LON-CAPA Hardware Compatibility

Last updated: 10/23/2000

Hardware Requirements

There are 4 hardware requirements for the current LON-CAPA system.

Frequently Asked Questions

  1. Why can't I run the LON-CAPA system on a Sun Microsystem, MacOS-X, Windows-NT, or a LINUX-based system other than RedHat 6.2?
    The short answer is you can run LON-CAPA on most any type of computer, but you shouldn't. The software system of LON-CAPA has been designed with security and performance in mind. Unless you are prepared to understand the configuration details of the LON-CAPA network layer and security issues specific to your operating system and machine architecture, you will not be able to run LON-CAPA. In the long-term, alternate scenarios of running the LON-CAPA system will add significant administrative overhead in terms of LON-CAPA software upgrades.
  2. What about firewall configurations?
    Firewall configurations are doable, but not recommended. This requires detailed understanding of the LON-CAPA network layer, reduces network connectivity, and may require reconfiguration upon new software releases
  3. What about load-balancing hardware configurations?
    The good news is that LON-CAPA supports its own load-balancing of web-delivered content. The only relevant hardware configuration is a static IP address and ethernet connection. LON-CAPA takes care of the rest. Load-balancing should not be implemented with other hardware/software configurations since this would alter the logic by which LON-CAPA distributes and disseminates resources.
  4. What about backup tape drives and CD-ROM burners?
    There currently is no defined system of backing up LON-CAPA resources. It is, however, both easily doable and highly recommended. Every machine's /home/httpd/html/res directory should be periodically saved in entirety. Additionally, you may wish to save other machine-specific configuration files such as /etc/httpd/conf/access.conf (for a description of these files, go to http://install.lon-capa.org/3.1/loncapafiles/loncapafiles.html). As far as HOW you save this, via a tape-drive or CD-ROM, that is your currently your judgement call. For more information on backing up Linux-based systems, read http://www.medstv.unimelb.edu.au/~pierre/backup/Backup-HOWTO.html.

Notes

A monitor and other peripherals are not necessary for anything but the installation process. Their inclusion with your computer system is dependent on what level of convenience you think they provide.