[WEB4LIB] Proxy v. Proxy

[Mark Pecaut]

We use Ezproxy.  Our databases page detects whether you are
coming from off-campus or on-campus.  If you are coming from 
on-campus, you are able to connect directly to the database.  
If you are coming from off-campus, you are asked for a username
and password and then given transparent proxy access to the
database.  This is done all transparently to the user, with no
browser configuration required, and it uses our campus-wide 
email username/password to do the authentication (so users don't
need to learn another username/password).

We used to use apache mod_proxy, and we had constant trouble 
helping people configure their browsers and troubleshooting
problems with their custom username/password.  The system
we have now works very well, we have no complaints with
ezproxy, and our user's don't need to know anything beyond
their campus email username/password.

I plan on putting up instructions on providing seamless database
access for users using this system.  If you are interested
in this, email me off-list and I will send you the url when
the instruction page is ready.

-Mark
 
On Sat, Jan 20, 2001 at 04:44:46PM -0800, Bob Jones wrote:
> 
> We are using an Apache proxy server, providing the services both on port
> 80 and port 8888.  Our users are encountering more and more problems as
> our users use ISPs which also proxy servers (AOL, freenet) and use newer
> browsers (Netscape 6).  These clashing proxy problems appear to be getting
> worse and worse.
> 
> Is there a proxy technology (pre-empting the user's IP address with a
> another IP address for purposes of accessing subscription databases and
> services) that somehow always works (prevails)?  Specific product
> recommendations would be welcome!
> 
> Thanks.
> 
> 
> Bob Jones                                    mailto:bjones at unf.edu
> Head, Public Services Division and Systems Coordinator
> University of North Florida Library          http://www.unf.edu/library/
> P.O. Box 17605                               (904) 620-2552 (SC 861-2552)
> Jacksonville, FL  32245-7605                 FAX: (904) 620-2719
>                                              ARIEL: 139.62.208.88
> 
>