Password post

So much has changed that I thought I should do a fresh password post.

There are now 3 ways to get into library resources from off campus:

1. You can log into the library catalog and databases using the same login as MySCSU, eLearning Vista, and the campus lab computers. Please see the Password Reset form, or a OIT Service Desk for help with your network login.

1. Use the login boxes on the LEFT at http://www.consuls.org/patroninfo, the Login or My Record link in the CONSULS Library Catalog, or the databases login screen.
2. Enter your Network Username and Password (MySCSU/Vista login).
3. Be sure to pick the correct campus!
4. Click the Submit button.
5. Problems with your Network Login need to be directed to the IT Helpdesk.

Note: If you have recently reset your password, the new password may take some time to "migrate" to the library login. Please try your old password, or use the Library PIN or Remote access in the meanwhile.

If you mistype and need to try again, the campus choice will reset to Central. Be sure to choose the correct campus on each attempt.

2. You can also use your University ID number and Library PIN to login.

1. Create your Library PIN at http://www.consuls.org/patroninfo, the Login or My Record link in the CONSULS Library Catalog, or the databases login screen.
2. Enter your ID number in the login boxes on the RIGHT.
3. Leave the PIN box blank and click the Submit button.
4. If you have a current library account and you do not have a PIN, you should get a form to create a PIN.
5. Your Library PIN should be at least 6 characters long, and use numbers, letters, or both. The library PIN is not case sensitive. DO NOT use "special" characters, such as *, #, or ! DO NOT use repeating patterns (such as 121212 -- dates are sometimes a problem, Jan 1, 1999 = 010199, for instance). You will need to enter the exact PN in both boxes.
6. Click Submit.
7. If you get an error message about your PIN being "not complex" enough, try a different PIN. Remember, do not use "special characters" or repeating patterns.
8. If you get an error message about "invalid" or "expired" entries, you may already have a PIN (possibly created by accident) or your library account may be blocked. For "invalid" entries, try the "Forgot your PIN" link below the PIN box. That will send a message to the email we have on file. If you do not get an email, or get a different error message, call the Circulation Desk at 203-392-5756 to check the status of your account and/or to delete an old or accidentally created PIN.

Video tutorial on creating a Library PIN (Flash plugin required).

3. An alternative route into the databases from offcampus is available through the campus Remote server. You will still need to log into CONSULS to view e-reserves, and request and renew books.

1. Log on to https://remote.southernct.edu/ using your Network username and password.
2. In the upper right, type library.southernct.edu into the Browse box and click the Go button.
3. Go to the databases and search without having to log in again!

Note: You will not be able to follow any links that go outside the databases or campus website. For outside links, open a new window or tab in your browser and copy the URL's into this new window/tab.

Accessing the Remote server on campus may provide different options than off campus access.

MySCSU Upgrade will block access Fri & Sat

After several postponements, they are finally going to do a planned upgrade to MySCSU. Starting tonight (Fri, 9/11) at 5pm, MySCSU (and all related services) will be down until 5pm Saturday, 9/12 (24 hours!) This includes:

• MySCSU email
• MySCSU portal
• U-Drive
• home.southernct.edu websites
• VISTA (e-Learning Vista courseware)
  
• Banner Web

This should not affect campus network logins (computer labs, faculty webmail, remote access) or library logins (e-reserves, databases).

New way of logging into the databases

Hi folks, long time no write. Sorry about that. Things have been extraordinarily busy and a lot of things are changing at the library. Retirements, budget cuts, redistribution of resources and responsibilities...it's been a challenge and will continue to be so for a while yet.

But anyway, the real reason for this post is that we just discovered a new way of logging into our databases from off campus. Very quietly implemented and improved over the last year or so are Remote services (VPN) from IT. When you log into the Remote server, it acts as if you are logged into a campus computer, no matter were in the world you are. You can view your network files (including web pages), use some campus resources, and browse the campus website. (From on campus you see different options.)

You log in using your username (as with MySCSU & Vista) and your Windows/network password. The network password is only used on campus, so most distance students will not have one. If you don't have one, or haven't logged into a campus computer (including Remote) for over 3 months, go to the Helpdesk website (http://helpdesk.southernct.edu/) and choose Accounts and Email. Then choose Windows, and then Password Reset. Complete the form, then got to the Remote site, https://remote.southernct.edu/ (watch the 's' in https -- this is a secure site). Log in using your username and the password you just set. Once logged in, you can change your password to match your MySCSU/Vista password. (IT tells me they are working on a single signon, so this multiple password thing will shortly get better.)

Once you are logged in all the way, you should see a list of services and sites, and, up in the upper right, a box labeled Browse. In this box, enter the library's web address, library.southernct.edu and enter. You should see the library web site underneath a banner with Southern, a URL address bar, and a small toolbar. At this point, you can use the databases as if you were on campus, without having to use your ID and Library PIN. The one catch is that you can't leave the databases or the campus website. Any outside web links within the databases will be blocked. (You can, of course, copy them and open another browser window to use them.)

