Hosted Proxy Service

NC LIVE offers a Hosted Proxy service, available to all our libraries as a benefit of being an NC LIVE member. This service provides an easy way for patrons to remotely access all of a library's licensed content, both resources provided by NC LIVE and those licensed locally. This service may be especially useful for libraries that have had difficulty implementing a locally-hosted proxy service.

About This Service

NC LIVE maintains a proxy server for each member library. The Hosted Proxy service allows these existing proxy servers to be customized by individual member libraries. This means libraries can use the server to access locally licensed resources and to use local authentication methods such as a user's library card number and PIN, Moodle username and password, SAML, etc. Library staff can update proxy stanza for their locally licensed resources via an easy-to-use administration module.

Some of the benefits of this service include the following:

  • Patrons have seamless remote access to both NC LIVE and non-NC LIVE resources from your library's website, using one familiar library-branded login prompt for all resources.
  • Patrons’ login information can be checked directly against the library’s ILS system or other data source.
  • Library staff can add, remove, or alter stanzas for licensed resources without waiting for technical support.

Ready to sign up?

Contact the NC LIVE Help Desk to get started.

Training & Troubleshooting

Refresh your memory on how to use ProxyAdmin with this 3 minute video.

Review the steps needed to set up your library's instance of Hosted Proxy with this checklist. 

Troubleshooting Process

  1. After adding/editing/removing stanzas, click then 'Save Config' tab then 'Export.'
  2. Once the proxy server has restarted, test access to the proxy server and resources.
  3. If the proxy server fails, remove the recently added stanza(s) and restart the proxy server by clicking 'Export.'
  4. Review the entered stanza
    • Are all lines correct?
    • Verify an 'includefile database/example.txt' line is not present. Remove if one is.
  5. Contact the resource vendor to verify the stanza is correct.
  6. Enter the revised stanza and restart the proxy server.
  7. Repeat steps as needed.

Hosted Proxy FAQs

Are EZproxy logs or usage statistics available?

EZproxy logs can be made accessible to libraries using NC LIVE Hosted Proxy. Please contact the help desk to fill out a consent form (library director signature required) and gain access to EZproxy logs.

How long does implementation of Hosted Proxy take?

Implementation takes about 4-6 weeks.

What resources am I responsible for?

Libraries are only responsible for locally subscribed resources. NC LIVE manages stanzas and proxy access for all NC LIVE resources.

What is the cost of Hosted Proxy?

Free! There is not cost for member libraries to implementing and use NC LIVE Hosted Proxy.

Where do I update local resource stanzas?

Resources are updated using ProxyAdmin (https://proxyadmin.nclive.org/). Users login with the user name (not email) and password created at implementation. Need a refresher on how to use ProxyAdmin? Check out the video under "Need Training" on the NC LIVE Hosted Proxy page.

What is my library's proxy configuration (link to configuration page)?

Current library proxy configurations are available on the Proxy Configuration page. Please note this page is based on your IP address so the page must be viewed within your library.

What authentication methods are supported? (SIP, Shibboleth, LDAP, III)

NC LIVE Hosted Proxy is compatible with most authentication methods, including though not limited to: SIP, Shibboleth, LDAP, Innovative Interfaces Incorporated (III), SAML. If your preferred authentication method is not listed, please contact help [at] nclive.org (help[at]nclive[dot]org) and we can confirm if it is compatible with NC LIVE Hosted Proxy.

What version of EZproxy is used and is it by port or name?

NC LIVE uses the most recent version of EZproxy and it is configured by host name.

Troubleshooting

  • After adding/editing/removing stanzas, click 'export'
  • Once the proxy server has restarted, test access to the proxy server and resources
  • If the proxy server fails, remove the recently added stanza(s) and restart the proxy server (export)
  • Review the entered stanza:
  • are all lines correct
  • verify an 'includefile database/example.txt' line is not present. Remove if one is.
  • contact the resource vendor to verify the stanza is correct
  • Enter the revised stanza and restart the proxy server
  • Repeat as needed

 

Still have questions?

Contact the NC LIVE Help Desk with your questions.