Web Browsers Support Statement

For information related to this topic refer to:

• Configuring Your Browser for Use (at Carnegie Mellon)
• Support Statement Terms

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Overview

Computing Services’ commitment to support a Web browser indicates that it has conducted some testing for compatibility with widely used university online services and that any known compatibility problems have been or will be documented.

Terms Used in this Document
Please see Support Statement Terms for a definition of terms used to describe the level to which we do or do not support a service or technology.

Supported Web Browsers

Computing Services officially supports the following browsers:

• Internet Explorer Version 6.x and higher (Windows)
• Mozilla Firefox 2.0 for (Windows, Mac, Unix)
• Safari v1.2 or later (Mac)

The browsers listed above are compatible with all applications and services listed below, with exceptions as noted.

Computing Services recommends that users keep web browsing software current by downloading patches and upgrades as necessary. Users may monitor the official.computing.news bboard (also available via the Portal at http://my.cmu.edu).

General Requirements

To be compatible with all of the applications listed above, your browser must meet the following requirements:

• The browser must be configured to accept cookies. Cookies are used by the WebISO authentication service.
• The browser must be capable of 128-bit encryption.
• The browser must be able to support the import of root certificates, such as the Carnegie Mellon root certificate.
• We recommend that your browser support JavaScript, to enhance the user experience. We cannot guarantee that all services will function properly if JavaScript is disabled. Some functions in the following services may not work properly if JavaScript is disabled:
  • Carnegie Mellon Web Portal
  • Webmail
  • Blackboard
  • Faculty Course Evaluation (FCE) System

Even if you are using a supported browser, you will not be able to access ALL of the services above if you have disabled cookies, or if you are using less than 128-bit encryption.

Exceptions

Oracle Financials: For a list of browsers that are supported for use with Oracle Financials, please visit the Recommended Browsers for Oracle Applications 11i web page. Other browsers may work with Oracle Financials, but are not guaranteed.

Open Learning Initiative: The Open Learning Initiative, which is hosted by the Office for Technology in Education, is not compatible with Safari on the Macintosh. Please use Firefox instead.

Scope

This document describes support both in terms of browsers supported by the Computing Services Help Center and Cluster Services. Furthermore, Computing Services recommends that departments and organizations test their own web applications to maximize compatibility with the browsers listed earlier on this page.

This statement of support encompasses the following online services at Carnegie Mellon:

• Services provided by Computing Services
  • Andrew Webmail
  • Andrew Calendar Web Client
  • My Andrew applications on the Carnegie Mellon Web Portal
  • NetReg
  • The Carnegie Mellon Web Portal
  • WebISO Secure Login
  • Student Information Online
  • Electronic Grading (E-Grades)
  • Now that I'm enrolling (Admission data display)
  • Contact me (New inquirers online)
  • International student application (Admission)
  • Admission Request an Interview
  • Financial Aid Application
  • OLR
  • CIO
  • Student Services Appointment Scheduler
  • Making Student Connections (Admissions)
  • Room Draw (Campus Housing)
  • Available Housing (Campus Housing)
  • Student Health Insurance application
  • Qatar Admission application
  • Where am I in the Process
  • Graduation Online
  • SpaceQuest
  • Academic Audit
  • Federal Loan Entrance/Exit Interview (launches from inside SIO)
  • Hope/Lifelong Tax Credit (launches from inside SIO)
  • Gate Loan requests (launches from inside SIO)
  • Talent Management System
  • HR Connection
  • Learning and Development Course Registration
• Services provided by the Office of Technology for Education
  • Blackboard
  • Faculty Course Evaluations
  • Open Learning Initiative

Services provided by other organizations at Carnegie Mellon may have different requirements. Please contact the person or group maintaining a service for details.

Questions and Answers

What about Netscape 6?
There is some functionality in the Portal that will not be available with Netscape 6. You may find this version of the browser suitable to your needs, but it is not supported.

What about Netscape 8?
Full browser qualification testing for Netscape 8 has not been completed. Initial tests suggest that many applications may not work properly with the initial release of Netscape 8, possibly due to the way in which Netscape changes between the Internet Explorer and the Firefox rendering engine.

What about Opera, AvantBrowser, Lynx, iCab, Konqueror, etc.?
These browsers are not supported as they have not been tested extensively with the Web applications and systems listed in this document. Users of these browsers may or may not find them to be compatible with various applications and systems and there is no guarantee that future versions of the Web applications and systems listed above will continue to provide the same compatibility.

If you want to use a browser that is not supported, you will still need to make sure that it is configured to use 128-bit encryption and that JavaScript and cookies are enabled. If your browser does not support one or more of these functions, you will not be able to access all of the services listed above.

Internet Explorer, Firefox and Safari account for the vast majority of hits to the university web servers and services (over 94%).

 

Last Updated: 02/01/07