Date: Wed, 17 Jul 2002 13:12:41 -1000 From: "Wai Chan" <waichan@hpu.edu> To: "Tim Kellers" <timothyk@serv1.wallnet.com> Cc: <questions@freebsd.org>, <el@njit.edu>, <kellers@njit.edu> Subject: RE: webct on freebsd? Message-ID: <571FCD9BF8258F4A80EB3ACA6CDC63FA0159450D@nohea.admin.hpu.edu>
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We are looking into the webct db version. It is logical to store
quizes, ... in a db, however, we are not rushing into the new db
version, 'cus we do not have much faith with webct. It is still buggy
and have a lot of problems with different version and brand of browsers
(eg: not all IE 5 or above are supported, not all Netscape 4 or above
are supported).
I agree with you that webct consists more than just Perl. However, perl
scripts are the only core engine for webct and runs on a server. Java
applets and Java scripts are clients side codes, will be only downloaded
and executed on the client's web browser but not on a server, will not
be affected by the version and brand of server OS. In other words, you
may ignore java stuff and all other client side codes when choosing a
server, as long as you have the right verion of perl and Apache on
FreeBSD, I pretty sure webct will run just fine.
This is what I would do to get webct on a FreeBSD box.
1. linux compatibility (not sure if you need it, most likely
not, but load it just in case)
2. install webct (which installs webct's verion of perl 5.6.1
and Apache).
3. download/compile/install Apache for FreeBSD.
4. copy the httpd.conf (webct version) to FreeBSD Apache
httpd.conf.
5. check/modify the httpd.conf to make sure all the path in the
conf is reflecting the FreeBSD Apache instead of webct apache.
5. start the FreeBSD Apache (do not run the webct apache).
By now, older version of webct (the version doesn't require a license
daemon, eg: ver 3.6) should work fine.
Now, the hard part is to get the webct license daemon work (eg: webct
ver 3.7 or above). The license daemon is a compiled binary executable
file for Solaris or Redhat, so ... hope the license binary execues on
FreeBSD. If unsuccessful, enable_linux (linux compatibility) on FreeBSD
(linux_enable=3D"yes" in /etc/rc.conf) to try again. If still fail to =
run
the license daemon, you will need to get the source code from webct and
recompile. Good Luck!
BTW, I think you mean linux compatibility instead of redhat emulation.
Thanks!
best wishes,
Wai Chan
-----Original Message-----
From: Tim Kellers [mailto:timothyk@serv1.wallnet.com]=20
Sent: Tuesday, July 16, 2002 3:38 PM
To: Wai Chan
Cc: questions@freebsd.org; el@njit.edu; kellers@njit.edu
Subject: RE: webct on freebsd?
Thanks for the reply, Wai.
I believe we are running Campus edition of WebCT on our main production
server --from what I learned at a meeting I attended on Monday, the
Oracle DB version isn't available (to NJIT, anyway) until sometime in
September.
With the availability of that upgrade being on or just after the
beginning of the new semester and the history of WebCT "upgrades"
breaking the extant production version rather spectacularly (and
egregiously for the admin of the WebCT box), it's doubtful that anyone
is going to rush into the new version. In fact, if I can get Campus
Edition to run at a production level, I see no reason to rush into a
newer version.
Have you ever used WebCT under Redhat emulation? Do you (or anyone
else) know if that is feasible/preferable? I'm fairly sure that the
current WebCT we are using is a bit more than just perl based. I think
the "chat" functions are all java applets.
Thanks for you help and input,
Tim Kellers
CPE/NJIT
On Tue, 16 Jul 2002, Wai Chan wrote:
> Hi,
>
> webct should run on FreeBSD without problem. I could be wrong, but=20
> after plaing with it for a period of time, the webct campus edition is
> simply whole brunch of perl scrips (the version of perl is more=20
> important than anything else) and plain text files, and a apache web=20
> server with customized httpd.conf. There is a webct campus vista=20
> edition, which uses oracle db instead of plain text files, I have no=20
> knowledge about this edition.
>
> FreeBSD was officially supported by the first generation of webct.=20
> However, the latest version, webct only supports Solaris and Redhat=20
> (not all favors of linux, and FreeBSD is no longer listed as supported
> OS). If you are running webct on FreeBSD and if you need help from=20
> webct, then ... unless you are webct's $best$ customer. So, if you=20
> are stucked with x86 boxes and need to run webct, Redhat is your safe=20
> choice.
>
> We run webct and other apps with this rules I set:
> If not FreeBSD on x86, then Solaris on Sun.
> We are running our webct on a Sun E250 box.
>
> Good Luck!
>
> Wai.
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Tim Kellers [mailto:timothyk@serv1.wallnet.com]
> Sent: Monday, July 15, 2002 5:55 PM
> To: questions@FreeBSD.ORG
> Subject: webct on freebsd?
>
>
>
> My division at work is considering splitting-off our non-credit and=20
> certificate students from the University-wide WebCT server --which=20
> currently hosts all Distance Learning students.
>
> Universitry Information Services has recommended we purchase a SUN box
> and install the SUN flavor of WebCT. However, they are so backlogged=20
> that it isn't even a possiblity until sometime in September (after the
> Fall semester has started).
>
> I have a spare --well, not really a spare, but a development box--=20
> Dell PE 2500 (dual processor, 933MHZ each, with a gig of ram and 42=20
> gigs free RAID 5 HD space) that's running FreeBSD 4.6-STABLE. I'd=20
> like to try and take a shot at installing WebCT on that box and, if=20
> possible, using it as the eventual production server to host our WebCT
> courses.
>
> Does anyone have any experience or suggestions as to how I might make=20
> that happen? ("Forget it, it's impossible!" comments are also=20
> welcome).
>
> For the record, this box also supports the Linux ABI (v 7.1.x) and=20
> SVR4, but I'm not sure if either of those features is even relavent.
>
> TIA
>
> Tim Kellers
> CPE/NJIT
>
>
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