ACCESS TO ONLINE RESOURCES
FROM OUTSIDE THE OXFORD
NETWORK
Resources are protected by controlling access in two ways:
• By username and password – either using Athens authentication or the Oxford
Single Sign-On (SSO) which in time will replace Athens.
• By validating IP address - are you on the Oxford network? To access resources
restricted by IP address you need a remote access password and VPN software.
• Many resources allow access by either route.
We recommend that you install VPN as your main access method and just use
Athens/ SSO when necessary. The principal databases that are only available
through Athens / SSO include various legal or business databases, Digimap and
ESDS databases.
Athens / Oxford Username Single Sign-On
Why Do I Need It?
• This is your only option if you are using a machine which is not your own
such as in an internet café
• If the computer you are using is not on the University’s network (ie with an
IP address which is recognized as belonging to the University), you will be
denied access to online resources subscribed to by the University unless
you have an ATHENS/ SSO password.
• ATHENS/ SSO login is mandatory for a few resources, e.g. Westlaw UK,
regardless of your network connection.
Migration from Athens to Oxford Username Single Sign-On
As mentioned above the University is currently moving from having a separate
Athens password to the use of the Oxford Username Single Sign-On (SSO)
instead. You already use your Oxford username SSO account for Webmail,
Weblearn, OUCS course booking etc.
Using the Oxford SSO should be more convenient as you will not have to register
for a separate username.
Currently both Athens and the Oxford SSO can be used for almost all Athenscompliant resources (such as electronic databases available through OxLIP).
We are in the process of testing to make sure there will be no loss of user
functionality in the change but (especially if you have not already registered for
Athens) you may prefer to use your Oxford SSO. Please note that the
Routledge Encyclopedia of Philosophy and the Europa World of Learning
are currently only available through Athens (or IP address/VPN) rather than SSO.
The Taylor and Francis eBook subscriptions are only available through
Athens.
Using the Oxford Username Single Sign-On to access resources
At the moment you use your Oxford SSO through an Athens gateway. Look for
your online resource in the usual way (probably via direct weblink or through
Oxlip www.bodley.ox.ac.uk/oxlip). If you are denied access to content look for
the Athens log-in option. For example in the British Standards database you
need to choose log in from the options on the top menu and then choose
Athens log in
Illustration 1 [Login screen for BSI showing Athens log in]
First scenario: Single Sign-On as saved default
You may find you are immediately given the option of choosing the University of
Oxford Single Sign-On login page because, if this route has been used before, it
can easily be remembered on the computer. If you prefer to use Athens rather
than SSO you can choose “I want to login with an alternative account”.
Illustration 2 [Athens login screen showing link to Go to the University login page]
If you choose Go to the University of Oxford login page you will see the
following and can use your Oxford SSO username and password:
Illustration 3 [University of Oxford Single Sign-On login screen requesting
Username and Password]
Second scenario: Athens as the saved default
You may find that the Athens login screen looks like the illustration below if the
SSO option has never been selected. You can choose either to use your Athens
username and password if you know it or go through to the Oxford SSO by
choosing Alternative login.
Illustration 4 [Athens login screen showing options of Athens username and
password or Alternative login]
The first time you choose this option on a computer you will need to go through
the following steps but the process will be much shortened the next time if you
allow the computer to remember the setting.
Illustration 5 [Athens page showing search options for finding Oxford]
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 Username Single Sign-on details
UK Federation option
Some resources are now offering the opportunity to use the Oxford SSO direct
rather than via Athens alternative login. It can be described as UK Federation or
sometimes an Institutional log-in. In time this is likely to be our preferred route
but at the moment this route does not always validate properly – in which case
use the Athens / SSO route already described.
Problems with access
Please report any problems with accessing electronic resources using the Oxford
Username Single Sign-On to eresources@ouls.ox.ac.uk.
Problems with your own username and password should be directed to the
OUCS see http://www.oucs.ox.ac.uk/helpcentre.
As a rule of thumb if you can’t get into anything at all it is probably a problem with
your access – if there is a specific resource you can’t get into it is probably a
problem with the resource.
What do I do if I have forgotten or never knew my Oxford SSO username
and password?
For online help see http://www.ict.ox.ac.uk/oxford/username/ .
All members of Oxford University holding a current University Card automatically
have an Oxford Single Sign-On Account (Bodleian Reader cards are not valid for
this purpose).
New members of the University are sent the account details in a letter from
OUCS to the member's primary University address, normally within three working
days of the new University card being issued. The account then needs to be
activated within 30 days.
