Get started

• What login and password do I use?
• I logged in twice and got a warning page.
• What is the VPN toolbar?
• How do I get to library resources once I have logged in using VPN?

Use the VPN

• I closed the VPN window and now I am no longer logged in.
• I typed a URL directly into my Web browser instead of navigating to it from within the VPN window and now I can't access library resources.
• If I find links to articles using Google Scholar or while conducting a Web search, will I need to authenticate to get to the actual articles?
• I like to use multiple windows when I am searching and viewing resources. Can I use multiple tabs in Firefox or multiple browser windows once I login to the VPN service?
• What if I'm browsing normally without the VPN, and come across a site I need to use the VPN for? Can I use my bookmarks in the VPN?

Known Issues

• Are there Web sites that don't work with VPN? How do I access these sites?

Get started

What login and password do I use?

Your UC Davis login and password. (You may request an account (https://computingaccounts.ucdavis.edu/cgi-bin/services/index.cgi) if you are a UC Davis student, faculty, or staff member.)

I logged in twice and got a warning page.

Only log in once using your UC Davis Kerberos username and password.

What is the VPN toolbar?

The VPN toolbar is persistent while you are in VPN; you should always see it in the upper right corner. If you do not see it, you are not in VPN. Clicking on the house icon will bring you to the VPN welcome screen. VPN help will be displayed if you click on the life preserver icon. You may logout at any point during your session by clicking on the door icon.

How do I get to library resources once I have logged in using VPN?

Use the links in the "Web Bookmarks" section or type a URL directly into the browse box beneath the VPN toolbar in the upper right corner. You must navigate from within the window from which you logged in using VPN, i.e. Don't use your browser bookmarks.

Use the VPN

I closed the VPN window and now I am no longer logged in.

Don't close the VPN window. To keep the session active you need to navigate using the links available within the VPN window.

I typed a URL directly into my Web browser instead of navigating to it from within the VPN window and now I can't access library resources.

You must navigate to the resource from within the VPN window, not by typing the URL directly into the browser because you will no longer be recognized as an approved UC Davis faculty, staff, or student.

You may use the browse box under the VPN toolbar to type URLs directly into the VPN session. Click on the house icon in the VPN toolbar from wherever you are, then type the URL you want to look up into the VPN browse box.

You may add a View in VPN bookmark to your browser. You can use this to "get back" to the VPN if you accidently typed an address directly in your web browser.

If I find links to articles using Google Scholar or while conducting a Web search, will I need to authenticate to get to the actual articles?

You must be recognized as current UC Davis faculty, staff, or student to access the full-text of articles. Logging into the VPN service before beginning to search for resources may be the most efficient method.

I like to use multiple windows when I am searching and viewing resources. Can I use multiple tabs in Firefox or multiple browser windows once I login to the VPN service?

Yes, if you open the tabs or windows from within the VPN window. If your browser supports using multiple tabs, you may right click on a link accessed through the VPN and choose "Open Link in New Tab." If you want to open a link in a new window, right click on the link and choose "Open Link in New Window." You can then access library resources in the new tab or window. Alternatively, you may open a resource in a new window by clicking on the window icons shown in the image below.

What if I'm browsing normally without the VPN, and come across a site I need to use the VPN for? Can I use my bookmarks in the VPN?

You can add a View in VPN bookmark to your browser. This will redirect your current page to the VPN. You can open your bookmark, then redirect it to the VPN.

Known Issues

Are there Web sites that don't work with VPN? How do I access these sites?

Yes, we have found some sites do not work with the VPN. In the cases where a site does not work with the VPN, we will work with the vendor to resolve the problem. Here is a list of sites we have found do not work with the VPN and the workaround.

ArtStor

To use all Artstor functions and collections without problems, please use the proxy server. By going through the VPN, Firefox can be used for searching and viewing, but working with shared image URLs is awkward. Internet Explorer does not work correctly with this site. Please use the proxy server or Firefox.

CRCnetBASE

See PDF Documents Containing Hyperlinks below.

EBSCO Visual Search

All features of EBSCO databases function well, except the visual search feature. Saving a citation to a folder in the visual search interface is time-consuming and requires reinitiating the search after the citation is moved to the folder. If you wish to use the visual search feature in conjunction with folders, please use the proxy server.

Flash journals

Some journals present their articles as flash objects which imitate the look and experience of the physical object. They may fail to load to your computer through the VPN. Please use the proxy server.

Gale databases

Gale Literature Resource Center and Gale Virtual Reference Library (encyclopedias and dictionaries) are not currently functioning through the VPN. The 17th-18th Century Burney Collection Newspapers fails intermittently. The proxy service is not experiencing problems and should be used instead .

MathJax (MathSciNet)

MathJax is an open source JavaScript display engine for mathematics for browsers. Browsers report errors when processing the TeX encoded symbols in the VPN. Use the MathSciNet Preferences tab to turn MathJax off and display the TeX coding or use the proxy server.

NAXOS Music Library

Internet Explorer works using only one of the two streaming audio players employed by Naxos. If you encounter an error, click the link to the alternate player. If you find the randomly encountered error inconvenient, please use another browser such as Firefox, or the proxy server.

PDF Documents Containing Hyperlinks (e.g. CRCnetBASE)

PDF documents can contain hyperlinks to resources outside the document and the outside links are known to not work. When they open in a new window, the window is accessed directly instead of through the VPN. The visible text of external hyperlinks embedded in PDF documents can be copied and accessed through the VPN using the browse dialog area of the VPN menu page. Alternatively, the proxy server may be used.

Project Muse Journals

After January 1, 2012 changes to the site, Internet Explorer 8 should be used to access Project Muse and Internet Explorer 7 should not be.

Warning: Do Not select compatibility mode in IE 8 to move the slideshow into the blank area where it should appear.

Springer eJournals and eBooks

Internet Explorer 7.0 does not work with the VPN. Internet Explorer 8.0 works well with the VPN and Springerlink and upgrading is suggested.

UC-eLinks with Firefox and some databases

When the UC-eLinks button is used in some databases with Firefox, the browser opens a new window with a UC-eLinks banner in a frame above a white frame with the word "LOADING" beside spinning dots in a gray bar. If the dots do not stop spinning, use the "Remove frame" link in the banner to view the article or use the "UC-eLinks menu" link to navigate to the article. The problem doesn't occur with Internet Explorer, Safari, or Konqueror. Alternatively, the proxy server may be used.