All requests for assistance should go to the Technical Support Center (TSC), 221-HELP, or by email at help@wm.edu. To see the hours of operation for the TSC, click here.
Online databases and electronic journals subscribed by the William and Mary Libraries are restricted, by the vendors, for use by William and Mary students, faculty, and staff ONLY.
Most online resources control access by your computer's IP address. Anyone coming from a campus IP address gets access, but users are refused access if they are coming from elsewhere.
To provide off-campus access for William and Mary users a proxy server is used. The proxy server performs two primary functions:
Off-campus users connect to the proxy server, login to verify that they are affiliated with William and Mary, then the proxy server connects to the resource for them and passes information back and forth. Since the proxy server is coming from on-campus, its IP address is accepted by the online resources.
The proxy server should require no configuration on the user's part. The connection to proxy server is coded into the hyperlinks to databases on the library's web pages. When you click on a link to an online library resource, the proxy server checks whether your computer is on-campus or off.
If there are problems, a user may need to make sure the browser can accept cookies or that the browser is not currently configured to use another proxy server.
For more information about enabling cookies, click here.
At this time, the proxy server is used only for providing off-campus access to online resources (databases, electronic journals, e-books) subscribed by the William and Mary libraries. Virtually all online library resources are accessible through the proxy server.
There are a few online resources (notably some of the law resources) that have special restrictions imposed by the vendor limiting their use to a particular building or to a particular department or unit (i.e., law students, faculty and staff). Also, the libraries also offer a number of stand-alone CD-ROM resources that must be accessed at a public workstation in a library.
Listings and descriptions of William and Mary Libraries' electronic resources can be obtained from the Swem Library Database Index.
No. The old proxy server has been disabled. Your browser will not be able to contact the previous proxy server, since it no longer exists.
If you had previously configured your browser(s) to use the old William and Mary proxy server, you don't have to do anything except DO NOT TURN IT ON. As long as you don't enable the settings, they aren't active. However, you can delete the connection if you wish. The new proxy server does not normally require any browser configuration ? the link to the proxy server is coded into the links on the library web pages.
However, some corporate, dial-up, cable, or broadband connections may automatically configure browsers so their own proxy server is used. It is possible these automatic settings, if they exist, could interfere with the use of William and Mary's proxy server.
These problems are often somewhat unique to the individual and usually can be resolved on a case-by-case basis by calling the TSC (221-HELP; help@wm.edu). To see the hours of operation for the TSC, click here.
Normally, your username is your first and middle initial followed by the first four letters of your last name. Passwords are set to a default of "p" followed by the last six digits of your social security number. New William and Mary users should reference the Accounts and Passwords page on the campus IT webpage new user site for more information about usernames and passwords.
All requests for William and Mary username/password assistance should go to the TSC (221-HELP), or by email: help@wm.edu. To see the hours of operation for the TSC, click here.
If you believe you know your William and Mary email username/password and are typing it correctly and still can't login, you may wish to check:
All requests for William and Mary username/password assistance should go to the TSC, 221-HELP or by email: help@wm.edu. To see the hours of operation for the TSC, click here.
The new proxy server's method of proxying should minimize these problems, and provide greater options for correction.
Most problems using the proxy server from work need to resolved with your company's IT staff. Many corporations use firewalls and/or proxy servers for network security reasons.
Your company, as a matter of course, may be blocking the connection to the proxy server, in which case they must allow connection to: http://proxy.wm.edu (Port 80). However, if you can view this page from the computer that is having problems connecting to the proxy server, it is very unlikely that this is the problem.
Secondly, some companies have employee's browsers configured to use their own proxy server (or have not enabled cookies, or some other security setting) that may interfere with the proxy server functioning properly.
Talk with your IT staff or pursue solutions by contacting the TSC, 221-HELP, help@wm.edu
ISPs that use proprietary versions of browsers, such as AOL or Prodigy, MAY cause some problems for the proxy server. A simple workaround is to connect to the provider, minimize your session and use your own copy of Netscape or Internet Explorer for web surfing 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. These problems are often somewhat unique to the individual and usually can be resolved on a case-by-case basis by calling the TSC, 221-HELP. To see the hours of operation for the TSC, click here.
After the proxy server is used more widely, we will be better able to address specific problems with particular ISPs.
You will get a proxy server Hostname Error page when you attempt to access content on a computer host that has not yet been set up for use by the proxy server.
The proxy server administrator must specify all the domains (i.e., silverplatter.com) and computer hostnames (i.e., spweb.silverplatter.com) for which the proxy server should be used. In this case, all the online library resources.
Database vendors often change domain names, or pull content from new computer hosts without ever informing libraries. Thus, when a hostname error occurs, the proxy server's configuration must be updated to include the new host for proxying.
To expedite correction of this error, please note:
and report it to the TSC, 221-HELP (or by email: help@wm.edu). To see the hours of operation for the TSC, click here.
This problem will be corrected as soon as your notice is received.
Both the proxy server and certain databases send "cookies" when you connect to them to show, during your session, that you are an authorized user.
Your browser reported an error receiving a "cookie" and MAY be currently set to disallow cookies.
In Netscape, check: Edit /Preferences/Advanced and make sure cookies are not disallowed.
In Internet Explorer, check: Tools /Internet Options/Privacy and make sure your settings are set to at least medium-high (though high should work).
For more assistance, click here or contact the TSC at 221-HELP. To see the hours of operation for the TSC, click here.
The proxy server 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 the proxy server. Two common Internet errors that are generated for a variety of reasons are:
An incorrect URL, outdated link or a missing page
Whenever you get an error page, especially one that doesn't come from the proxy server, it is important you note what the error page says, the URL you were trying to access (and from where) and other relevant information.
Then call the TSC, 221-HELP, or email: help@wm.edu, to report the problem and recieve help resolving the error. To see the hours of operation for the TSC, click here.
Most likely this is a computer configuration problem.
You can check the IP address of the computer you are on by going to the Swem Library's Browser Test page. If you have an IP address that starts with 128.239, you are on-campus and should not be required to login (if this is not a restricted resource)
Some possible reasons for this:
You should record your IP address and contact the TSC at 221-HELP.
The most likely cause for this is an access error, likely requiring a change in the proxy server's configuration. You should note the name of the resource you were trying to access and contact the TSC at 221-HELP. To see the hours of operation for the TSC, click here.
The various database vendors use a variety of programming methods on their database web sites. Some of these methods can make it hard for the proxy 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:
As always, you should note the name of the resource and the features you were trying to access and contact the TSC at 221-HELP. Please note the database you were attempting to access and any error message that was seen on the screen. To see the hours of operation for the TSC, click here.
This is not an access problem. You can call a library reference desk at 221-3067 for assistance in using online resources more effectively. You can also email them at sweref@wm.edu
