Access Restrictions at Murdoch

Where access restrictions have been applied, you will usually find a hand icon next to the item. Restrictions may mean that you need to be using Murdoch University computing and networking facilities, or you may be required to login using a valid username and password.

At Murdoch, the most commonly used login is Murdoch Username (ie. Staff Number, Student Number, or Person Number) and Murdoch Password.

The following are examples of information resources, systems and services that have had access restrictions applied. A link is provided here to the corresponding help files.

Secure Servers

When prompted at a login screen to enter your Murdoch Username and Murdoch Password, the login screen should be accessed via a Secure Server (ie. the URL begins with https://). Where a Secure Server is used, your username and password will be encrypted when passed between your Web browser and the Web Server. There are Web Servers on campus that use Microsoft Windows authentication. Where access to a Web site is restricted via Windows authentication, you may not see the https:// in the URL. If you are concerned about the security of your Murdoch Password, please contact the IT Service Desk on 08 9360 2000.

Murdoch Password

Before you try connecting to a system or service that is restricted and requires you to enter a Murdoch Password, you are advised to use the facility to Check That Your Murdoch Password is Valid .

When you change your Murdoch Password, the changed password is reticulated from the Murdoch Authentication & Identification System (MAIS) database out to other systems and services. For more information on use of the Murdoch Password for Login for Systems & Services at Murdoch, and for details on Login Synchronisation, refer to information on Your Login at Murdoch.

MAIS Access Restriction

Some Web Servers restrict access to Content, to programs and to applications by interacting with the Murdoch Authentication & Identification System , usually referred to as the MAIS. The MAIS Server (https://mais.murdoch.edu.au) interacts with the MAIS database to authenticate users and, in some cases, to determine if a user has the appropriate MAIS Authority associated with their MAIS database entry to allow them to access the restricted Content, program, or application.

Systems and services that authenticate users against the MAIS, require a user to enter a Murdoch Username and a Murdoch Password. In most cases the login screen displayed will be the MAIS Login screen, but there are some systems that authenticate users directly against the MAIS database, without interacting with the MAIS Server. These systems provide their own login screen (eg. MyInfo, Student Management System).

To identify application systems and services that use the MAIS Login screen, refer to the following list. In addition to applications, a large number of static Web pages and files in other formats such as PDF (eg. exam papers), are also restricted via the MAIS, although the restriction may only apply when the resource is accessed from off-campus.

When you do select Systems and Services Using the MAIS Login Screen for Authentication , you can then select the [ Help ] button to display the MAIS Help Topics .

The MAIS Help Topics include:

MAIS Login Persistence

MAIS Login Problems

MAIS Exit (Logout)

Where Is the MAIS Used?

NOTE: Problems may occur when you attempt to login at a MAIS login screen if you are using an old version of a Web browser, or with particular versions of a browser, or particular browsers on some types of computers.

Please check the MAIS Web Browser Requirements section of MAIS Help for the topics:

• Cookies
• Security
• Proxy Cache Server

Some users who use a computer in their workplace may find problems arise due to firewalls. Others have problems when they use an ISP and the Proxy Cache Server used by their ISP handles requests in such a way that an error message displays (eg. 'client IP address conflict'). Problems are minimised if the restricted information resource is also hosted on a Secure Web Server (ie. the URL begins with https://). Check the advice re Connecting to Secure Web Servers at Murdoch.

Active Directory Access Restriction

Some Web Servers restrict access to Content, to programs and to applications by interacting with the University's Microsoft Active Directory (AD) database to authenticate users and, in some cases, to determine if a user is a member of an Active Directory Group and thus authorised to access the Content, program, application, or functions within an application.

Systems and Services Using Active Directory for Authentication

To determine what Web-based systems and services use Active Directory for authentication, refer to the following listing.

Where a Web Server does interact with Active Directory, a login screen may or may not display. If a login screen does display, it will not include the heading Murdoch Authentication & Identification System (ie, the login screen will NOT be what is known as a MAIS login screen).

Basic Windows Authentication

On-Campus Access

There will be situations where Content is restricted, but if you have already logged into your desktop computer via Active Directory, or a computer in a computing laboratory on campus, using your Murdoch Username and Password, then you will not be prompted to login again. This will occur if an application is using Basic Windows Authentication.

Internet Explorer Browser

Integrated Windows Authentication

There are some applications using Integrated Windows Authentication. You may find you need to revise your Internet Explorer settings to enable you to access these applications. To do this, open 'Internet Options' in Internet Explorerer. Under the 'Advanced' tab, under 'Security', unselect the option 'Enable Integrated Windows Authentication'. You may find you also need to clear your Internet Explorer cache.

Once you have revised your Internet Explorer settings, you will find that the next time you try to access the application you will not be prompted to login (eg. Organisation Chart (OrgPlus)).

Security Settings

Always Prompt for Login

You may find that the Internet Explorer Security settings used on your computer are set to always prompt you to login. If you wish to revise this, open 'Internet Options' in Internet Explorerer. Under the 'Security' tab, if the option 'Local Intranet' is highlighted, select 'Custom Level', then browse down the listing to 'User Authentication', 'Logon' and unselect 'Prompt for user name and password', or then select 'Automatic logon with current user name and password'.

Automatic Logon With Current User Name and Password

You may find that the Internet Explorer Security settings used on your computer are set to automatic login with the current username and password. If you wish to revise this, open 'Internet Options' in Internet Explorerer. Under the 'Security' tab, if the option 'Local Intranet' is highlighted, select 'Custom Level', then browse down the listing to 'User Authentication', 'Logon' and select 'Prompt for user name and password' and unselect 'Automatic logon with current user name and password'.

Off-Campus Access

If you are connecting from off-campus, you may be prompted at a login screen to authenticate using a Murdoch Username and Murdoch Password. In some cases it may be necessary to enter the domain as part of the Murdoch Username, for example: AD\<Your Murdoch Username>.

Certain applications are restricted to on-campus use only and should you wish to use them from off-campus you will need to be using a VPN connection.

Other Web Browsers

Please Note: Some applications do not function fully when used with Web browsers other than Internet Explorer.

More details are available for Access Restrictions at Murdoch University , including details of Access Restriction Methods .

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