About the JSTOR Network Performance Test

What is the purpose of the test?

Before you make the commitment to participate in JSTOR, it is important to verify that your institution has sufficient network capacity for librarians and researchers to access the archive with satisfactory results. The JSTOR archive contains millions of large page images which can take much longer to access than standard text files or web pages.

By performing the JSTOR Network Performance Test, you can help determine whether JSTOR will perform satisfactorily at your institution, and also whether any impediments (such as proxy servers or caches) exist that might prohibit direct access to JSTOR.

What do I need to know about access and open proxy servers before running the test?

Access to the JSTOR archive will be restricted to authorized users at your institution. We understand that many institutions use proxy servers to facilitate remote access. While restricted proxy servers are acceptable, it is important to be familiar with the implications of unrestricted proxy servers as well as some precautionary measures that may help reduce the risks of unauthorized access to electronic resources. Please take a moment to review some important information about open proxy servers.

What information should I provide to JSTOR before running the test?
Please contact jstor.network.tests@jstor.org prior to running the test if:

• you are aware of any web caches or firewalls associated with your site.
• you are aware that your institution's IP numbers are not restricted for use only by authorized users at your institution.
• your site has not been assigned stable IP numbers.
• your institution may be at risk of having unrestricted open proxy servers.
• you have any other questions.

Providing this information prior to running the test will enable us to evaluate your network's capabilities. If you are not aware of any impediments, please proceed with the test.

How does the test work?

When you run the network test, your browser will automatically access several JSTOR journal pages. After the test, information about the time taken to display these pages will automatically be sent to JSTOR for review.

How will I receive the results of the test?

We will contact you within five to seven business days after the tests have been completed. If you need to receive the results sooner, please contact jstor.network.tests@jstor.org.

We look forward to working with you in the near future and to welcoming your institution to our growing list of world-wide participants.

Network Performance Test Details and Instructions

Recommendations:

1. We recommend the following browsers for use with JSTOR.
   • Netscape 3.04 or higher, including any version of Netscape 4.
   • Internet Explorer 5 or higher.
2. Please perform this test three times over the course of one day. We suggest that the best times to perform the tests are:
   • At the following in your local time:
     • Between 09:00-10:00
     • Between 15:00-16:00
     • Between 21:00-22:00
   • At times when you believe the researchers at your site will most heavily use JSTOR.

Running the Test:

1. Once you click the "Start Test" button, some sample JSTOR journal pages will be displayed on your computer.
2. This test may take several minutes to run, so please allow time for it to finish.
3. Please do not use your browser until the test is finished.
4. Please remember to run the test three times over the course of one day (as mentioned above).

You are now ready to proceed. Start JSTOR Network Performance Test.

Last updated on September 8, 2006