Web-based authentication for xfire

(last updated 24 November, 2009)

Web-based authentication for xfire is available for CrossFire Commander 7 on Windows 2000, Windows XP (including 64-bit version), Windows Vista and Windows 7, and Commmander 6 SP1 on the Mac.

In Windows 2000, this method only works if the Commander 'Path to Personal Files' and the Commander executable location have not been changed from their default values.

For Windows Vista and Windows 7, if using the Internet Explorer 7 web browser, you will need to disable User Account Control from the Windows Control Panel. Please also ensure that Commander is installed into the default location, C:\Program Files\CrossFire Commander 7.1, rather than the C:\Program Files (x86) folder.

Mac users must have installed Commander into the Applications folder; please reinstall the Commander if necessary.

PC users must use Internet Explorer 6 or 7, or Firefox with either the OpenDownLoad (for versions of Firefox up to 3.0.x) or RunDownload (v3.5 onwards) extension installed, as your browser.

We recommend that Mac users use Firefox with either the OpenDownLoad or RunDownload extension, but Safari is also supported. Web authentication will NOT work with Internet Explorer or Opera on the Mac.

This method does not work for installations of the Commander on Citrix Terminal Servers, nor for most networked Commander installations. It does not work if you have to specify firewall parameters in the Commander server profile. If you use Firefox, make sure you do not have multiple Firefox windows open.

Authentication is via federated access (Shibboleth) or via Athens, including using AthensDA local authentication options.

If access via a proxy server has been set up for your institution, you may use the proxy server to access http://xfire.mimas.ac.uk/start. Any hitsets you save or alerts you create will be stored under the IP address of the proxy server, and hence will be visible to all users of the proxy server.

To authenticate and connect using this method, make sure the CrossFire Commander is not open, point your web browser at http://xfire.mimas.ac.uk/start and follow the instructions, entering your username and password if prompted. The group name set in your Commander must match your institution as determined by the authentication.

If you wish to connect again, you must close the CrossFire Commander if it is open, and access the above URL again.

If you have any problems with authentication, please see the FAQ.