Accessing Brown IT Resources from Lifespan
Frequently Asked Questions
- I don't have a Brown username and password. How do I get it?
- I don't remember my Brown username or password. What should I do?
- I have a Brown username and password. How do I access library resources and services?
- How do I forward mail addressed to my brown.edu address to my lifespan.org address?
- How do I forward mail from my lifespan.org address to my brown.edu address?
- How do I connect to the Brown email system from Lifespan (without forwarding)?
- When do I need to use the Brown VPN client, and how do I get it?
- How do I transfer files from the hospital to Brown?
- Can I download software from Brown if I'm working at the hospital?
- How do I get software installed on a hospital computer?
- Whom do I contact for more help?
I don't have a Brown username and password. How do I get it?
Connect to the Brown Libraries Medical Connection site and follow the instructions in Step 2. If you don't have a Brown ID - follow Step 1.
I don't remember my Brown username or password. What should I do?
Contact the Brown Help Desk at 863-4357. They will be able to help you recover your username and/or reset your password.
I have a Brown username and password. How do I access library resources and services?
Visit the Medical Connections site, which is the portal to medical library resources and services at Brown. With any questions or problems, contact one of the librarians listed on the bottom of the Medical Connections screen.
How do I forward mail addressed to my brown.edu address to my lifespan.org address?
Faculty can direct that mail addressed to their brown.edu account be forwarded elsewhere by going to https://webapps.brown.edu/myaccount/. Log in with your username and password, and then click the "Delivery Location" link on the left side the page, and enter the address to which you would like your mail forwarded.
How do I forward mail from my lifespan.org address to my brown.edu address?
Simple rules can be written in Microsoft Outlook (on my hospital computer) to forward all mail addressed to a lifespan.org account to an external address, and then delete the email from the forwarding system.Assistance in creating these rules can be obtained from the Lifespan Help Desk. If this option is chosen, the forwarding system will have to be accessed periodically to empty the deleted items folder.
How do I connect to the Brown email system from Lifespan (without forwarding)?
To access your Brown mailbox directly (rather than forwarding it), two methods are available. First, you can use the web by going to http://email.brown.edu. Second, you can use Outlook on your hospital computer with the Brown VPN client. It is possible to use Microsoft Outlook to access both the Lifespan and Brown systems from the same computer by creating two Outlook profiles and using a VPN. This is usually not necessary, but heavy users of both systems may wish to try this. Again, assistance in setting this up is available.
When do I need to use the Brown VPN client, and how do I get it?
The Brown VPN client is needed when you are off-campus and need to access certain Brown services that are normally used when on-campus. For example, it is required when using Outlook on a hospital computer to access your Brown email account. It is also needed for accessing many electronic resources from the Brown Libraries site.
You can download the Brown VPN client software by visiting http://software.brown.edu. This client can be installed on a 'locked' Lifespan machine by a network technician.
How do I transfer files from the hospital to Brown?
The Lifespan network permits transfer of files using secure FTP (Secure File Transfer Protocol) or SSH (Secure Shell). This is necessary for files too large for email (both systems have a 10 MB limit on file size.) Lifespan provides a secure FTP server which allows you to 'put' or "get" files. To use this server a user needs a secure FTP client (CUTE FTP and instructions are available free for download from the Lifespan Intranet Employees' Tools page under "Computers - Downloads). A user name and password for the Lifespan FTP server can be obtained by calling the Lifespan Help Desk. To transfer a file directly from Lifespan to a Brown server, a user needs a secure FTP client or a secure SSH client, (WinSCP, for example), depending on the server to which you are connecting. You will also need access to an account on the appropriate server at Brown. Account access can be obtained through the Biomed Computer Services Office. Brown also provides secure FTP servers for file transfers.
For faculty preparing course materials, Brown's WebCT system can be accessed from the Lifespan network, and files can be uploaded to it. The Brown Help Desk can provide instructions on doing this.
Can I download software from Brown to a hospital computer?
Both Brown and Lifespan have license agreements in place with software vendors. As an accredited educational institution, University receives significant discounts on many software packages. Consequently, the agreements associated with these discounts are very restrictive and usually prevent such software from being used on computers on the Lifespan network, or indeed on any computer that is not on the Brown campus. Details of the policies regarding software that is downloadable from Brown are available at http://software.brown.edu. Unfortunately, the Brown discounts are not available to Lifespan. Thus, should a software vendor discover such software installed on a Lifespan computer, a significant penalty would result. The software vendors do perform audits of Lifespan computers.
How do I get software installed on a hospital computer?
Because of licensing constraints and HIPAA requirements for privacy and security of patient information, computers in patient care areas at Lifespan are 'locked down,' preventing users from installing any type of unauthorized software. Upon request, software can be installed by a network technician. The requirements are that the user have an appropriate license for the software, and that the software not interfere with clinical programs that run on that computer. Computers in Lifespan offices and labs (non-patient care areas) may also be locked. However, a user can request administrator privileges for these computers, which would allow the user to install and upgrade software without the assistance of a network technician. Network assistance can be obtained by calling the Lifespan Helpdesk at 444-6381. Requests for administrator privileges should be directed to the Lifespan Chief Technology Officer (David Hemendinger at 444-3099.)
Whom do I contact for more help?
Lifespan:
- David Hemendinger, CTO Lifespan 444-3099, Dhemendi@Lifespan.org
- FTP solutions, administrator privileges
- Lifespan Helpdesk 444-6381, Help rihelpdesk@lifespan.org
- Lifespan network access including VPN, wireless solutions
- Software installation and upgrades
- Reid Coleman MD, MIO Lifespan 444-6448, Rcoleman@Lifespan.org
- E-mail rules, profiles
- Use of clinical systems
Brown:
- Biomed Computer Services Office,, 863-2464, biomed_cso@brown.edu
- FTP solutions,, Brown software, VPN access to Brown
- Clifford Hirschman, Director, Information Technology, Division of Biology and Medicine, 863-3293, clifford_hirschman@brown.edu.
- General information
- Brown Help Desk, 863-4357, help@brown.edu
- Brown E-mail, accounts, lost password recovery
- Brown University Library
- 863-3333, eresources@brown.edu
- Tovah Reis, Medical School Librarian
- 863-3334, Tovah_Reis@Brown.edu Help with searching electronic resources