Proxy Server Tips, FAQs, and Trouble Shooting

• Use it at a publisher's site when you need proxy authentication
• Use it to restore the proxy session if it has timed out or broken

This tip will allow you to offer your students direct links  and access to licensed resources. They do not have to hunt for the resources or try to figure out when and where they have to log in to the proxy server.

• First, gather all the links to the licensed resources you want to offer to your students.
• Next, you'll need to change the links to these licensed resources so they go through the proxy server. You do this by prefixing your URL with the proxy server URL.
• Copy the following URL: https://proxy.library.ucsb.edu/login?url=
• Finally, paste it in front of the URL of each licensed resource.

Example: If you have a link to: https://a.library.licensed.product, you must change it to: https://proxy.library.ucsb.edu/login?url=https://a.library.licensed.product.

The link to the restricted resource must be absolute (it must start with https://); it cannot be a relative URL.  Without the https://, the link will not work.

Using Google Scholar with the proxy server will help you gain access to licensed library resources when you are off campus. When you are off campus, our computer systems do not know if you are affiliated with UCSB. In order to establish that you are indeed affiliated with UCSB, you will need to first run your Google Scholar search through the proxy server. Once this is established, you will see links to Get it at UC and full text articles when you do your searches.

• Use the following link to connect to Google Scholar: https://proxy.library.ucsb.edu/login?url=https://scholar.google.com.
• Now, bookmark the site and use Google Scholar with Get it at UC from off-campus.

• We added Duo authentication to better protect your account information and to meet campus authentication standards.
• We changed to a hosted version of the EZproxy service.  For most users the only readily noticeable change will be the addition of Duo authentication.
• Users who have installed the “Off-campus Access” bookmark applet tool should update this applet on the bookmark toolbar of their browsers.
• The IP address of the proxy server has changed.  While we have notified our database providers of this change, it is possible that some may not have made the change in their system yet.  If you experience difficulties accessing a resource through the proxy server, please report it through our Ask a Librarian service.  The librarians will need to know the name of the resource and the URL.

• Use the proxy server when you want to access our licenced e-resources while you are off campus.
• Library databases are licensed from vendors who supply access to electronic resources licensed by the UCSB Library.
• We have contracts with these companies that limit off-campus access to UCSB faculty, staff, and students.

• Your computer is connected to the proxy server through a web browser. 
• For instructions on how to connect to the proxy server, please go to the instruction page.

• You do not need to download any additional software to use the proxy server. You just use your web browser, your UCSBnet ID and password, and Duo authentication.
• Any browser should work with the service.
• We recommend that you use the most current version available for whichever browser you choose to use.

• You will use your UCSB NetID and password to sign in to the proxy server. 
• For more detailed information, please see our UCSB NetID and Password information page.

• Duo authentication is required to protect your account information.  For more information on Duo authentication, see the following campus webpages:

  • Getting Started with MFA with Duo

  • Which Devices Should I Enroll in MFA with Duo

  • Adding Multiple Devices for MFA with Duo

• If you log in to the proxy server and then click on links the proxy session will stay active. 
• If the proxy authentication "breaks," you can use the bookmark applet tool to fix it.

• If you are already signed in to the proxy server, it will not prompt you again.  Look at the URL address bar of your browser. Does it include the words "proxy.library.ucsb.edu"? If so, you are already signed in and will not be prompted again.
• If the proxy string is not visible, there may be a firewall blocking access to the proxy server.

• If you have forgotten your ID or password or would like to reset it, follow the instructions for resetting your password.

Duo authentication is managed at the campus level.  For more information on Duo authentication, see the following webpages:

• Getting Started with MFA with Duo - https://www.it.ucsb.edu/mfa/getting-started-mfa-duo 

• Which Devices Should I Enroll in MFA with Duo - https://www.it.ucsb.edu/mfa/which-devices-should-i-enroll-mfa-duo

• Adding Multiple Devices for MFA with Duo - https://www.it.ucsb.edu/mfa/adding-multiple-devices-mfa-duo

• If the link on your applet doesn't say "UCSB Off-Campus Access" you need to install the updated version.
• Follow the instructions on the Off-Campus Access Bookmark Tool page to install the new version.

• The easiest way would be to make a new bookmark.  Proxied links to our electronic resources can be found through UC Library Search or through the database list linked from the Library website.
• If you would like to manually edit a bookmark or link, please make the changes indicated below:
  
  • Outdated proxied URLs have "http" instead of "https", and likely contain a port number in the URL.
  • If you see the string http://proxy.library.ucsb.edu:2048/login?url= in your URL, please make the following changes:
    
    • change http to https
    • remove the port number -- :2048 -- from the middle of the URL.  If you see a different 4-digit number instead of "2048" in this location after ucsb.edu, remove the colon and digits.
    • Your new URL string should be https://proxy.library.ucsb.edu/login?url=
  • Making these two changes should give you a working link that will route you through the proxy server for authentication.

• This usually means there is a problem on the vendor's end.
• Please report the problem. Include the title and URL of the resource you were trying to use.

• Please report the problem to the Library webmaster. Include the name of the resource, the URL, and the text of the error message in the email.

• This means that the site has not been properly configured for the proxy server. Please follow the instructions on the error message page and report the issue. We will work to resolve it as quickly as possible.
• NOTE: If you are using the Off-Campus bookmark tool, wait until you get to a page where you need the proxy server before you use the tool. Otherwise, you might get an error message.

The problem is probably one of three things:

• You may have found an online journal (or issue of a journal) that the UCSB Library does NOT subscribe to.
• The library may need to adjust the configuration of Off-Campus Access for the particular database or journal site.  If you think this might be the case, please report the problem.
• You have gone straight to the journal's website from off-campus without going through the UCSB Library's website. Use the Off-Campus Access bookmark tool to sign into the proxy server.

• Disable pop-up blockers when you are using our licensed databases and journals. You can always go back and enable this again later.
• For most browsers, if you search Google for "how to disable pop-up blockers" you will be able to find instructions.  You will need to know the name of your browser and which version you are using.

• This is probably due to pop-up blockers set up on the computer that you are using. See the answer above.

• The proxy server and some licensed databases send "cookies" when you connect to them to verify that you are an authorized user. Ad-blocking software may have settings that block cookies. 
• Please enable cookies in your browser.

If certain links or other parts of the site are not functioning, there are a few possibilities:

• The database vendor or e-journal publisher is having a technical problem.
• You may have found an online journal (or issue of a journal) that the UCSB Library does NOT subscribe to.
• The library may need to adjust the configuration of Off-Campus Access for the particular database or journal site. Please report the problem so that we can confirm the root of the problem.

• The proxy server authentication cannot pass through PDF documents. We recommend that you use the HTML version of the table of contents.
• You can also use the Off-Campus Access Bookmark Tool to fix the authentication when it breaks.