Frequently Asked Questions concerning accessing Northwestern University Library's Networked CD Service
1. What is the Library's Networked CD service?
2. Where can I access these titles from?
3. Who can access the library's Networked CDs?
4. How does it work?
5. What is required to run the Library's Networked CDs from my office, dorm or home PC?
6. Where can I go to get the Java Virtual Machine to make my web-browser “java compatible”?
7. What does the security warning concerning the signed applet distributed by “Citrix Systems, Inc” mean?
8. Where do I go to get the Northwestern University's VPN software?
9. What platforms can I access these databases from?
10. How long does a Citrix session last?
11. Are there any limitations to my Citrix session?
12. Can I run multiple CDs at the same time?
13. How do I close my session?
14. What database titles available via the Library's Networked CD service?
15. How do I find these databases?
16. Who do I contact if I am having difficulties accessing the Library's Networked CDs?
17. How do I save my search results?
18. Can I use Copy and Paste within a Citrix session?
19. Can I print from a session?
20. What is an “idle” session?
1. What is the Library's Networked CD service?
Currently the Library provides access to the networked CD titles in library buildings. We also provide access to many of the CD titles outside the library facilities – both across the University's campus network and off campus. They are available via a product called Citrix Presentation Server.
2. Where can I access these titles from?
These titles are available inside the library buildings at public workstations. They can also be accessed from campus offices, university housing and from off campus.
3. Who can access the library's Networked CDs?
These titles are available to Northwestern University faculty, students, and staff.
Use your web browser to select a database from the list of available databases, or search the Library's Electronic Resources and select a networked CD database from your search results. Either of these methods will launch the Citrix Java Client. This client allows users to connect to the Library's Citrix server. The Citrix Java Client manages your connection, allowing the database to run remotely on the server. Once the Java client has opened a session on the Citrix server, the requested database is launched. The CD database appears to be running on your local workstation, but it is actually running on the Library's server. Search requests and results are sent back and forth between your local workstation and server quickly, even over a slow modem connection. All the functionality of the database is available for the user.
5. What is required to run the Library's Networked CDs from my office, dorm or home PC?
You must have a valid Northwestern University NetID.
Users need a Java-compatible Web-browser. This allows the Citrix Java Client to download from the Citrix server. The Java Client requires no local client installation. Setup is transparent and automatic. The applet is of minimal download size, around 350 KB in size, providing a fast download. It is platform-independent. It can run on any client device running a Web browser either with the Microsoft JVM or J2SE environment 1.3 or greater.
In addition to having a Java Compatible Web-browser you must be authenticated onto NUnet, Northwestern's campus network. This authentication happens automatically when you are connected to a campus hard wired Ethernet connection, the campus wireless network, or dial into the NU modem pool. If you use an outside internet service provider, perhaps because you have a DSL line or a cable modem, you must be authenticated via the University's Virtual Private Network (VPN) service before running a networked CD resource.
6. Where can I go to get the Java Virtual Machine to make my web-browser “java compatible”?
If you try to connect to a networked CD and receive the following error message, you need to install software on your pc called the Java Virtual Machine.
Depending on the version of your computer's operating system, your browser may already be Java compatible. If you do not have the Java Virtual Machine, we recommend that you go to the SUN web site at: http://www.java.com/en/download/manual.jsp and download and install the latest version of the JVM. There are many websites on how to properly configure the JVM that are specific to the various operating system versions and different browsers and versions of browser.
7. What does the security warning concerning the signed applet distributed by “Citrix Systems, Inc” mean?
Depending on how Java is configured on the workstation, a user may see a security pop up asking for permissions to run the required java applet.
Your Java Compatible Web-browser makes the request to run a database and allows the Citrix Java Client to download from the Citrix server. These warnings may appear depending on how your security settings on your workstation have been configured. They are asking you if it is ok to download and install the Citrix Java applet or not. The warning tells you that the applet is a trusted and signed by Citrix Systems.
8. Where do I go to get the Northwestern University's VPN software?
Go to Northwestern University's Information Technology pages on VPN at http://keaton.library.northwestern.edu/citrix/MetaFrame/default.jsp
9. What platforms can I access these databases from?
We are currently supporting access on Windows and Mac's. For a complete listing see: http://keaton.library.northwestern.edu/citrix/MetaFrame/default.jsp
10. How long does a Citrix session last?
A Citrix session can last up to 3 hours. After that time the session will automatically close. You can immediately re-connect and open a new session.
11. Are there any limitations to my Citrix session?
There are limitations on all our networked databases. These limitations are how many concurrent users may run a given title. Some titles can only be run by one user at a time, others can be run by 5 or 10 users at a time, and a few others are unlimited.
Our Citrix server is limited to 25 connections at any one time.
There are also limitations to the length of a Citrix session. (see above answer).
A user may only run one instance of any given title, or in other words, you can not open database title X two times in the same session.
12. Can I run multiple CD's at the same time?
Yes, you can run more than one database at a time. You can not run more than one instance of any given title.
13. How do I close my session?
Close all the opened database windows and then close the Citrix connection window.
14. What database titles available via the Library's Networked CD service?
The titles are listed at http://keaton.library.northwestern.edu/citrix/MetaFrame/default.jsp
You can launch a database by clicking on the links.
15. How do I find these databases?
There are several ways to access these titles. The first two methods require you to know a title.
Search the Library's Electronic Resources and select a networked CD database from your search results.
Search NuCat and select a networked CD database from your search results.
Select a title from the list of available databases at http://keaton.library.northwestern.edu/citrix/MetaFrame/default.jsp
16. Who do I contact if I am having difficulties accessing the Library's Networked CDs?
For support in accessing and using CDs from outside a library building contact:
University Library Reference Desk (847) 491-7656
University Library Information Commons (847) 491-7658
17. How do I save my search results?
Success saving search results may vary from one database to another. Some databases do not provide an option to save search results.
The location for saving search results can be a bit confusing with Citrix. Your default folder for saving documents (for example - your "My Documents" folder), is automatically changed to drive letter H: at the start of a Citrix session. We recommend saving files and search results to H: or to the diskette drive. An alternative to saving would be to use copy and paste and put the search results in a word processing application such as notepad.
18. Can I use Copy and Paste within a Citrix session?
Yes, Copy and Paste works from within a Citrix session. It is a good way to save search results.
19. Can I print from a session?
Success with printing search results may vary from one database to another. In many cases you will be able to print without problems. When running the Citrix Java client you should have the same access to your printer(s) as you do when you run other software locally. The Java client will automatically detect any available installed printer(s). There may be exceptions when printing does not work. We are unable to provide support for the printing of search results due to the multitude of printer models, operating systems, web browsers, and hardware in use. An alternative to printing is to use copy and paste and put the search results in a word processing application on your local workstation.
20. What is an “idle” session?
When a session has not had any activity for 10 minutes a warning message appears. The user is warned that the session will be disconnected in 2 minutes. The user may choose to press any key and continue the session.
