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 <br />&nbsp;  <p>&nbsp;</p>
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 <font size="+3">  <font size="+3">
 Questions about anything and everything  Questions about anything and everything
 </font>  </font>
Line 18  Questions about anything and everything Line 20  Questions about anything and everything
 Shown below are frequently asked questions others have  Shown below are frequently asked questions others have
 about LON-CAPA installation and system management.  For  about LON-CAPA installation and system management.  For
 a more complete FAQ, you are strongly encouraged to visit  a more complete FAQ, you are strongly encouraged to visit
 <br />  </p>
   <p align="center">
 <font size="+2">  <font size="+2">
 <center>  <a href="http://help.lon-capa.org/">http://help.lon-capa.org/</a>
 <a href="http://help.lon-capa.org/">http://help.lon-capa.org/</a></center>  
 </font>  </font>
 </p>  </p>
 </font>  
 <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="#q4a">Will this work on BSD Unix?</a>
 <br />4b. <a href='#q4'>Will this work on Mac OS X?</a>  <br />4b. <a href="#q4b">Will this work on Mac OS X?</a>
 <br />5. <a href='#q5'>What does LON-CAPA stand for?</a>  <br />4c. <a href="#q4c">Will this work on an old SPARC, Solaris, SGI, NeXT, or
 <br />6. <a href='#q6'>Who wrote this code?</a>  DEC machine that is collecting cobwebs in my university's technology center?</a>
 <br />7. <a href='#q7'>Where is this software being used?</a>  <br />5. <a href="#q5">What does LON-CAPA stand for?</a>
 <br />8. <a href='#q8'>What are current plans for the installation?</a>  <br />6. <a href="#q6">Who wrote this code?</a>
 <br />9. <a href='#q9'>How do I upgrade?</a>  <br />7. <a href="#q7">Where is this software being used?</a>
 <br />10. <a href='#q10'>What are RPMs?</a>  <br />8. <a href="#q8">What are current plans for the installation?</a>
 <br />11. <a href='#q11'>How do I know this will be a secure solution for  <br />9. <a href="#q9">How do I upgrade?</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
 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 <tt>tth.so</tt> on your system.  If you do not
 have it, then you should download and install the binary  have it (should be located somewhere underneath /usr/lib/perl5), then you
 http://install.lon-capa.org/3.1/binaries/tth.so  should download and install the binary
 into your  <a href="http://install.lon-capa.org/resources/tth.so">
 /usr/lib/perl5/site_perl/5.???/ directory.  http://install.lon-capa.org/resources/tth.so</a>
   into your /usr/lib/perl5/site_perl/5.???/ directory (5.??? corresponds
   to the version number of your perl distribution).
 </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  <hr />4. <font color="blue"><font size="+1"><a name="q4" />What kind of
 computer and operating will this work 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 (RedHat 7.3 is the supported linux distribution).
   LON-CAPA relies on an Intel-based architecture.  In order to
   move beyond this state of affairs, we are beginning to develop
   a BSD-based solution, as well as a set of diagnostic scripts
   which should verify LON-CAPA's performance on any computer platform.
 </p>  </p>
 <p>  <p>
 For full-time, classroom usage, an adequate LON-CAPA server  For full-time, classroom usage, an adequate LON-CAPA server
Line 109  fit the above recommendation. Line 119  fit the above recommendation.
 </p>  </p>
 <p>  <p>
 If thousands of students start accessing the box as a web server...  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  you may want to consider more options.  The design of the LON-CAPA
 system is to naturally and transparently load-balance on multiple  system is to naturally and transparently load-balance on multiple
 computer clusters.  So, a simple solution for running an entire  computer clusters.  So, a simple solution for running an entire
 college campus is to just have an adequate plurality of LON-CAPA  college campus is to just have an adequate plurality of LON-CAPA
Line 118  servers rather than a single, particular Line 128  servers rather than a single, particular
 <p>  <p>
 We like to think of high web server usage as "a good problem" though.. :)  We like to think of high web server usage as "a good problem" though.. :)
 </p>  </p>
 <hr />4a. <font color='blue'><font size='+1'><a name='q4' />Will this work on BSD Unix?</font></font>  <hr />4a. <font color="blue"><font size="+1"><a name="q4a" />Will this work on
   BSD?</font></font>
 <p>  <p>
 No.  Active development has begun for supporting LON-CAPA on FreeBSD version 4.7.
 </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="q4b" />Will this work on
   Mac OS X?</font></font>
 <p>  <p>
 No.  No.  Plans for Mac OS X involve waiting for completion of a FreeBSD version 4.7
   solution, as well as allowing Mac OS X more time to mature within the freeware
   community.
   </p>
   <hr />4c. <font color="blue"><font size="+1"><a name="q4c">Will this work on
   an old SPARC, Solaris, SGI, NeXT, or DEC machine that is collecting cobwebs in
   my university's technology center?</font></font>
   <p>
   No.  The needs for predictable performance of a LON-CAPA system cause us
   to emphasize support on a restricted set of platforms.  We welcome developers
   who would like to create porting solutions, however based on our timeline,
   you are even more strongly encouraged to help develop the actual educational
   software technology seen by students and instructors.
 </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>  <p>
 This code was originally written by a group of staff and graduate assistants  Or something.
 at Michigan State University.  We are now receiving software contributions  </p>
 from several other universities.  The technical design behind the project  <hr />6. <font color="blue"><font size="+1"><a name="q6" />Who wrote this
 was constructed by Gerd Kortemeyer.  code?</font></font>
   <p>
   The ultimate goal of LON-CAPA is to be a software initiative with a
   sense of ownership spanning the entire academic and freeware community.
   As such, LON-CAPA is progressing toward a piece of code that is not
   characterized by a set of individual authors or any measure of territoriality.
   </p>
   <p>
   To date, LON-CAPA has received code contributions from a growing
   number of academic institutions and freeware contributors.  LON-CAPA first
   originated at Michigan State University in 2000 based on a grant funded
   initiative, <i>Kortemeyer, et. al.</i>.
 </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
 <hr />8. <font color='blue'><font size='+1'><a name='q8' />What are current plans for the installation?</font></font>  software being used?</font></font>
   <p>
   The existing user sites are:
   </p>
   <ul>
   <li>4 high schools in Michigan</li>
   <li>Westshore Community College and Truckee Meadows Community College</li>
   <li>Universities in Senegal, Hungary, Germany, Canada (Simon Frasier
   University) and Zimbabwe</li>
   <li>Florida State University</li>
   <li>George Washington University</li>
   <li>Michigan State University</li>
   <li>Ohio University</li>
   <li>SUNY Stony Brook</li>
   <li>Florida State University</li>
   <li>University of Massachusetts at Amherst</li>
   <li>University of Michigan</li>
   <li>University of South Carolina</li>
   <li>University of North Carolina, Greensboro</li>
   </ul>
   <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
 my users?</font></font>  this will be a secure solution for 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://install.lon-capa.org/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 is not what we are about.  We are about a
   freeware-community oriented approach where the software features are directly
   specified by the involved academic institutions and instructors.
 </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 194  increased ability to configure the LON-C Line 255  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 7.3 Intel-compatible computer.
 We do not currently support the SPARC and SGI hardware architectures.  For more information on RedHat compatible hardware, visit
   <a href="http://hardware.redhat.com/hcl/">http://hardware.redhat.com/hcl/</a>.
   We do not currently support the SPARC, SGI, Macintosh, or other 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 223  beginning, aiming for a much higher perc Line 288  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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