Off–campus access
Many services - such as the SUSSED portal - are accessible from anywhere with an Internet connection.
Possible methods of access using your own computer while off campus include:
- Commercial / Home ISP broadband Internet
- Halls of residence connections
- Another institution's network
- You can easily use the network of other institutions that have eduroam. See the eduroam menu item to the left for more information
- Commercial Internet cafés and wireless hotspots
Accessing Services with restrictions when off-campus access:
Some University services are available only if your connection is within the University's network domain. To access these services when you are connecting from off campus using for example an Internet Service Providers (ISP) broadband or another university or organizations internet connection, you will need to make a connection to the Southampton University network remotely by setting up a Virtual Private Network (VPN) connection on your computer (See 'What's related' link VPN Service for instructions on how to connect). This type of connection may be restricted when using other institutions/organisations networks but most home broadband services will allow this type of outgoing connection. The VPN connection will create an encrypted tunnel between your computer and the university network so that your connection can be treated as being WITHIN or part of the University network.
Making a VPN connection like this will allow you to access various university network services like Exchange Email, file stores (My documents folders and Resource drive), and allow access to External/Online Library E-Journals, which would normally be accessed from computers that are on campus. Be aware though that accessing these sorts of services over a remote encrpyted channel like this will slow down the service response times and may seem a bit sluggish when uploading over Broadband internet.
Accessing software applications when off-campus access:
There are many software applications running on the iSolutions PC workstations and you may still require use these applications when off campus using your own computers. For this reason we have a Software Sales & Distribution website at:
which also requires connecting to the university VPN Service first when off campus (See 'What's related' link VPN Service for instructions on how to connect). When on campus you do not require this additional VPN connection to access the website.
The website then requires your university username and password and many of the applications are freely downloadable under the university licencing agreements, but not all of the applications that you might find on iSolutions PC workstations are available because of licensing restrictions. Please contact 'iSolutions Serviceline' if you have any queries about software applications you require access to for university work or studies.
Further information:
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