If you have a current University Card and have never received or have lost the
account details, your local IT staff can provide these for you. Alternatively, you
can contact the OUCS Help Centre either in person, or via their help request
form. OUCS can provide account details via the University internal post or via
email to a working University email account. They cannot be given over the
telephone or sent to non-University postal or email addresses.
I've Forgotten my Oxford Single Sign-On Password, or it has Expired What Should I Do?
If you have forgotten your Oxford Single Sign-On password or it has expired, you
can reset it yourself. To do this, visit the OUCS password reset web page:
www.oucs.ox.ac.uk/registration/oxford/forgottenpassword.xml.
If you find that you can't remember the answer to your security question (or are a
long-standing University member who has never set one up), you will need to
contact the OUCS Help Centre (tel:(2)73200 or use their help request form to ask
for a Rescue Code.
Use the Rescue Code to set up a security question and answer via the web page
at: https://webauth.ox.ac.uk/security_question. Then reset your password at
https://webauth.ox.ac.uk/reset_password.
How Do I Get An Athens Account?
Unless you need to use one of the few resources which still require Athens
(Westlaw, Routledge Encyclopaedia of Philosophy, Europa World of Learning
and Taylor and Francis e-Book Subscriptions) you would probably be better
advised to use the Oxford SSO rather than register for a new Athens password.
However if you do need one:
1. Go to: https://register.oucs.ox.ac.uk/self/athens.
2. Enter your Oxford Single Sign-On (SS0) login details
3. Once logged in, select the option ‘Register for an Athens Account’.
4. Follow the on-screen instructions to set up your account and set a
password of your own choice.
Your access will be available within an hour – you will not receive any further
confirmation.
The VPN (Virtual Private Network) service
The OUCS VPN Service allows computers, outside of the University’s network, to
‘virtually’ connect to the University network through the computer’s existing
internet connection. This will give you access to online resources such as the full
OxLIP index (including resource usernames and passwords), OXAM and almost
all of our electronic journals, as if you were using a computer within the
University.
To use the VPN Service you need to install a piece of software on your personal
computer. This software cannot be installed on a computer in an internet café, or
similar facility.
The VPN Service is also used to connect to the wireless network available in
many University locations. In addition it can be used to access workfiles remotely
as long as specific permissions are enabled.
This guide gives a few tips on accessing the VPN Service. You should consult
the OUCS web pages for full details:
http://www.oucs.ox.ac.uk/network/vpn/oucs-service
How can I get connected?
If you do not already have a Remote Access Services username and password,
you must self-register for an account. You can do this from any computer with an
internet connection, using your Oxford Single Sign-On login and going to:
https://register.oucs.ox.ac.uk/self/remote_access
Illustration 6 [Page headed Select Remote Access option offering options to
Reset a remote access account password or register for a remote access
account]
Once you have your account set up you will need to obtain a copy of the Cisco
VPN Software and install it on your computer. This can be freely downloaded
from: https://register.oucs.ox.ac.uk/self/software
Before you download this software you must read the full instructions on the
OUCS website.
You will then be able to access resources such as OxLIP and OXAM just as you
would from any University networked computer.
Once installed, you will need to run the VPN software every time you want to
access e-resources remotely. First find the link in your list of programs (in
Windows choose START | PROGRAMS | CISCO SYSTEMS VPN CLIENT |
VPN CLIENT), choose CONNECT and then enter your Remote Access details
when prompted.
Once you have logged on using the VPN service, a padlock icon
[padlock
icon] will appear at the bottom right of your computer screen to indicate login was
successful and that the VPN software is running. When you have finished using
the VPN, click on the padlock icon to disconnect.
Please note
Some resources require an ATHENS /Single Sign-On password even if you
have VPN software on your computer.
TROUBLESHOOTING
Forgotten your Athens or Remote Access Password?
Use your Oxford Single Sign-On login to reset your ATHENS, Single Sign-On or
Remote Access password at https://register.oucs.ox.ac.uk
• AOL does not support the use of VPN
• You need to remove any existing versions of this VPN software before installing
a new copy
• If you are unable to self-register for an ATHENS, SSO or a Remote Access
account you will need to contact OUCS. Email registration@oucs.ox.ac.uk
Further help
• If you don’t know your Oxford Single Sign-on Username and password go to
http://www.ict.ox.ac.uk/oxford/username
• If you have any registration queries email registration@oucs.ox.ac.uk
• For help with username or general IT queries go to:
http://www.oucs.ox.ac.uk/helpcentre
• For VPN troubleshooting go to:
http://www.oucs.ox.ac.uk/helpcentre/troubleshooting/vpn
• For assistance with electronic resources email eresources@ouls.ox.ac.uk
• Full details of OUCS Remote Access Services are available at:
http://www.oucs.ox.ac.uk/network/remote
Notes