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 <title>Frequently Asked Questions</title>  <title>Frequently Asked Questions</title>
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 <br />&nbsp;  <p>&nbsp;</p>
 <p align='center'>  <p align="center">
 <font face='helvetica'>  <font size="+3">
 <font size='+3'>  
 Questions about anything and everything  Questions about anything and everything
 </font>  </font>
   </p>
   <p>
   Shown below are frequently asked questions others have
   about LON-CAPA installation and system management.  For
   a more complete FAQ, you are strongly encouraged to visit
   </p>
   <p align="center">
   <font size="+2">
   <a href="http://help.lon-capa.org/">http://help.lon-capa.org/</a>
 </font>  </font>
 </p>  </p>
 <br />  
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 <p><font size='+2'>FAQ</font></p>  <p><font size="+2">FAQ</font></p>
 <ul>  <blockquote>
 <br />1. <a href='#q1'>What is TtH and how do I know I have it?</a>  <br />1. <a href="#q1">What is TtH and how do I know I have it?</a>
 <br />2. <a href='#q2'>So I think I'm done with the LON-CAPA installation.  <br />2. <a href="#q2">So I think I'm done with the LON-CAPA installation.
 Now what do I do?  How do I begin?</a>  Now what do I do?  How do I begin?</a>
 <br />3. <a href='#q3'>Why do I have to worry about choosing a "role"?</a>  <br />3. <a href="#q3">Why do I have to worry about choosing a "role"?</a>
 <br />4. <a href='#q4'>What kind of computer and operating will this work  <br />4. <a href="#q4">What kind of computer and operating will this work
 on?</a>  on?</a>
 <br />4a. <a href='#q4'>Will this work on BSD Unix?</a>  <br />4a. <a href="#q4">Will this work on BSD Unix?</a>
 <br />4b. <a href='#q4'>Will this work on Mac OS X?</a>  <br />4b. <a href="#q4">Will this work on Mac OS X?</a>
 <br />5. <a href='#q5'>What does LON-CAPA stand for?</a>  <br />5. <a href="#q5">What does LON-CAPA stand for?</a>
 <br />6. <a href='#q6'>Who wrote this code?</a>  <br />6. <a href="#q6">Who wrote this code?</a>
 <br />7. <a href='#q7'>Where is this software being used?</a>  <br />7. <a href="#q7">Where is this software being used?</a>
 <br />8. <a href='#q8'>What are current plans for the installation?</a>  <br />8. <a href="#q8">What are current plans for the installation?</a>
 <br />9. <a href='#q9'>How do I upgrade?</a>  <br />9. <a href="#q9">How do I upgrade?</a>
 <br />10. <a href='#q10'>What are RPMs?</a>  <br />10. <a href="#q10">What are RPMs?</a>
 <br />11. <a href='#q11'>How do I know this will be a secure solution for  <br />11. <a href="#q11">How do I know this will be a secure solution for
 my users?</a>  my users?</a>
 <br />12. <a href='#q12'>How do I contribute code?</a>  <br />12. <a href="#q12">How do I contribute code?</a>
 <br />13. <a href='#q13'>Is LON-CAPA owned by any umbrella company?</a>  <br />13. <a href="#q13">Is LON-CAPA owned by any umbrella company?</a>
 <br />14. <a href='#q14'>What are the costs?</a>  <br />14. <a href="#q14">What are the costs?</a>
 <br />15. <a href='#q15'>What kind of computer do I need?</a>  <br />15. <a href="#q15">What kind of computer do I need?</a>
 <br />16. <a href='#q16'>Where can I learn more about the technical  <br />16. <a href="#q16">Where can I learn more about the technical
 ideas surrounding the LON-CAPA project?</a>  ideas surrounding the LON-CAPA project?</a>
 <br />17. <a href='#q17'>How are you similar or different to  <br />17. <a href="#q17">How are you similar or different to
 WebCT, Blackboard, etc?</a>  WebCT, Blackboard, etc?</a>
 </ul>  </blockquote>
 <hr />1. <font color='blue'><font size='+1'><a name='q1' />What is TtH and how do I know I have it?</font></font>  <hr />1. <font color="blue"><font size="+1"><a name="q1" />What is TtH and how do I know I have it?</font></font>
 <p>  <p>
 TtH = TeX-to-HTML.  TtH = TeX-to-HTML.
