Bluestem

Introduction

Bluestem provides a secure way to identify yourself to a wide range of web applications and web pages at the University of Illinois. If a web-based application uses your NetID to identify you, then you'll log in using the Bluestem interface.

If you've seen this page asking you to log in:

then you've used Bluestem to log in to a University of Illinois web site.

Bluestem is used for many services at the University, including:

The Library's restricted online resources, including the Online Reference Collection and Online Research Resources

Class-assisting courseware such as Illinois Compass

The NESSIE human resources interface

and more

Bluestem is only for web sites that use your NetID.

Note that Bluestem isn't used for all of the web applications at the University of Illinois. Email, CITES NetFiles, and various other online campus services require you to use a password that is not your NetID password. In these cases, you won't use Bluestem to log in.

How do I log in to a web site through Bluestem?

All it takes is two clicks. When you click a link that leads you to a Bluestem-protected resource, you'll be redirected to the screen pictured above.

Provide your NetID and click Continue.

Provide your NetID password and click Continue.
(Note: Some Bluestem password pages will permit you to use either your NetID password or your AD password. If this is the case, the password page will indicate that.)

If you've typed everything correctly, you'll be redirected to the secured web site you're visiting. If you've typed your NetID or password incorrectly, you'll be asked to type it again.

Security note: Bluestem runs from specific web servers. The URL of the page that asks for your information should follow the pattern "www-s#.uiuc.edu." (For example, it could be www-s4.uiuc.edu or www-s6.uiuc.edu.)

If the URL does NOT begin with this pattern, it may be a spoofed site and should not be used. Notify CITES Security about any sites that imitate the Bluestem interface without coming from a Bluestem server.

For more information

For more information about how Bluestem works, including instructions for webmasters who wish to use Bluestem to secure web-based applications or web pages, see:

Service Level Definition: Bluestem
and
Bluestem Notes