Web Browsers
Web pages on MurdochNet have been prepared with the expectation that most users are using a recent version of a Web browser. For some services, features like Cookies and Javascript need to be enabled. Some services offered include access restriction via the
Murdoch Authentication & Identification System
, or MAIS. Other services, eg. the Library's Electronic Course Materials Service (ECMS), are using files in formats (MIME types) eg. PDF files, that may cause problems for some browsers, particularly earlier versions.
If you find that your Web browser cannot handle
Connecting to Secure Web Servers at Murdoch
, please check out the version number of your browser software and use one of the links below to upgrade your Web browser.
Users of Murdoch's Learning Management System (LMS) should first check the information under Browser Software Versions for LMS Users before selecting a version to upgrade to.
Security vulnerabilities may have been identified with particular versions of Web browsers. You are advised to upgrade to the latest version. If you find you do not have the required privileges to install a more recent version of your preferred Web browser, contact the
IT Service Desk
for assistance.
Microsoft Internet Explorer
Windows
If you are using Microsoft Internet Explorer and the version is earlier than 7.0, then you are advised to upgrade and apply the latest security patches.
Macintosh
Use of Internet Explorer on a Macintosh is not recommended. You are advised to use either Safari or Firefox as your Web browser.
Firefox
If you are using an early version of the Firefox Web browser, you are advised to upgrade.
Netscape
If you are using an early version of the Netscape Web browser, you are advised to upgrade.
For Mac OS X, the default Web browser is Safari. For more information refer to the Apple Web site.
If you have problems accessing an application system or a service using Safari as your Web browser, you may need to download and install an alternative browser.
Users of Murdoch's Learning Management System are advised to check that their Web browser version is suitable.
Refer to the advice under the Technical Help section of the LMS Support Web site.
If you need to upgrade your browser, use the links offered on this Help page.
A number of Secure Web Servers are used at Murdoch to provide access to a range of information resources and to services and systems. These Servers allow for passwords to be encrypted when passed from Web browser to Web Server, and for data to be encrypted when passed from Web Server to Web browser. Each Web Server has a Digital ID or certificate that is renewed annually. The Digital ID's used for the Secure Web Servers listed below have been purchased from THAWTE.
At Murdoch, links to Secure Servers will display an 's' in the URL, ie. https://
Secure Servers at Murdoch include:-
| https://itservicedesk.murdoch.edu.au/ | the IT Service Desk System Web Server - used for access to the IT Service Desk system |
| https://my.murdoch.edu.au/ | the Oracle Application Server - used for access to MyMurdoch, the Student Portal |
| https://myportal.murdoch.edu.au/ | the Oracle Application Server - used for access to MyPortal, the Staff Portal |
| https://webapps.murdoch.edu.au/ | the Oracle Applications Server - used for access to application systems such as the Academic Promotions System and the Travel Insurance Registry |
| https://www.murdoch.edu.au/ | the central MurdochNet Host - used for MAIS protected forms, documents, etc. |
| https://wwwdev.murdoch.edu.au/ | the Development Web Server - used for preparing Content for the MurdochNet Host |
| https://wwwforms.murdoch.edu.au/ | the Oracle Applications Server - used for access to MAIS functions and application systems such as ACV, CAST, News & Events System, RIS |
| https://wwwlib.murdoch.edu.au/ | the Library Web Server - used for MAIS restricted files, eg. past Exam Papers |
| https://wwwsis.murdoch.edu.au/ | the Student Information System Web Server - used for access to MyInfo |
| https://wwwstudent.murdoch.edu.au/ | the Student Network Web Server - used for student Webmail |
| https://www.mail.murdoch.edu.au/ | the Exchange Mail Server - used for staff Webmail |
NOTE: To work effectively, the Secure Servers rely on your Web browser also having an up to date digital ID or certificate.
Secure Servers and Proxy Cache Servers
Problems have been identified with browsers interacting with Proxy Cache Servers when a browser first accesses the Secure Server https://www.murdoch.edu.au/ used for MAIS (
Murdoch Authentication & Identification System
) login and then tries to retrieve a resource from an insecure Web Server.
If a browser connects to the MAIS login screen and then tries to retrieve a resource offered on another Web Server that is NOT a Secure Server then an error message such as 'client IP address conflict' may display.
If the problem occurs for a user who is using an ISP to connect to a resource offered by Murdoch University and the resource they are trying to retrieve is hosted on the central MurdochNet Host (http://wwww.murdoch.edu.au/), or on the Library's Web Server (http://wwwlib.murdoch.edu.au) then the problem may be resolved by inserting the 's' at the end of the 'http' in the URL. However, if the resource is hosted on another Server that does not also offer the same service via a Secure Server, then the 'client IP address conflict' may need to be addressed by changes to browser settings.