 You should have a file called tth.so on your system.  If you do not  You should have a file called tth.so on your system.  If you do not
Line 55  into your Line 65  into your
 /usr/lib/perl5/site_perl/5.???/ directory.  /usr/lib/perl5/site_perl/5.???/ directory.
   
 </p>  </p>
 <hr />2. <font color='blue'><font size='+1'><a name='q2' />So I think I'm done with the LON-CAPA installation.  <hr />2. <font color="blue"><font size="+1"><a name="q2" />So I think I'm done with the LON-CAPA installation.
 Now what do I do?  How do I begin?</font></font>  Now what do I do?  How do I begin?</font></font>
 <p>  <p>
 You will first need to set up a domain coordinator on your machine.  You will first need to set up a domain coordinator on your machine.
 See loncapa/doc/how_to_domain_coordinator.txt in your CVS repository checkout.  See loncapa/doc/how_to_domain_coordinator.txt in your CVS repository checkout.
 After this, it is time to play with the interface.  We do not  After this, it is time to play with the interface.  We do not
 yet have a user manual, but  yet have a user manual, but
 <a href='mailto:felicia@lon-capa.org'>Felicia</a> is helping answer  <a href="mailto:felicia@lon-capa.org">Felicia</a> is helping answer
 questions related to the LON-CAPA web interface.  questions related to the LON-CAPA web interface.
 </p>  </p>
 <hr />3. <font color='blue'><font size='+1'><a name='q3' />Why do I have to worry about choosing a "role"?</font></font>  <hr />3. <font color="blue"><font size="+1"><a name="q3" />Why do I have to worry about choosing a "role"?</font></font>
 <p>  <p>
 A critical feature of the LON-CAPA interface is the idea that a user  A critical feature of the LON-CAPA interface is the idea that a user
 must select a role before doing anything further inside the educational  must select a role before doing anything further inside the educational
 system.  system.
   
 </p>  </p>
 <hr />4. <font color='blue'><font size='+1'><a name='q4' />What kind of computer and operating will this work  <hr />4. <font color="blue"><font size="+1"><a name="q4" />What kind of
 on?</font></font>  computer and operating will this work on?</font></font>
 <p>  <p>
 The operating system LON-CAPA runs on is the Linux operating  The operating system LON-CAPA runs on is the Linux operating
 system.  LON-CAPA relies on an Intel-based architecture.  system.  LON-CAPA relies on an Intel-based architecture.
 </p>  </p>
 <hr />4a. <font color='blue'><font size='+1'><a name='q4' />Will this work on BSD Unix?</font></font>  <p>
   For full-time, classroom usage, an adequate LON-CAPA server
   should be/have:
   </p>
   <ul>
   <li>a multiprocessor machine,</li>
   <li>a CPU speed of 1 gigahertz,</li>
   <li>a gigabyte of memory,</li>
   <li>and at least 40 to 80 gigabytes of hard disk space.</li>
   </ul>
   <p>
   A lesser machine can be used for toying around with LON-CAPA
   (LON-CAPA will run for a single user on most any machine).
   </p>
   <p>
   LON-CAPA servers experience significant peaks of activity
   before a homework submission deadline.  To support these critical
   peaks of activity, it is strongly advised that LON-CAPA machines
   fit the above recommendation.
   </p>
   <p>
   If thousands of students start accessing the box as a web server...
   well you may want to consider more options.  The design of the LON-CAPA
   system is to naturally and transparently load-balance on multiple
   computer clusters.  So, a simple solution for running an entire
   college campus is to just have an adequate plurality of LON-CAPA
   servers rather than a single, particularly monstrous server.
   </p>
   <p>
   We like to think of high web server usage as "a good problem" though.. :)
   </p>
   <hr />4a. <font color="blue"><font size="+1"><a name="q4" />Will this work on BSD Unix?</font></font>
 <p>  <p>
 No.  No.
