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Medical Proxy Server - Frequently Asked Questions

1. About the proxy

2. Signup/Configuration/Logging in

3. Getting Help and Sending Feedback

4. Known Problems

1. About the proxy

1.0 What is a proxy server?

Put most simply, a proxy is "a server that sits between a client application, such as a Web browser, and a real server. It intercepts all requests to the real server to see if it can fulfill the requests itself. If not, it forwards the request to the real server." (from the Webopedia definition).

For more information on what the proxy server does, see this Powerpoint Presentation on the Medical Library Proxy Server by Mark Gentry, Clinical Support Librarian (requires MS Powerpoint 97 or 2000, or the Powerpoint Viewer).


1.1 Why does the Medical Library have a proxy?

Amongst the many online resources we provide for the Yale medical community are many whose providers require IP restrictions on access. In other words, we agree in our licenses to allow these providers to restrict access to their resources to Yale network address ranges. Thus anyone using a computer on the Yale campus (including YNHH) can usually get access to these resources. But if a Yale-affiliated person is not on the Yale network (such as using AOL from home), they probably can't get access.

The Medical Library proxy provides a way for these Yale folks to configure their web browsers to forward requests through the Yale network. In this way it provides access to restricted resources to Yale-affiliated folks wherever they might be.


1.2 Why is the Medical Library proxy different from the Proxy Server from ITS and the Sterling Memorial Library?

There are several key differences:

  1. The central campus proxy does not proxy requests from the *.med.yale.edu address range; some medical resources are restricted to this range. Thus users of the central campus proxy cannot access certain Medical Library resources. The medical proxy fills this need.
  2. The central proxy uses the NetID system to authenticate users. Because not all Medical Library users are Yale University affiliates, NetID-only verification leaves out groups like Yale-New Haven Hospital employees from using the central campus proxy server. The medical proxy uses email addresses and PINs to authenticate users; thus even folks without a NetID or a yale.edu or ynhh.org email address can get access.
  3. The medical library proxy uses different software.
Click here for more information on the central campus remote authentication proxy server


1.3 Who can get access to the proxy?

Anyone with a valid, active affiliation with Yale University. This might include students, staff, researchers, or faculty of the Medical School and School of Nursing, as well as folks from Yale College and other graduate and professional schools at Yale. Yale New Haven Health System staff and residents also have access, as do some community physicians at other hospitals and clinics whose teaching duties include an active appointment at Yale.


1.4 On what software package is the proxy based?

We use Squid as our proxy cache. It is free software available under the GNU GPL, and we have found it to be of exceedingly high quality, very flexible, and very stable.


1.5 What exactly does the proxy do (technically)?

The proxy receives all http requests (clicks) from your browser, then sends those requests to remote sites for you, returning the results to your browser window. This means that the remote sites receive requests from proxy.med.yale.edu, not your network connection.


1.6 What about my privacy? Can you see what I'm clicking on?

We are very aware of privacy issues and in no way wish to invade your privacy or make it easier for others to do so. While the proxy indeed records every web request (i.e. it keeps a log of every request sent), we have modified the proxy software so that no record of user names is attached to these logs. Thus we know where people are going, but we cannot (and cannot be made to) determine who is going where.

Library staff regularly analyze this data to study which remote sites our community uses the most. But again, since we do not track individual users, we cannot identify the usage patterns of any single individual. FYI, we find that most proxy users use medical library resources most often, and popular web news sites second most often.

2. Signup/Configuration/Logging in


2.1 How do I sign up for access?

Use the online signup form to request proxy server access. You will need to give us your email address and indicate your primary affiliation (YSM/YNHH/etc.). A library staff member will verify your affiliation, possibly by asking you for more details such as your name and appointment, and approve your access (often we need to follow up in this way because non-Yale email addresses don't necessarily indicate these details).

After you are confirmed by library staff, you will receive an email message with instructions for configuring your browser to access the proxy, as well as a randomly-assigned PIN for your password.


2.2 Do I have to have a Yale email address?

No. Many proxy users are residents or community physicians actively affiliated with Yale but who don't necessarily have or use first.last@yale.edu style addresses. Your email address will become your proxy login (account name). Logins are case sensitive so be consistent with capitalization. We will need to contact you periodically so try to use an email account that will be val id in the future.


