Connecting to UW Restricted Online Resources

In order to use resources limited to UW users from off-campus, you must first be recognized as being affiliated with the UW. Access to UW restricted online resources is mediated by a system known as a "proxy". Most licensing restrictions are enforced by the Internet protocol (IP) address of the computer you use to access the Internet. Although UWICK provides dial in from the local area to the UW modem pools, many UW students, staff and faculty choose to take advantage of faster modem rates or cable modem options offered by non-UW internet service providers (ISPs). The proxy service provides your computer with a valid UW IP address when accessing restricted resources.

How Do I Use the Proxy?

Before attempting to access restricted resources, click on the Off-Campus Access link at the top right of any HealthLinks page.
Enter your UW NetID name and password (the same that you use for UW email). Note that you must click on Off-Campus Access even if you have already logged in to MyUW.

Note that the Off-Campus Access link now says You are Logged In and the address shown in your browser window includes "offcampus.lib".

Hints for Using the Proxy

Use the forward and back buttons on your browser to move around.
Do not use your Home button, your favorites or bookmarks.
When you go to an external resource (eg ejournal, textbook), a new window will open. Be sure to log out if needed and close that new window when you are finished with the resource. Return to the HealthLinks window to continue your session.
If you fall out of the offcampus proxy space and no longer see the special url or the You are Logged In message, then click on the Off-Campus Access link to re-enter.
At the end of your session, be sure to close your browser windows completely so that others cannot use your access.
For information on creating links to library resources that can be bookmarked, or added to a curriculum or course page, please see Additional Tools below.
Note: AOL's browser does not work with the new proxy service. AOL users should download and install Firefox and use that browser for access via the proxy service. For additional browser and ISP issues, see Known Issues and Bugs (www.lib.washington.edu/help/knownIssues/).

Proxy Bookmarklet

Installing a proxy bookmarklet allows you to access a resource from the resource location, instead of going through a HealthLinks webpage to start the proxy service (e.g., to access the full-text of a journal article from a link in an electronic table of contents received as an email message).

Installation instructions for UW Libraries Proxy Bookmarklet

In Mozilla/Firefox: right click on the "UW Libraries Proxy Bookmarklet" link above and select "Bookmark This Link", or click and drag the link to your "Bookmarks" toolbar.
In IE: right click on the "UW Libraries Proxy Bookmarklet" link above and select "Add to Favorites". You might see a security alert that the "favorite may not be safe", although it is. Click "yes" to continue.
Note: This is compatible with most web browsers and platforms as long as your bookmarks or favorites allow javascript. The links toolbar may not be visible in all setups and in most browsers, you can enable it in the View->Toolbars menu of your web browser. You can also put it in your bookmarks instead of the links toolbar.

Additional information on the bookmarklet is at www.lib.washington.edu/help/proxyTools.html

For more information on the proxy read UW Off-Campus Proxy FAQ (www.lib.washington.edu/help/ezhelp.html).

Firefox Greasemonkey Proxy Script

Experimental: Advanced Users Only

When enabled, this Greasemonkey script for Firefox will log your browser into the proxy whenever you visit a UW site. No bookmarklet necessary. Before following these instructions you must know how to install Add-on Extensions in Firefox and how to enable and disable scripts in Greasemonkey.

Instructions

Install the Greasemonkey Extension
Restart Firefox
Install the UW Library Proxy Script
Browse the web

From now on, as long as Greasemonkey is enabled, and as long as this script is enabled, your browser will attempt to keep you logged into the proxy when you visit a UW site. See the Greasemonkey documentation for help.

Note: You can customize the script to include other web sites that will keep you logged in. See "Manage User Scripts" in the Greasemonkey menu.

How Do I Get a UW NetID?

Your UW NetID (with password) is your personal identification for using UW restricted resources. If you have a UW email address (yourname@u.washington.edu) the part before @u is your UW NetID.

Faculty and students go to www.washington.edu/computing/uwnetid/ for step-by-step directions to set up a UW NetID, or to reset a forgotten NetID password. You must know your Employee ID number (EID) or student number and private access code (PAC) before beginning.

Faculty* and staff: Your UW HuskyCard (ID card) has your EID on the front. If you can't find your EID on your Huskycard, please contact the payroll coordinator in your UW department. (*includes UW clinical faculty who aren't paid by UW)

Students: If you don't know or can't remember your PAC, contact the Registration Office, 225 Schmitz Hall or call 206-543-8580.

Family Medicine Residency Network Residents (FMRN): FMRN residents use PACs to set up NetIDs at uwnetid.washington.edu/newid/?type=11. Obtain your PAC from your residency coordinator, or by phoning the FMRN office at 206-685-1856. Then go to uwnetid.washington.edu/newid/?type=11 to set up your NetID.

Problems with the UW NetID form or you have forgotten your UW NetID:
Contact UW Technology at help@u.washington.edu or 206-221-5000. FMRN Residents identify yourselves as "medical residents".

Additional Tools

Proxy a URL

Use this to get the proxied version of a URL (e.g., convert a URL received in an email message; create a URL for use as a bookmark or in a webpage).

Un-proxy a URL

Use this to create an unproxied version of a URL (e.g., for use in citations).

UW Internet Connectivity Kit (UWICK)

The University of Washington Internet Connectivity Kit (UWICK) allows you to dial in to UW modems, which provide free Internet access at 56Kbps from many Western Washington communities. Use outside the local dialing areas requires a long-distance phone connection. To determine whether you can dial toll-free from your location, try the CALL UW checker tool. From home using UWICK or from a campus computer, UW restricted resources work automatically, though some may require individual registration. To learn more about UWICK, see www.washington.edu/uware/uwick/. For the list of toll-free UW dial-in phone numbers, visit www.washington.edu/computing/connect/dialins.html.

How Do I "Uninstall" the Old Proxy?

To remove the old proxy settings from your Web browser, follow the directions at: www.lib.washington.edu/help/remove.html.

For more information on setup and use of the old proxy service see healthlinks.washington.edu/howto/connect/old_proxy.html