Networking DynEd Courseware

Contents
What kind of Networks? What kind of network demand? Network Evaluation by DynEd Testing Your Network Ordering Site Licenses Installing Courses Example Configuration #1 Example Configuration #2 General Recommendations Other Information
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Network Requirements Worksheet
Related Links
Download Documentation Client Requirements Server Requirements Network Requirements Search Q & A Updating your Installation

All DynEd programs can be networked! Once the content of the courses has been installed from the Installation CDs onto the network file server, the CDs themselves are no longer required. Students can easily access the programs from any station on the network. In addition, all student records are automatically stored on the central file server where they can be accessed and evaluated by instructional staff from any computer on the network.

What are the Advantages of Networking DynEd's Programs?

• Eliminates CD-ROM management - no more CDs to handle
• Eases access to all installed courses and simplifies switching between levels within a course
• Centralizes all student records on the network file server for convenient analysis
• Simplifies installation and updating of DynEd courses (just once on the central server)
  

Most modern networks should be able to run DynEd courseware. Client computers may be either Macintosh or Windows computers, and servers running Novell Netware, Windows NT or AppleShare are all supported. An overview of some typical network configurations which run DynEd programs, and a detailed listing of the minimum types of client computers needed for different DynEd courses can be found in Example Network Configurations on the following pages.

How adequate any particular network is for running DynEd courseware depends on a number of factors, including how much video the course has, how many simultaneous users there are, and how much other traffic there is on the network. All servers and networks have limitations that may cause them to falter when the load exceeds one of their capacities.

Lessons which use video require streaming data at 90 Kilobytes per second.* Non-video lessons require only 22 Kilobytes of data per second streamed to the computers. A typical 10Base-T connection, then, may handle up to 20 non-video users but only 8 video users. For this reason, programs using DynEd's video-based courses generally need a 100Base-T connection to run the programs effectively. In addition, DynEd strongly recommends utilizing a "Switch" for connecting the computers, rather than a "Hub." Computers on a "Hub" compete for the bandwidth of the network. A network "Switch," however, reduces contention between each client machine so that the full bandwidth of the cable is used with no competition.

It is nearly impossible for DynEd to specify a server and network combination that we can guarantee will handle the number of simultaneous users you want. We outline below the type of network load that can be expected from the use of our programs, but we urge you find a dealer or manufacturer who can suggest a configuration that they are willing to support.

System load can vary from 22 Kilobytes for audio all the way up to 220 Kilobytes (90 Kilobytes for version 4.1 products) for video (per second per student). Version 4.x CD-ROMs contain alternate files with lower video data rates: typically 45KB/s and 25KB/s. On average, for our video-based courses (Functioning in Business and The Lost Secret) video is playing 80% of the time. For New Dynamic English, Dynamic Business English, and Clear Speech Works the video is playing an average of 20% of the time. For our non-video courses, it can be assumed that audio is playing 90% of the time.

As a rule of thumb, then, when designing a network server for DynEd courseware, a reasonable average data rate is 60 Kilobytes per second per user (for version 4.1 or higher CD-ROMs). So, if the goal is to support 30 simultaneous users, the server must be able to handle a data rate of at least 1.80 Megabytes per second (30 users times 60KB/s). (Don't forget that the server operating system license must also support the desired number of simultaneous users. If you are using Windows 2000, for example, and want 30 simultaneous users, then you will need at least a 30-user Windows 2000 license on your server.)

If you would like our engineering team to analyze your network configuration, please fill out our Network Evaluation Work sheet (PDF) and fax it to DynEd. Our engineers will be happy to confirm whether or not the system described should be able to handle the number of simultaneous users required.

To confirm the efficiency of your network in running DynEd courses, you may do a free network test using the DynEd demo disc. Demo lessons are fully equivalent in terms of demand on network resources as similar lessons on regular courseware discs, and thereby provide a valid test of your actual network configuration.

To do a network installation of the demo disc: 1) Insert the demo disc CD in the CD-ROM drive of a client machine on the network; 2) Click on the Install button; 3) Read the License Agreement, then click on the I Accept button; 4) Browse to the server hard drive to specify the Installation Directory, which will be something like H:\DynEd - where "H" is the letter for the server's hard drive; 5) Click on Run from HD (650 MB) then on the Install button. Make sure you have enough space on the server hard drive to accommodate 650 MB and still have approximately 10% of the HD space left over; 6) Select the support language you prefer (usually English/Mix) and click the OK button; 7) Click the Install button; 8) Wait while all the relevant files are copied onto the server's hard drive -- then, when asked, click Register Now; and 9) Click on Register Online to complete the registration process.

To order a DynEd network site license, please provide the following information:

• Course/s, level/s required
• Number of simultaneous users for each*
• Period of time for each - unlimited, or number months

Your order will then be processed and you will be supplied with:

• one set of courseware discs
• all relevant support materials in an electronic format - User/Teacher/Study Guides, manuals, etc.
• an Installation CD & detailed installation instructions
• the DynEd Records Manager - DynEd network-based record-keeping system
• a DynEd Quick Start Guide with your unique Network Installation Code

* DynEd's network licenses (and pricing) are based on the number of simultaneous users - i.e., the maximum number of students who can access the course at the same time. Often, this is equivalent to the number of stations in the lab, but it need not be in every case.

Most network licenses are for indefinite use, but time-limited licenses are also available. A language academy offering a corporate client a 6-month training course, for instance, might be interested in reducing costs by purchasing a network license for the customer that expires after 6 months.

Mixing and matching of complete sets and levels of programs is also possible. If a customer has more lower-level students than higher-level students, they might, for example, buy a 10-user license for the complete set of New Dynamic English, Modules 1-8, with an additional 5-user license for Modules 1 & 2 only. This would potentially allow up to 15 users to study in various modules simultaneously: 10 studying Module 1 or 2 and an additional 5 studying Module 3 or 4; OR 7 studying Module 1 or 2 and an additional 8 studying Module 3 or 4; OR 15, all studying Module 1 or 2.

Please contact DynEd or your local DynEd dealer for help in evaluating your needs and for specific prices for the configuration that is most appropriate to your situation.

Always install from a client machine (not directly onto the network server HD) using the most recent Installation Disc (or, for the Demo disc, the installer provided on it) and review the Network Installation Guide for step-by-step instructions.

1. File Servers
   • You should have more than one hard drive partitioned as one volume (RAID).
   • You should have more than 25% free hard drive space after loading all DynEd content.
   • Additional memory will improve performance.
2. Network
   • Switched networks are highly recommended.
     
   • Extraneous network traffic can have a negative impact on the performance of DynEd courseware.
     
   • A 10Base-T cable can carry 6* video (90KB/second) streams, or 40 audio (22KB/second IMA) streams.
     
   • A 100Base-T cable can carry 60* video (90KB/S) streams, or 400 non-video (22KB/S IMA) streams.
     
3. Student Computers (Clients)
   • All clients should have Microphones and Speakers or Headphones.
     
   • All clients must be able to access the file server as a hard drive (volume).
     
   • See the DynEd Users Guide for product specific requirements.

• DynEd cannot guarantee network performance; these are guidelines only.
• Internet connectivity is not necessary for running DynEd courses from a file server.
• DynEd recommends you have knowledgeable network support personnel available.
  
• We highly recommend testing a network with the Demo Disc to confirm network performance.