2.3 Should I use my Yale or my Hotmail/Juno/doctor.com/etc. email address?

Theoretically, any valid email address for which we can identify and verify your Yale affiliation will work. Practically speaking, it is easiest for us to confirm yale.edu addresses. That said, you should use the email address you use the most, as the system will email you the PIN you need to sign in to the proxy. Also we might need to send email to all proxy users occasionally, and we would prefer to send such messages to the address you are most likely to read regularly.


2.4 How do I configure Netscape to use the proxy?

Netscape configuration instructions are available on the proxy signup page.


2.5 How do I configure Internet Explorer to use the proxy?

The main proxy page has proxy server configuration instructions for IE 6 .

The most common mistake made by Internet Explorer users is not choosing the appropriate dialup settings session when entering in the proxy information. This matter is addressed in the IE instructions (see above link).


2.6 How do I get proxy access if I use AOL?

AOL provides its own browser as part of the AOL software package. The AOL browser does not allow proxy access. You may, though, be able to use AOL's PPP connection with another browser. Just keep AOL running, then start your browser in a separate window . The more recent releases of AOL have made proxy access more difficult, but not impossible.

You can NOT connect to the medical library proxy server using AOL through Internet Explorer but you CAN with the Netscape browser. We have successfuly tested Netscape 7.1 with the proxy server and ITS-MED now recommends this version of the browser. Here's how to get a copy of the Netscape browser:

  • Download Netscape 7.1 from ITS-MED Website -- Windows or Macintosh
  • Download Netscape 7.1 from the Netscape Site
  • Pick up an ITS-MED PPP CD-ROM from the Medical Library (the disc includes Netscape)
In addition to using Netscape, instead of using the name "proxy.med.yale.edu" in the proxy server address field, you must use the numbers "130.132.123.28".


2.7 What if my the local area network in my office requires a proxy gateway for Internet access?

You can only use one proxy at a time. Therefore, you will not be able to route your http requests through our proxy server if your network requires a proxy gateway for basic Internet access. Staff are looking for a workaround for this problem so contact us if you need assistance.

3. Getting Help and Sending Feedback


3.1 Help! I can't get the proxy to work!

First, please be sure that you have followed the instructions you received via email when your account was confirmed by library staff (if you haven't received this email, it's because the address you provided hasn't been confirmed). Be sure to use the specific instructions for Netscape, or MS Internet Explorer, or AOL if you are using any of those.

Second, be sure that you are using the username and password you were assigned in the confirmation email message you received. Your username should be the same email address you used when signing up for proxy access -- not your netid, or your Ovid account username. Your password should be a 4-digit PIN. Please note that the login is Case Sensitive so if you capitalized any letters in your email address when you applied for a password, you will need to enter it the same way each time you login.

Finally, if you've double-checked everything, and read through this whole FAQ looking for other answers, please report your problems to library staff.


3.2 Reporting problems to library staff

We want to help you get started using the proxy as soon as possible; we know you're in a hurry to find information. Please understand though that there are many people using this service with a wide range of computers, browsers, networks and Internet service providers.

  1. Please be sure you've read this whole FAQ. If you're having a problem getting the proxy to work, please follow these steps to double-check that you've configured things properly. If you're sure you're already logged in to the proxy correctly, but are having problems with a specific resource, please check to be sure that the resource you want to use isn't already in the list of known problems in section 4 of this FAQ.
  2. If you're still having problems and this FAQ doesn't answer your question, please send us email including the following information:
    • What brand of computer are you using (Dell, Apple, etc.)?
    • Which operating system are you using (Win95/NT/ME/XP/2000, MacOS9, OSX, Linux, etc.)?
    • Which browser -- including version -- are you using (Netscape 7.1, IE 6.0, Safari, etc.)?
    • If you're having problems accessing a specific resource, what are the name and url of the resource?

4. Known Problems


4.1 AOL 5.0, AOL 6.0, AOL 7.0

Read the special AOL FAQ above.


4.2 MD Consult Personal Edition

It has been reported that proxy users cannot sign up for the personal edition of MD Consult. If this happens to you, you have two options:

  1. Use the generic edition (should work fine) when you're using the proxy
  2. Sign up for the personal edition the next time you're on the Yale campus, then use the account you create here to log in through the proxy when you are off campus after that.

Folks who have created a personal account while on the Yale campus network have had no problem logging in to the personal edition later using the proxy.



Return to the Medical Library or the proxy signup page.