Review our new tutorial on the Proxy ID & PW

1) How does the Proxy Login work?

When you select a link on a Library web page or in the Library Catalog, a small program runs to see if your computer is on the OSF network. If it is, you will not need to do anything. If it is not, the connection will be routed through a "rewriting" proxy server, which will ask you for your Active Directory ID and password (this is your Windows login or your Citrix login) Once you enter those, the server will connect you to the subscription resource, and act as a "gateway" for the rest of your session. You will not need to re-enter your ID and password if you switch databases, provided you have not been idle for more than 60 minutes.

2) What does the Proxy Login screen look like?

The following screen will appear in your web browser window when attempting to access a database off the OSF network.

In the "username" and "password" box, enter your Active Directory ID and password.

NOTE: This is NOT your OSF Access ID and password.

3) What is an Active Directory Account?

Active Directory is an authentication and directory service that is used by OSF to provide a unified authentication mechanism for the various systems used throughout the enterprise.

Most employees and affiliates have Active Directory accounts and may not realize it. If you are able to log into any of these systems or applications . . .

• Any OSF Windows desktop or laptop (non-taskstations)

• Citrix via a web browser

• Outlook Web Access (OWA)

• IDX-RAD

• MagicWeb

. . . then you already have an Active Directory account and can use the same credentials you use for those systems to authenticate to the library proxy server!

Credentials for OSF Access, IDX CareCast, or PeopleSoft will not work with the proxy server.

If these are the only credentials you have, you will need to ask the Medical Librarian for a special Library Access account using the contact information below.

Still not sure if you have an appropriate account? Contact the Medical Librarian at 309-655-3405, Monday - Friday, 8:00 AM - 4:30 pm CT or send an email to libaccts@osfhealthcare.org. 

4) What resources utilize the proxy server?

Currently, remote users of these resources will be prompted to enter their Active Directory ID and password on the Proxy Login screen.

• Ovid databases

• EBSCOHost databases

• Micromedex

• The Medical Letter

• ClinicalResource@Ovid

• Lexi-Comp

• OCLC First Search

• All electronic journals
   

5) UpToDate isn't accessible through the proxy server, how do I login?

Our UpToDate license does not cover remote use, it is only available on site at an OSF facility.

6) What if I don't have an Active Directory ID and password?

If you know that you do not have an OSF Active Directory account but feel you are an authorized user, contact a librarian at 309-655-3405, Monday - Friday, 8:00 am - 4:30 pm CT, or send an email to libaccts@osfhealthcare.org to request access to the resource.

To facilitate a quicker response via email, please include your full contact details, your verifiable OSF affiliation, and the name of the resource or resources you are trying to access.

7) I typed in my Active Directory ID and password, but I am unable to login, who should I contact?

If you know you have a valid Active Directory and ID password, contact the OSF Help Desk at 309-655-4800 for assistance. Please provide your name, contact information, OSF affiliation, the name of the resource you were trying to access and the location from where you were attempting access.

8) What do I need to know about my password?

Initially, you will receive a temporary password.

You will need to create a permanent password on your first login. Password criteria:

1. Passwords must be at least 8 characters in length (same as current)
2. Passwords are NOT allowed to contain any parts of the users Full Name or Logon UserID (e.g. - Barbara Jean Jones has a UserID of BJJones - she cannot have in her password "Barbara", "Jean", "Jones", or "BJJones")
3. Passwords will be required to be alpha-numeric (requiring the user to have at least one number and at least one alpha character in their password).
4. Passwords cannot repeat any of the last 24 passwords the user has used (same as current)
5. Passwords will expire every 90 days.  You will be prompted to change the password prior to the expiration.