Proxy Instructions to Connect to Library Resources from Off Campus

If you cannot install Pulse Secure on the computer you want to use, you can make a one-time change to your web browser preferences that will also serve to authenticate you from off-campus. After changing your web browser preferences, you use the Internet like normal, but when you try to get to a subscription site you will get a grey pop-up box from your web browser into which you need to put your eID and password.

This method is supported by JMU Libraries & Educational Technologies. Please e-mail Amanda Hedrick if you have trouble using the below method.

We recommend using Google Chrome for proxy access to library resources.  Chrome is the most secure browser to use with the proxy server, although the other browsers listed below can be configured for proxy access.

Which web browser would you like to set up for off campus access?

• Firefox (PC and Mac)
• Safari (PC and Mac)
• Internet Explorer (PC only)
• iPad

Note: If you are using Mozilla or Netscape, please upgrade to Google Chrome or another browser listed here.

Configuration Instructions

Firefox 16.x (MS Windows)  [download Firefox -- free!]

1. Copy this URL using Edit, Copy (or CTRL C).  It is very important to get this URL exactly right, with no extra space at the end or beginning:
   http://www.lib.jmu.edu/proxy/jmuproxy.pac
2. Open Firefox.
3. Click on the orange "Firefox" button in the extreme upper left corner of the browser window.  Select Options from the menu, then click on Options again to arrive at the browser settings tabs.
4. Click on the Advanced tab.
5. Click the "Network" tab
6. Click the Settings button.
7. Select Automatic proxy configuration URL, and paste the URL, http://www.lib.jmu.edu/proxy/jmuproxy.pac (Edit, Paste or Ctrl V)
8. Click OK on all windows.
9. Close all Firefox windows and restart Firefox.

Firefox 9.x (Mac)  [download Firefox -- free!]

1. Copy this URL using Edit, Copy (or Command C).  It is very important to get this URL exactly right, with no extra space at the end or beginning:
   http://www.lib.jmu.edu/proxy/jmuproxy.pac
2. Open Firefox.
3. Click on Firefox, and select Preferences.
4. Click on the Advanced tab.
5. Click on the Network tab.
6. Click on Settings.
7. Select Automatic proxy configuration URL at bottom of page, and paste the URL http://www.lib.jmu.edu/proxy/jmuproxy.pac (Edit, Paste or Command V).
8. Click OK.
9. Close all Firefox windows and restart Firefox.
   

Safari 5.x (MS Windows)  [download Safari -- free!]

1. Copy this URL using Edit, Copy (or CTRL C).  It is very important to get this URL exactly right, with no extra space at the end or beginning:
   http://www.lib.jmu.edu/proxy/jmuproxy.pac
2. Open Safari.
3. On the Safari menu bar, click on the gear icon (Display menu of general Safari settings) in the upper right corner of the screen, and select Preferences.
4. Click on the Security button in the top menu bar.
5. Allow pop-up windows by unchecking Block pop-up windows in the Web Content section.
6. Select Always in the Accept Cookies section.
7. Next, click on the Advanced button in the top menu bar.
8. In the Proxies section, click on Change Settings.
9. Click the LAN Settings button near the lower right corner. **Dial-up users, click on the Settings button in the Dial-up and Virtual Private Network section.
10. In the LAN (or dial-up) Settings window, uncheck Automatically detect settings.
11. Click the checkbox beside Use automatic configuration script.
12. Click in the Address textbox and paste the URL http://www.lib.jmu.edu/proxy/jmuproxy.pac (Edit, Paste, or Command V).
13. Click OK.  You should return to the Connections tab of the Internet Options window.
14. Click OK at the bottom of the Internet Options window.
15. Close all Safari windows and restart Safari.

Safari 5.x (Mac)  [download Safari -- free!]

1. Copy this URL using Edit, Copy (or Command C).  It is very important to get this URL exactly right, with no extra space at the end or beginning:
   http://www.lib.jmu.edu/proxy/jmuproxy.pac
2. Open Safari.
3. On the Safari menu bar, click on Safari, and select Preferences.
4. Click on the Advanced button in the top menu bar.
5. Click on Change Settings.  The Network pane of System Preferences will open.
6. Click the check box beside Automatic Proxy Configuration.
7. In the space provided to the right, paste in the url http://www.lib.jmu.edu/proxy/jmuproxy.pac (Edit, Paste, or Command V).
8. Click OK. (you are returned to previous window)
9. Click Apply.
10. Close all Safari windows and restart Safari.

Internet Explorer 7.x or 8.x (MS Windows only; not for Mac) [download IE8 -- free!]

1. Copy this URL using Edit, Copy (or CTRL C).  It is very important to get this URL exactly right, with no extra space at the end or beginning:
   http://www.lib.jmu.edu/proxy/jmuproxy.pac
2. Open Internet Explorer.
3. On the IE menu bar, click Tools, then Internet Options.
4. In the Internet Options window, click the Connections tab at the top.
5. Click the LAN Settings button near the lower right corner. **Dial-up users, click on the Settings button in the Dial-up and Virtual Private Network section.
6. In the LAN (or dial-up) Settings window, click the checkbox beside Use automatic configuration script.
7. Click in the Address textbox and paste the URL, http://www.lib.jmu.edu/proxy/jmuproxy.pac (Edit, Paste or Ctrl V).
8. Click OK.  You should return to the Connections tab of the Internet Options window.
9. Click OK at the bottom of the Internet Options window.
10. Close all Internet Explorer windows and restart Internet Explorer

IE 9 users:

1. Open Internet Explorer 9.
2. Click on the gears icon in the upper right corner of the browser window, then select Internet Options.
3. Click the Security tab at the top of the Internet Options window.
4. Click on the green Trusted Sites check mark, then click on the Sites button.
5. Uncheck "Require server verification (https:) for all sites in this zone" check box.
6. Click the Add button to add http://www.lib.jmu.edu and manually add https://www.lib.jmu.edu to your list of trusted sites, then click Close and then OK in the Internet Options window.
7. Follow the instructions above to configure the proxy.

Using Your Browser Once Automatic Configuration is Activated

The first time you click a link that accesses a restricted resource you will be presented with a login request from the JMU Proxy server. Enter your JMU eID and password.  This login will stay in effect until you close the browser window or shut down your computer. If you share your computer with others, it is important that you close your browser before leaving the computer, just as you do with email.

Final Notes on Using the Proxy Server

• You will not see any difference in using your browser when you click on most links.
• You will be able to access almost any resource listed on the JMU Libraries' research resources pages
• You may be prompted for your JMU user id and password at sites containing free content.  This is because the library pays for subscription content at those sites.  The Washington Post and ZDNet are two common examples. 
• If you are using a Mac, you should use either FireFox or Safari to connect to our electronic resources from off-campus.  Internet Explorer for Macs is no longer supported.
• Off-campus users who would like to access the libraries' subscription resources through Blackboard must still set up their browser to use the proxy server.  Examples include links to full text articles within databases as well as links to databases for searching.  Even if you've already logged into Blackboard, you will still be prompted for your JMU electronic ID when connecting to a subscription resource.
• You can stop using the proxy server at any time by undoing the configuration steps and then closing and reopening your browser.  For most browsers, deleting the proxy address that you inserted during configuration is optional.
• A few of the databases may use some other form of verification.  Accessing them does not use the proxy server, but might generate a separate request for your JMU Electronic ID.
• If you are having problems connecting to JMU's subscription resources from off campus, please visit our Troubleshooting Guide.