Dept Home Page > Research/Academic Support > Office of Informatics > Digital IDs and VPN Access

Information About Digital IDs and VPN Access

• About Digital IDs (DID), Virtual Private Networking (VPN) and UTHSCH Course Material Access Online
• Why Do I Need A Digital ID and VPN To Access Course Material Online?
• What Do I Need To Get A Digital ID?
• How Do I Get Help With My Digital ID and/or VPN Software? (For Those Seeking Assistance)
• Related Resources... (For The Do-It-Yourselfer)

Digital IDs (DID), Virtual Private Networking (VPN) and UTHSCH Course Material Access Online

If you are viewing secured pages online from a University based computer (such as in the LRC), you can access the site without a DID or VPN because the computer you are using is already located inside the University's own network.

However, to view certain secured pages on the UTHSCH web from a computer located outside the University network, students, staff, faculty and others must have a valid Digital ID (DID) and virtual private networking (VPN) software installed on their computer.

This will apply generally to ALL course material placed online at UTHSCH, and specifically to material for the Gross Anatomy, Developmental Anatomy and Medical Neuroscience courses offered by the UTMS-H Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy. For staff and faculty personnel, this also applies to most forms placed in the Department's Financial Office web pages.

Return To Top

Why Do I Need A Digital ID and VPN To Access Course Material Online?

DIDs are required to access such material in order to satisfy Federal copyright protection laws; meet security requirements laid down by the State of Texas as well as The University of Texas and UTHSCH; and to comply with certain online intellectual property requirements mandated by various publishers, authors, etc.

Return To Top

What Do I Need To Get A Digital ID?

Here are the basic requirements to get a Digital ID:

1. You must be a registered student, faculty, administrative or staff member at UTHSCH.
2. You must have a valid UTHSCH e-mail address, as in john.doe@uth.tmc.edu.
3. You must have a valid UTHSCH Identification Badge.
4. You must have a valid government issued picture ID, such as a driver's license, passport, etc.

Your (non-University based) computer must meet the following hardware and software requirements:

1. The computer you will be using must be connected to the Internet. (This should be obvious, but you never know....)
2. You must be using either Netscape 7.x or later OR Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.5 or later (6.x or later recommended).
3. The computer you will be using must have the VPN client software installed and configured. (See Related Resources or the Student Help Desk to obtain VPN client software.)

Other browser programs such as Mozilla, Safari, Opera etc. are not supported by the University. We advise students to stick with Netscape and/or MSIE when accessing restricted areas of the University network.

Return To Top

How Do I Get Help With My Digital ID and/or VPN Software?

ALL Students: If you are a student and need help with obtaining, installing or troubleshooting your Digital ID, or you need help setting up VPN software on your computer, please go to the following page and request assistnace from the Student Help Desk: http://med.uth.tmc.edu/lrc/digitalid.htm. Please do NOT contact the Department Office of Informatics because we will refer you on to the Student Help Desk; we are not authorized to assist students directly with computer problems.

Departmental Faculty and Staff ONLY: Contact the Office of Informatics at 713-500-5576 or 713-500-5510 for assistance.

Personnel From All Other Departments (Faculty, Staff etc.): Contact your department's network administrator (your DMO or Dept Chairman can direct you to this person). Please do NOT contact the Department Office of Informatics.

Return To Top

Related Resources...

Digital IDs

• All About Digital IDs (DID): http://www.uth.tmc.edu/netcenter/middleware/digital-id/index.html
• All About Virtual Private Networking (VPN): http://www.uth.tmc.edu/itsecurity/vpn/index.html
• Apply For A Digital ID Online: http://www.uth.tmc.edu/netcenter/middleware/digital-id/id-get.html
• List of UTHSCH Identity Verification Centers: http://www.uth.tmc.edu/netcenter/middleware/digital-id/id-centers.html
• Pick Up Your Digital ID: https://onsite.verisign.com/services/TheUniversityofTexasSystemHealthScienceCenteratHoustonCA/client/nspickup.htm
• Importing and Exporting Digital IDs: http://www.uth.tmc.edu/netcenter/middleware/digital-id/export-import.html
• Digitally Signing and Encrypting Email: http://www.uth.tmc.edu/oac_docs/trust/did-training/sign-encrypt.htm
• FAQS About Digital IDs: http://www.uth.tmc.edu/oac_docs/trust/Digital_ID_Frequently_Asked_Questions.html
• HOOP Policies Regarding Digital IDs: http://www.uth.tmc.edu/ut_general/admin_fin/planning/pub/hoop/17/17_04.html

VPN (Virtual Private Networking)

LDAP authentication is required to access these pages. (LDAP = your e-mail ID and password.)

• Download VPN Software: https://oac9.hsc.uth.tmc.edu/itsecurity/projects/vpn/client_software.htm
• Configure VPN Software For Windows 2000/XP: https://oac9.hsc.uth.tmc.edu/itsecurity/projects/vpn/certconfig.htm
• Configure VPN Software For Windows 2000/XP using LDAP: https://oac9.hsc.uth.tmc.edu/itsecurity/projects/vpn/LDAP_Instructions.html
• Configure VPN Software For Mac OS X: https://oac9.hsc.uth.tmc.edu/itsecurity/projects/vpn/certconfig.htm
• Configure VPN Software For Mac OS using LDA: https://oac9.hsc.uth.tmc.edu/itsecurity/projects/vpn/MAC_users.htm
• Troubleshooting VPN Problems: https://oac9.hsc.uth.tmc.edu/itsecurity/projects/vpn/vpn_troubleshooting.htm

Miscellaneous

• Student Help Desk Help Request Form: http://med.uth.tmc.edu/lrc/digitalid.htm

  Return To Top