Banner is a web-based, administrative software application used by higher education institutions. Students and employees use it as their main database.
You can view your personal and academic data records using Self-Service Banner (also known as WebSIS).
Contents
How to request access to WebSIS
How do I run WebSIS from home
Is the new SVE environment or vdi.soton compatible?
On University PC or laptop, what do I need to run WebSIS v5.1?
Useful links
How to request access to WebSIS
To use WebSIS from your home PC or device, follow these steps:
1. Go to the iSolutions Administrative Services Login Page
2. Enter your University user name (for example abc12de22, not abc12de22@soton.ac.uk) and your password, the click on Login

2. Accept the condition of use clicking on Continue
3. Fill the fields into the request form and click on Submit
What's next
Your head-of-School/Service or supervisor will receive your request for approval. Once approved, your request will be forwarded to the appropriate system administrator.
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How do I run WebSIS from home
To use WebSIS from your home PC or device, follow these steps:
- If not done so already, you need to:
- Download and install Java
- Connect to the University VPN. If you need help, please read the article How do I set up VPN on my device?
- Then login using the iSolutions Administrative Services Login Page
- Click on the WebSIS for Banner link
- Download the jnlp file
- Open the jnlp file and you should see a login window appear
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Is the new SVE environment or vdi.soton compatible?
WebSIS does not work with the new SVE environment or vdi.soton.ac.uk
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On University PC or laptop, what do I need to run WebSIS v5.1?
To run WebSIS you will need Java 1.8 (also called Java 8).
- Java 8 can be installed via the Additional Software icon on your Desktop.
- After opening Additional Software, do a search for Java JRE.
How to Use
1. Sign in the Administrative Services Login Page
2. Click the WebSIS for Banner link
2. Depending on the browser you are using, please follow the instruction here below:
Firefox
- You'll be prompted to open the websis_applet.jnlp file. Choose open with Java(TM) Web Start Launcher. Click OK
- Some Firefox versions download the websis_applet.jnlp file. Simply click the file to run it
- You'll then be prompted by Java whether you want to run the application. You may be prompted regarding your Java version, please keep it at Java v1.8
- Do not upgrade to another version. Click Run
- You should be able to see the WebSIS for Banner application now
Chrome
- After clicking the WebSIS for Banner link, you should see it downloaded on the lower left corner of the browser. Click on it
- On your first run, you might be asked to associate the downloaded websis_applet.jnlp with Java Web Start. Click OK
- If you can't find Java Web Start on the list, go to Look for another app on this PC
- Then you'll have to manually find the javaws.exe file and associate it
- The javaws.exe file is usually located in "C:\Program files\Java\jrex.xx\bin" in Windows
- You may tick "Always use this app..." so that you don't have to do this process again
- You'll then be prompted by Java whether you want to run the application. You may also be prompted regarding your Java version, please keep it at Java v1.8. Do not upgrade to another version
- Click Run
- You should be able to see the WebSIS for Banner Desktop Version now.
Microsoft Edge
Similar to Chrome. You'll need to associate the downloaded file, websis_applet.jnlp, with Java Web Start.
Safari
Associate the downloaded file, websis_applet.jnlp, with Java Web Start
- Open Download
- Ctrl+Click on the icon
- Open with: Java Web Start.app
Safari Detailed Steps (macOS Sierra v10.12.6 or older)
- After clicking the WebSIS for Banner link, you'll see the websis_applet.jnlp file in the download dropdown. Ctrl + click the file and choose "Show in Finder". Or you can click on the magnifying glass icon to open the "Downloads" dialog
- In the "Downloads" dialog box, Ctrl + click on websis_applet.jnlp and choose "Open With" -> "Java Web Start". Or you can click on the gear icon
- If you see a message saying "To open this Web Start application you need to install the Java runtime environment"
- Click the "More info ..." button and install Java on your PC
- If this does not lead to Java being installed, install it via the Java Download Centre
- After it is installed, open the downloaded jnlp file again or click on the WebSIS for Banner link again
Open with Java Web Start
- Then you'll get the "Are you sure you want to open it?" message. Click open
- You'll then get a couple of dialog boxes ("Do you want to run this application" and Login): click run then log in and WebSIS should load up. You might need to wait a few seconds depending on the network speed
- After the dialog boxes you should see something like below:
Other Safari Versions (macOS High Sierra v10.13.6 or later)