Lillian Goldman Law Library | Remote Access to Restricted Databases

Remote Access to Restricted Databases

Remote Access to Restricted Databases | More Tips

Wondering how to get access to Legaltrac or the Index to Legal Periodicals while on break? This guide will tell you all you need to know about connecting to IP-restricted databases from off-campus.

what is this? | do i need it? | how do i get it?
technical stuff

1. What are these "IP-restricted databases" you're talking about?

All over campus, Yale libraries and departments purchase licenses to online databases such as Legaltrac, Index to Legal Periodicals, Congressional Universe, and others. These databases are restricted in one of two ways:

- Username & password
- IP (Internet Protocol) address

If a database is password-restricted, you have to contact someone to get a password. We prefer licensing databases by IP address. This means that any computer with a valid Yale IP address (read: on-campus or dialing into Yale PPP) will be able to access the resource.

What's an IP address? The unique address of your computer on the internet at a given point in time. While it's a little like a phone number, your IP address can actually change from day to day, depending on how you access the internet.

How do you know if a database is restricted by IP address? Check the Legal Databases list or the Yale University Databases list. If it says "Yale Network" or "IP", then it's an IP-restricted database. If it says "ask reference librarian for password," then you have to ask for the password. Currently, all databases require EITHER a password OR a Yale IP address. The steps below will help you connect to IP-restricted databases only.

How do you know what your IP address is? Type the following in the address bar of your browser: http://checkip.dyndns.org/
Your IP address and the name equivalent will be displayed -- does the name equivalent end with yale.edu? If so, you have a "Yale IP address," and you don't need to do anything else to connect to IP-restricted databases.

How do you get a Yale IP address? If you don't already have a Yale IP address, you need to re-configure your computer to "pick one up," either for long enough to search the database, or for an extended period of time. You can do the former by configuring your browser to go through the proxy server, or the latter by adding a VPN connection to your network connections. Both require a valid NetID and password,

2. How do I know whether I need to do anything extra to connect to databases?

If you access the Internet via:	If you access the Internet via:
Yale PPP (dialup) Yale DSL (NOT Comcast or AT&T etc.) Yale Ethernet (e.g. plugging your laptop in at your carrel) Yale wireless (e.g. in the Library)	AOL dialup or DSL DSL or Cable modem (e.g. Comcast, Earthlink, AT&T, or other "high-speed" connection) Other dialup (e.g. NetZero) Public terminal in a library or cafe
Then you do NOT need to do anything extra for IP-restricted databases!	Then you need to read further to get a Yale IP address for IP-restricted databases.

Not sure how you access the Internet? Follow these steps:
Open IE or Netscape and go to: http://checkip.dyndns.org/ Look at the display -- does it end in yale.edu?? If so, you have a Yale IP address. If not, you need to read further.

3. What do I need to do?

You have three options for accessing IP-restricted resources:

Make your browser go through the Yale proxy server
Set up a VPN connection
Go to a computer on campus

Each choice has advantages and drawbacks:

	Proxy Server \| instructions		VPN \| instructions
	advantages: - easy to configure - often configurable on otherwise-locked-down computers (e.g. public terminals in a library)	disadvantages: - short-term renewable connection (20 minutes, after which you'll be prompted to renew or login again) - while it can be easy to setup, it doesn't work on all browsers - prompts you to login with NetID and password for ANY web page, so long as you have it turned on	advantages: - setup once, easily launched when needed - also gives you access to Yale fileservers (e.g. your "U: drive") - no time limit on connection	disadvantages: - slightly more complicated to setup initially - often can't be configured on someone else's machine (e.g. public terminal in a library or in your workplace)

If you have questions about individualized configuration on your computer, see IT Services.

Technical Stuff:

IP = Internet Protocol address, or the unique address of your computer on the internet. Like a phone number, except that it probably changes, depending on how you connect to the internet. Your IP address tells the world where you're connected. If you're connecting through a Yale access point (Yale PPP, ethernet jacks on campus, wireless on campus, etc.), then the world can see that you have a "Yale IP address". If you're dialing up at home through AOL, the world sees that you have an "AOL IP address". You must have a Yale IP address in order to connect to restricted databases marked "IP"!

proxy server = a system that connects your machine temporarily to a Yale-based computer that will request web pages for you. Instead of your non-Yale machine asking a database for a page, your computer asks the Yale machine to ask for it, and passes it on to you.

VPN = virtual private networking, a system whereby your computer is "brought in" to the Yale network, and will look like it has a Yale IP address to the rest of the world.