WISER: Remote access to databases and datasets This session will help you to set up access to Oxford online resources from your home computer. The key methods are Athens passwords and the Virtual Private Network. Judy Reading & Peter Higginbotham

Outline of session This session will cover: A brief overview of the range of resources which you may wish to access from home. An outline of how to find out which method is most appropriate for which resource Instructions for how to set up access through each of the methods described.

OxLIP OxLIP (Oxford Libraries Information Platform) is a gateway to hundreds of electronic resources Includes: – catalogues– abstracting & indexing services – reference works– full-text resources – statistical resource– official publications – electronic journals– quality web resources – current awareness services Free and subscription databases Oxford resources eg OXAM (Examination papers)

Examples of Databases Abstract and Indexing Services: CSA (ASSIA, ERIC, LISA, Social Services Abs, Sociological Abs, Worldwide Political Science Abs) IBSS (International Bibliography of the Social Sciences) WebSPIRS (EconLit, PAIS, PsycInfo) Citation index: Web of Knowledge/Social Science Citation Index Other: TDNet (Electronic journals) Catalogues Theses and Dissertations Other OXLIP resources Web resources

Remote access to electronic resources If you are a member of Oxford University and are using a PC, Mac or Unix workstation within the ox.ac.uk domain you will be able to access most electronic resources without requiring a username and/or password. If you want to access electronic resources from outside Oxford University you will need to register either for a personal username and password or for the University's VPN Service, and in some cases both.

Oxam from off campus

Justis – from on-campus

Justis – from off campus

Athens/SSO The Athens authentication service allows the use of a single username and password to access all electronic resources listed here from any network connected computer. Until recently to use the service you had to register for an Athens personal account and set a password (still possible via Now Oxford is in the process of migrating to the use of the Single Sign-on (SSO) username and password instead of the Athens password You will be able to access the same range of services

VPN: Virtual Private Network The great majority of resources are limited to the Oxford Internet domain by IP address. This means that when within the ox.ac.uk domain no login is required. When working off campus, you can be allocated an Oxford IP address through the University's Virtual Private Network (VPN) Service. This makes your computer part of our virtual campus. To use this service you must register for a remote access account and install and run VPN software on your computer. Many of these resources can also be accessed through your Athens/SSO username and password.

How do you know what to use? VPN or Athens Athens onlyNot yet through SSO VPN only Most resources Digimap ESDS (Economic and Social Data Service) databases International and specialist databases for Law and the Business School. Westlaw Taylor & Francis E-books Routledge Encyclopedia of Philosophy Europa World of Learning Some full-text journals OXAM

For complete coverage use both! PROsCONs VPNMost comprehensive Also needed to access campus wireless network (OWL) Requires extra software and special password Only appropriate for owned machine Athens/SSONo extra software required Uses existing SSO password Smaller coverage

The Oxford Single Sign-On Account This account is the key to remote access of digital resources You already use your SSO account for Webmail, Weblearn, OUCS Course booking etc. You can also now use it instead of the Athens username and password.

Using the Athens/SSO Account Look for the Alternative Login on Athens login screens: Search for ‘Oxford’ and click Go Click on University of Oxford entry in list Click on Go underneath the Go to the University of Oxford login page (the ‘Remember’ option is ticked by default and will shorten the process next time) Login with your Oxford Single Sign-On details

Demonstration: Setting up VPN More details on VPN can be found at You need to both register for a remote access account and download and install the VPN client software  Available for Windows 98, ME, 2000, XP and Vista, Mac OSX (and all Intel Macs), Linux and Solaris You can do both of the above through the Self-Registration Interface Start the VPN software whenever you need access to Oxford electronic resources

Demonstration: Using VPN On Windows, click the Start button and look in the All Programs list for Cisco Systems VPN Client On Mac OSX the Applications folder will contain VPN Client Click Connect then enter your Remote Access username and password Software can be set to remember the password, but don’t do this unless you are the only user of the machine

The Most Common VPN Problems Error Message: The remote peer is no longer responding  Indicates a firewall blocking VPN traffic. Required settings are: UDP Port 500, 4500 and open for send/receive IP protocol 50 (ESP) allowed Error Message: User authentication failed  username/password provided are not what the server expects. Password can be reset via the OUCS self-registration page  password has changed since VPN client remembered it. VPN will forget the password via Connection Entries  Modify  Erase User Password For other problems try the online trouble-shooter:

Help You can ask your local Library or IT staff for help Ask at the OUCS Help Centre or see Problems with accessing e-resources can be sent to