Check the MAIS Help Topics under
Proxy Cache Servers
if you find that your Web browser returns an error message related to Proxy Cache Servers. You may need to revise the setup of your browser. However, changing Proxy Cache settings is not always an option for users that use ISPs for their Internet access.
Some resources hosted on the MurdochNet Host (http://wwww.murdoch.edu.au/) are only restricted when a user is NOT on the Murdoch University Network, eg. a staff or student uses an ISP for Internet access and tries to connect to a Murdoch University resource and finds that the MAIS login screen displays. If login problems occur and the error message is 'client IP address conflict' then the URL used for the resource should be revised to add an 's' to the 'http' (ie. use 'https://').
Files are often made available in formats other than hypertext format. The file formats may
be Rich Text Format (RTF), Excel, Word, PowerPoint, or PDF, etc. Examples are: minutes of a meeting, an exam paper, or a scanned article offered as part of the Library's Electronic Course Materials Service.
Your Web browser needs to be correctly setup to allow for the different file formats (MIME Extensions), so that when you select a link to a file in a format such as Word, Excel, RTF, PowerPoint and PDF, your Web browser knows to run the appropriate application software, or plug-in on your computer. If it is not setup, your browser may prompt you to select the appropriate application on your computer, or to specify a filetype extension. The prompts you see may vary depending on your type of Web browser and its version number.
If you are uncertain how to proceed, please contact the
IT Service Desk
.
Where documents have been made available as Word or Excel, please be aware of the following:
- Macros
- There are risks related to downloading files (eg. Word documents and Excel spreadsheets) as they may contain macros and the macros may contain virus software.
- Before downloading any files, please ensure that your desktop computer is using the latest version of your chosen Virus protection software.
-
You may wish to refer to the
Anti-Virus Security
information made available as part of the services offered by the Office of Information Technology Services.
If in doubt as to how to protect your computer from viruses, contact the IT Service Desk on 08 9360 2000.
To view files in PDF format, a user will need to have Adobe Reader installed on their computer. The Adobe Reader can be downloaded for use with a Web browser. Users are advised to use the latest version of this software.
- Murdoch FTP Archive Server
- Other Sites
Some of the files made available for download, eg. PDF files used for scanned articles held in the Library's Electronic Course Materials Service, are very large files. This can cause problems for users off-campus using slow modem connections. File size can vary. For example a file may be as small as 445KB, or as large as 28,635KB.
A fast modem, downloading one file, could transfer data at about 4k/sec. Therefore a 1 megabyte file
could take 4-5 minutes to download. A 15 megabyte file could take over an hour. This is assuming that the user is not also downloading other files, and is not using their computer for anything else. The longer the download period, the higher will be the risk that the download will fail and need to be restarted.
In the case of copyright material hosted on a Murdoch Server, the copyright requirement is that the official Copyright Warning Notice displays prior to a document being viewed online or downloaded, or it displays at the same time the document is viewed. In the latter case, the warning will be scanned in with the item being scanned. In other cases, the Server will 'pop-up' the warning before viewing/download.
Some users may be using smart download programs that continue an interrupted download. However, in the case of copyright material that is intended to be viewed after a pop-up Copyright Warning Notice, the use of a 'smart download program' may not be practical. Users may find that all they get to download is the actual Copyright Warning Notice. If this occurs, then they need to turn off their additional download program.
Hypertext documents that include images will result in larger files. You may prefer to toggle off this function in your browser software that enables retrieval of images before you initiate a connection, especially connections to sites beyond Australia. Once connected to a site you can then, selectively, choose to load images.
You may also connect to the Australian Mirror Sites, including the AARNet's FTP Archive, that maintain files for frequently accessed information resources located on Servers beyond Australia.
If you need advice before downloading Web browser software, please contact the
IT Service Desk
.
You may find that the IT Service Desk will provide a CDROM that includes the required browser software.
To download software you can choose one of three methods:
- Use your Web browser to connect to a Server that hosts software
- Use an FTP client on your computer and connect to an FTP site
- Use a mapped network drive - an option for staff and students on campus (SEE Instructions at http://softserv.murdoch.edu.au/)
Using Your Web Browser to Connect to a Server that Hosts Software
If you are familiar with using your Web browser to navigate directories on Servers, then connect to one of the following:-
-
- AARNet Mirror Site
-
- softserv - Murdoch University's Software Download Service maintained by the Office of Information Technology Services
Selected Directories on Murdoch's FTP Server
If you are unfamiliar with navigating directories on a Server, look at the following links as examples of directory paths on softserv.murdoch.edu.au. When you are actually downloading, you are advised to connect to the top level directory that holds all versions of a browser and then select the appropriate subdirectory.
|
![[ Murdoch University logo and link to homepage ]](/images/header/cs/logo/mu_logo_lhs_45.gif){kind=logo}
![[ restricted ]](/images/icons/security.gif){kind=icon}
service.