 </p>  </p>
 <hr />4b. <font color='blue'><font size='+1'><a name='q4' />Will this work on Mac OS X?</font></font>  <hr />4b. <font color="blue"><font size="+1"><a name="q4" />Will this work on Mac OS X?</font></font>
 <p>  <p>
 No.  No.
 </p>  </p>
 <hr />5. <font color='blue'><font size='+1'><a name='q5' />What does LON-CAPA stand for?</font></font>  <hr />5. <font color="blue"><font size="+1"><a name="q5" />What does LON-CAPA stand for?</font></font>
 <p>  <p>
 The Learning Online Network with Computer-Assisted Personalized Approach.  The Learning Online Network with Computer-Assisted Personalized Approach.
 </p>  </p>
 <p>  <p>
 An eclectic variant is: Look! Our New Car Answers Pizza Appetites.  An eclectic variant is: Look! Our New Car Answers Pizza Appetites.
 </p>  </p>
 <hr />6. <font color='blue'><font size='+1'><a name='q6' />Who wrote this code?</font></font>  <p>
   Or something.
   </p>
   <hr />6. <font color="blue"><font size="+1"><a name="q6" />Who wrote this code?</font></font>
 <p>  <p>
 This code was originally written by a group of staff and graduate assistants  This code was originally written by a group of staff and graduate assistants
 at Michigan State University.  We are now receiving software contributions  at Michigan State University.  We are now receiving software contributions
 from several other universities.  The technical design behind the project  from several other universities.  The technical design behind the project
 was constructed by Gerd Kortemeyer.  was constructed by Gerd Kortemeyer.
 </p>  </p>
 <hr />7. <font color='blue'><font size='+1'><a name='q7' />Where is this software being used?</font></font>  <hr />7. <font color="blue"><font size="+1"><a name="q7" />Where is this software being used?</font></font>
 <hr />8. <font color='blue'><font size='+1'><a name='q8' />What are current plans for the installation?</font></font>  <hr />8. <font color="blue"><font size="+1"><a name="q8" />What are current plans for the installation?</font></font>
 <p>  <p>
 We have been able to run LON-CAPA on RedHat 6.2, 7.1, 7.2, Debian, and  We have been able to run LON-CAPA on RedHat 6.2, 7.1, 7.2, Debian, and
 Mandrake.  Mandrake.
 </p>  </p>
 <hr />9. <font color='blue'><font size='+1'><a name='q9' />How do I upgrade?</font></font>  <hr />9. <font color="blue"><font size="+1"><a name="q9" />How do I upgrade?</font></font>
 <p>  <p>
 You must use CVS over the network.  You must use CVS over the network.
 Please click on the upgrade button at the top of this web page.  Please click on the upgrade button at the top of this web page.
 </p>  </p>
 <hr />10. <font color='blue'><font size='+1'><a name='q10' />What are RPMs?</font></font>  <hr />10. <font color="blue"><font size="+1"><a name="q10" />What are RPMs?</font></font>
 <p>  <p>
 Software packages that are (usually) very easy to install.  RPM stands  Software packages that are (usually) very easy to install.  RPM stands
 for RedHat Packaging Manager software package.  for RedHat Packaging Manager software package.
 </p>  </p>
 <hr />11. <font color='blue'><font size='+1'><a name='q11' />How do I know this will be a secure solution for  <hr />11. <font color="blue"><font size="+1"><a name="q11" />How do I know this will be a secure solution for
 my users?</font></font>  my users?</font></font>
 <p>  <p>
 LON-CAPA is distributed without warranty as described in the   LON-CAPA is distributed without warranty as described in the 
 <a href='http://mycrow.mph.msu.edu/docs/license/index.html'>license</a>.  <a href="http://mycrow.mph.msu.edu/docs/license/index.html">license</a>.
 </p>  </p>
 <p>  <p>
 We do think our security strategy is fairly robust.  Important communications  We do think our security strategy is fairly robust.  Important communications
 are encrypted and the server-client validation is instantiated in such  are encrypted and the server-client validation is instantiated in such
 a way as to prevent any remotely conceivable kind of spoofing.  a way as to prevent any remotely conceivable kind of spoofing.