This is brand new to us, and we aren't quite sure of the full limits of the service. Please let me know if you have trouble. I tested this last night on a Mac with Firefox, and didn't have any trouble. This won't completely replace the Library PIN, which will still be needed for e-reserves, and if you are using a database with lots of outgoing links, logging in the PIN way will be much easier. But at least you now have an alternative.

Have fun, and I promise to try and post more often!

Network downtime Sunday (9/28)

Nearly everything will be down Sunday (9/28) morning between 6 am and 1pm (Eastern, of course), while IT replaces equipment in our Data Center. Campus web pages, MySCSU, Vista, Banner, email (it'll still be received, you just won't be able to get at it.) They are replacing the circuit breakers that failed a few weeks ago, causing an unexpected complete outage.

Since the library website will also be down, here is a link to the most commonly used databases: Ebsco databases. You should still be able to log in, since the login server is housed at CCSU. If you are going to need another database Sunday morning, go to the databases page, right click (CTRL-click on a Mac) and choose Copy Shortcut/Link location, then paste the link into an email to yourself or something similar. Be sure to use the links on the database page, because the URL's in the address bar once you are in the database usually won't work.

Another work around for this is to use Google Scholar after setting the Library in your preferences. Click the Preferences link just to the right of the search box, and scroll down to the Library section. Search for Southern, and select SCSU. Now you will get Full Text @ Buley links which connect to our journal locator (like the Find Article @ SCSU links in the databases). JSTOR and ScienceDirect articles will come up this way. (I'm pretty sure this will work on Sunday--nothing in this sequence should be housed on campus. If not, just note down the interesting citations and use the Journal Locator to find which databases the journals are in.)

Upgrades, outages, ebook downloads, and vacation

A little bit of everything in this post.

First, there will be some minor upgrades in Blackboard Vista during our usual Sunday (7/27) morning (6-10am) maintenance.

Second, Banner will be down on Sunday (7/27), technically from 11:30 pm Sat (7/26) to 11:50 pm Sun (7/27).

Third, I forgot to announce the World Ebook Fair this year, but there is still time. The Fair collects in one place over one million ebooks, text and audio, all available for download between July 4 and Aug 4. Some of these are collections that are normally free, like the Internet Archive, Project Gutenberg, and government reports, but others are commercial products offering free and discounted ebooks especially for the fair. Many languages are included, both fiction and nonfiction, even sheet music from the IMSLP/Petrucci Music Library.

Fourth, I'm going on vacation for the next week, and then the week after that (Aug 4-8) I'll be busy with the campus SummerTech Faculty Technology workshop. I will keep an eye on my email, but I don't promise to respond right away! I'll try and remember to check my voicemail, too, but I'm really bad about that. So if you need to get in touch with me, use email. Library access problems should go directly to the reference desk, (203) 392-5732 or eref@southernct.edu.

So, instead of using Vista or Banner this Sunday, download some ebooks, and I'll "see" you all in a couple of weeks!

MySCSU downtime Friday morning

MySCSU will be down from 5 am to 8:30 am tomorrow, Friday, July 18. It's the portal itself that they are working on, so this won't block or bounce email--you just won't be able to get at it. Vista and other web services won't be affected.

Vista & Library login server down

Something has happened to a server at the main system office, so you can't login to either Vista or the Library databases. I've got no other info right now, but all the right people have been notified, so someone is working on the problem. Hang in there and keep trying!

Update, 7/9, 9:30 AM: Everything seems to be back up now. No news on what happened so far. Thank you for your patience.

Outages for Saturday, Aug 4.

From the IT Office (with my additions in italics):

The Chancellor's Office has informed us that work on one of the power panels in the system office data center will begin at 7 A.M. on Saturday 8/4 in. As a result, the telephone system and wide area network in Hartford will be powered down at 6:30 a.m. and will be unavailable for a minimum of one and on-half hours.

As a consequence of this planned activity, specific to SCSU the following services will not be available:

1) Password Reset for Luminis Portal (MySCSU)
2) Password Reset for Network Access (campus computers)
3) Bannerweb self Service (student Banner use)
4) Internet Native Banner (INB) for Administrators (Banner Admin)
5) Consuls Library System (this would include logging into the databases)
6) 5 digit phone dialing between CSU campus locations (campus phone service only)


(So that's down at 6:30 AM Eastern (Saturday morning) until 8:00 AM minimum--it might be longer. So get off the computer and go treat yourself to a good breakfast.)

Vista Unavailable Sunday, July 22nd 6am to NOON

Announcement sent: July 17, 2007 11:00 AM

The Vista Operations team has scheduled maintenance for this Sunday, July
22nd at 6am. The purpose of this maintenance is to install additional
storage for anticipated increase in capacity requirements associated with
the upcoming Fall semester, and for the new Vista 4 system currently under
construction. Therefore, Vista will be unavailable from 6:00 am through noon
on Sunday. Please plan accordingly for work submissions and deadlines.

Banner down June 29-July 1

For end-of-fiscal-year processing, Banner will be down from June 29, 6 pm (Eastern), to July 1, 9 am. This will affect registration, payments, grade posting and viewing, etc., in BannerWeb and Banner INB. This will also affect the Banner password reset function. It will not affect MySCSU or other network functions. WebCT Vista should not be affected, though any updates to and from Banner (like class lists) won't go through.