > Preferences > Advanced > Proxies > and then select the Direct connection to the Internet radio button. Also erase the proxy address and port information in the HTTP section.
- In Opera 7.go to Tools > quick preferences > Enable proxy server (if check mark displays, click on that line; if no check displays on that line, you're OK).
- In Mozilla Firefox 1(new, different from Mozilla 1.x/Netscape 7.x) go to Tools > Options > General: Connection: Connection settings (button) > select "Direct connection to the Internet" > click OK to exit.
- Cookies must be enabled.
- In Internet Explorer 6 go to Tools > Internet Options > Privacy > then set the privacy slider to Medium or lower or select Advanced for additional cookie control.
- In Internet Explorer 5 go to Tools > Internet Options > Security > Internet > Custom Level > Cookies > Enable.
- In Netscape 7 or Mozilla go to Edit > Preferences > Privacy & Security > Cookies > Enable all cookies.
- In Netscape 4 go to Edit > Preferences > Advanced > Accept all cookies.
- In Opera 7.go toTools > quick preferences > che"Enable Javascript" and "Enable cookies."
- In Mozilla Firefox 1.go to: Tools > Options > Privacy: > click on "cookies" and check box to "Allow sites to set cookies" and then select Web Features from left column and check box to "enable javascript" These are probably set on by default. Click OK to exit.
- JavaScript must be enabled.
- In Internet Explorer 6 go on Tools > Internet Options > Security > Custom Level.
- In Netscape 7 or Mozilla go on Edit > Preferences > Advanced > Scripts & Plugins and select Enable JavaScript for Navigator.
- In Netscape 4 go to Edit > Preferences > Advanced > Enable JavaScript.
- EZproxy is browser independent so it shouldn't matter what browser you use.
- The EZproxy links are different than the 'on-campus' direct links and may not work when bookmarked. EZproxy links include the string proxy.lib.vt.edu. If you do not see this URL pattern when you hover your mouse over a restricted link you may have exited out of EZproxy and you will have to login again.
- If connecting from behind a firewall, please refer your local systems person to this trouble-shooting page at Useful Utilities. It may not be possible to access restricted library resources from behind a firewall.
- If using Blackboard to access electronic access journal articles or databases, add the string http://ezproxy.lib.vt.edu:8080/login?url=before the actual URL. This will result in remote users being asked to login with PID and password before being passed through to the electronic resource.
- If you want to use bookmarks, use the string http://ezproxy.lib.vt.edu:8080/login?url= before the resource's URL, which will send you to the EZproxy page for authentication and then pass you through to the site. Example: On-campus users can access the Chronicle of Higher Educationat http://chronicle.com. Off-campus users can bookmark the URL http://ezproxy.lib.vt.edu:8080/login?url=http://chronicle.com instead.
Please contact the proxy manager if you experience problems.
