PROXY SERVICES

Frequently Asked Questions

Why Do You Need to Have a Proxy Service?
When Do I Need to Use the Proxy Service?
How Do Proxy Services Work?
What Do I Need to Do to Use the Proxy Server?
I use AOL. What do I need to do?
My cable modem already uses a proxy. What do I do?
What If I Need Help?


Why Do You Need to Have a Proxy Service?

Software licenses, copyright restrictions and other contractual agreements require that many of the Library's networked resources be restricted for use by members of the Purdue University Calumet community only. These include things like Britannica Online, MathSciNet, most electronic journals and many online databases. To restrict access, these products are only accessible from a PC located on the Purdue Calumet campus which has a Purdue Calumet IP address.

In order to provide the Purdue Calumet community access to these restricted products beyond the boundaries of the Hammond campus, the Library has implemented proxy services for Web resources. By allowing you to use your Purdue Calumet ID to connect to our proxy server, we can provide you with off-campus access to resources that are otherwise restricted by on-campus IP address. The Library will provide instructions for proxy server use with Netscape 4.X and Internet Explorer 5.X; assistance with software from Internet service providers (such as Juno) must be obtained through that provider's support mechanisms.  Please note that the proxy server will not work with Netscape 6.X or Internet Explorer 6.X at this time.

When Do I Need to Use the Proxy Service?

Proxy services are used by members of the Purdue Calumet community (have a current valid Purdue University Calumet ID) who wish to access the Library's networked resources from off-campus or from another network. You will need to use the proxy services when working from:
  • Another university or educational institution
  • Your home using a commercial Internet provider (such as AOL or NetNITCO)
  • Your office or business computer
    • IMPORTANT NOTE: Some companies may use a proxy server to restrict Internet access.  If this is the situation at your workplace, you may be unable to configure your Web browser to use the Purdue Calumet Library Proxy Server at the same time.  In this case, you WILL NOT be able to utilize our proxy services.

    How Do Proxy Services Work?

    The Proxy Server does two things:
  • It authenticates you as a valid member of the Purdue Calumet community; and
  • It acts as a gateway to other servers on the Internet, allowing you to be identified as coming from the *.calumet.purdue.edu domain (having a Purdue Calumet IP address) regardless of where you are physically connecting from.

    • What Do I Need to Do to Use the Proxy Server?

    First, you must be a current member of the Purdue Calumet community (student, faculty or staff) and have a current valid Purdue Calumet ID in order to access the proxy server.

    You will then need to configure your Web browser to use the proxy services. Below are links to configuration instructions for Netscape 4.X and Internet Explorer 5.X.

    Then, enjoy access from off-campus -- anywhere in the world!

  • Netscape 4.X configuration instructions
  • Internet Explorer 5.X configuration instructions


    • NOTE: Configuration of the Web proxy server has been tested with Netscape and Internet Explorer. Most other Web browsers have similar options for proxy configuration; please check with your Internet service provider for the best method of configuring their browser for proxy services. Also note that the proxy server will not work with Netscape 6.X or Internet Explorer 6.X at this time.

    I use AOL. What do I need to do?

    AOL uses it´s own proxy and thus conflicts with the Library's Server. There is a way that you may still use the Library's proxy, however:
  • Download Netscape or Internet Explorer
  • Configure Netscape to use the Library's proxy per instructions
  • Run the AOL browser and "minimize" it. You must leave the AOL browser running
  • Start the Netscape or IE browser and use that to search the restricted databases
  • Make sure that you use a second copy of the browser, independent of AOL

    • My cable modem already uses a proxy. What do I do?

    Much like AOL, cable modems also use a proxy and thus will conflict with the Library's Proxy Server. By using two browsers (or two copies of one broswer) you may still use the Library's proxy:
  • Download Netscape and Internet Explorer
  • Configure one browser (say, IE) for your cable modem and connect to the Internet
  • Minimize that browser; launch the other one (Say, Netscape) and configure it to use the Library's proxy per instructions. You must leave the first browser (IE, in this example) running
  • Search the restricted databases with the "library proxy" broswer (Netscape in this example
  • You can use two copies of the same broswer (Netscape or IE), but using the two different ones makes this a no-brainer.

    •  

    What If I Need Help?

    If you have problems using the Library's Proxy Services, please use this Proxy Help! link, including a detailed description of your problem. We'll get an answer back as soon as possible.
     

    Thanks to Carl Snow, West Lafayette Libraries, for assistance with this information.

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