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Using Firefox in Mac OS X to Download Software |
Mozilla's Firefox browser is gaining popularity and for good reason. Many Mac users already have Safari since it comes with OS X, which is a perfectly capable browser. So, why would you want to use Firefox? Well, if you use multiple computers, like a Windows machine and a Mac, or a Mac and Linux system, Firefox uses a very consistent user interface across different platforms, so whichever computer you're using, your browser can look the same across the board. On top of that, it's free! You can download it from http://www.getfirefox.com. The download page will detect what operating system you're using and present you with the appropriate version of their browser.
Once you've installed Firefox (or if you already have it installed), you can use it to access the Software Download Server. Just launch Firefox and go to https://software.drexel.edu. When you go to that URL, the login box will look something like this: 
Simply enter your username as shown (don't forget the "drexel\" in front of it) and your Drexel domain password. This is usually the same password that you use to log in to DrexelOne or Webmail with, but it may be different. Try that password first, but just once (trying too many times will get your account temporarily locked). If you can't log in, try the following steps in order. |
1. Verify that you're using the correct password! The quickest way to verify that you're using the correct password is to go to CAMS (the Computer Accounts Management Service) at http://accounts.drexel.edu (this link will open in a new window so you can refer back to this one). When you get to the CAMS page, there's a drop-down menu below the "Password" field - click it and select "Drexel Domain", as shown:
Then, enter the username and password you use for DrexelOne or Webmail (or whatever you think the password is) and click "Sign in". If you see a message that says "Your login was successful", then you're using the correct password and there's something else preventing you from logging into the Software Server. Continue the steps below to determine what the problem is. If you see a message that says "Your login user-id or password was not accepted", then the password you entered is not correct for your Drexel Domain account (though it may still be correct for DrexelOne or Webmail). In that case, you can click "Help! I forgot my password" to use the Password Reset Wizard. If you have problems using the Reset Wizard, you can contact the IRT Help Desk at (215)895-2698 for assistance. |
2. Clear the disk cache and cookies in Firefox. Click on the Firefox menu, then click Preferences:
In the Preferences window, click on the padlock along the top toolbar to go to the Privacy settings. Click the "Cache" tab and then click the "Clear Cache Now" button.
Next, click the "Cookies" tab and then click the "Clear Cookies Now" button.
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3. Verify that SSL is enabled in Firefox. By default, SSL is enabled, but if you're having trouble connecting to the Software Server (or other pages that use SSL), it doesn't hurt to check it. While the "Preferences" window is still open, click on the "Advanced" icon in the toolbar. Make sure that the three checkboxes shown below are all checked. When you're done, click the circle in the top left corner of the Preferences window to close it.
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| 4. Finally, quit Firefox, re-open it and try to log in to the Software site again. If you still have problems, please contact the IRT Help Desk at consult@drexel.edu or by phone at (215)895-2698. |
Navigating & Downloading
Once you're logged into the Software Download Server, navigating is as simple as pointing & clicking. The screen will look something like this:
The links will usually show up as blue (unvisited) or purple (visited) underlined text, but may be different colors depending on what browser you're using and how it's configured. Just like navigating any other website, you simply click the directory links once to open them. When you find the file you want to download, single-click on it. This will open up a Download/Open dialog box, like the one shown below. You want to select "Save to Disk"
After the download completes, the Downloads window will disappear and you need to go to folder where the file downloaded to and double-click it to mount the image. If you don't know what folder Firefox uses for downloads, you can find out by clicking on Preferences in the Firefox menu and click "Downloads". The path to the folder is shown under "Save all files to this folder." Simply go to that folder and double-click the disk image file to mount it.
After the image is mounted, a window should open displaying the contents of the disk image. The installer file is usually clearly labeled or there will be installation instructions within the window. If you're not sure what to do at this point, please contact the IRT Help Desk at consult@drexel.edu or by phone at (215)895-2698. |
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