 </p>  </p>
 <hr />12. <font color='blue'><font size='+1'><a name='q12' />How do I contribute code?</font></font>  <hr />12. <font color="blue"><font size="+1"><a name="q12" />How do I contribute code?</font></font>
 <p>  <p>
 Send a diff to <a href='mailto:lon-capa-dev@mail.lon-capa.org'>  Send a diff to <a href="mailto:lon-capa-dev@mail.lon-capa.org">
 lon-capa-dev@mail.lon-capa.org</a>.  It helps if you give it context  lon-capa-dev@mail.lon-capa.org</a>.  It helps if you give it context
 with the -C option.  For example,  with the -C option.  For example,
 </p>  </p>
 <pre>  <pre>
 diff -u -C3 doc/build/faq.html doc/build/faq.html~ | mail lon-capa-dev@mail.lon-capa.org  diff -u -C3 doc/build/faq.html doc/build/faq.html~ | mail lon-capa-dev@mail.lon-capa.org
 </pre>  </pre>
 <hr />13. <font color='blue'><font size='+1'><a name='q13' />  <hr />13. <font color="blue"><font size="+1"><a name="q13" />
 Is LON-CAPA owned by any umbrella company?</font></font>  Is LON-CAPA owned by any umbrella company?</font></font>
 <p>  <p>
 No and hopefully never.  That's not what we're about.  No and hopefully never.  That's not what we're about.
 </p>  </p>
 <hr />14. <font color='blue'><font size='+1'><a name='q14' />  <hr />14. <font color="blue"><font size="+1"><a name="q14" />
 What are the costs?</font></font>  What are the costs?</font></font>
 <p>  <p>
 Time &amp; Money.  You and/or somebody else needs the time to learn how to use  Time &amp; Money.  You and/or somebody else needs the time to learn how to use
Line 154  increased ability to configure the LON-C Line 197  increased ability to configure the LON-C
 that you assume some responsibility for contributing code to the  that you assume some responsibility for contributing code to the
 freeware project.  freeware project.
 </p>  </p>
 <hr />15. <font color='blue'><font size='+1'><a name='q15' />  <hr />15. <font color="blue"><font size="+1"><a name="q15" />
 What kind of computer do I need?</font></font>  What kind of computer do I need?</font></font>
 <p>  <p>
 You need a RedHat 6.2-7.2 Intel-compatible computer.  You need a RedHat 6.2-7.2 Intel-compatible computer.
 We do not currently support the SPARC and SGI hardware architectures.  We do not currently support the SPARC and SGI hardware architectures.
 </p>  </p>
 <hr />16. <font color='blue'><font size='+1'><a name='q16' />  <hr />16. <font color="blue"><font size="+1"><a name="q16" />
 Where can I learn more about the technical  Where can I learn more about the technical
 ideas surrounding the LON-CAPA project?</font></font>  ideas surrounding the LON-CAPA project?</font></font>
 <p>  <p>
 You will find the technical manual to be very handy; please visit  You will find the technical manual to be very handy; please visit
 <a href='http://www.lon-capa.org/technical.html'>  <a href="http://www.lon-capa.org/technical.html">
 http://www.lon-capa.org/technical.html</a>.  http://www.lon-capa.org/technical.html</a>.
 </p>  </p>
 <hr />17. <font color='blue'><font size='+1'><a name='q17' />  <hr />17. <font color="blue"><font size="+1"><a name="q17" />
 How are you similar or different to  How are you similar or different to
 WebCT, Blackboard, etc?</font></font>  WebCT, Blackboard, etc?</font></font>
 <p>  <p>
 I would suggest two major differences  I would suggest two major differences:
   </p>
 <ol>  <ol>
 <li>In LON-CAPA, the <strong>user</strong> is the fundamental data object.    <li>In LON-CAPA, the <strong>user</strong> is the fundamental data object.  
 Other educational software systems seem to focus on the <strong>virtual  Other educational software systems seem to focus on the <strong>virtual
Line 183  beginning, aiming for a much higher perc Line 227  beginning, aiming for a much higher perc
 was about doing what no one had done before.  was about doing what no one had done before.
 </li>  </li>
 </ol>  </ol>
 </p>  
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