Different Types of LON-CAPA Servers

Scott Harrison, freeware volunteer, sharrison@sourceforge.net

Introduction

There are two different kinds of LON-CAPA servers, Library Servers and Access Servers. On any LON-CAPA machine, you can look at the server type by viewing the file /etc/httpd/conf/loncapa.conf and looking at the variable lonRole.

Library Servers

Library Servers are repositories of authoritative educational resources. These servers also provide the construction space by which instructors assemble their classroom online material. First-time installations of LON-CAPA at an institution should be for Library Servers (and not Access Servers).

Only Library Servers make use of a MySQL database.

On the filesystem, the following directories are used primarily by Library Servers (and not Access Servers):

- Library Servers use this space to hold authoritative or cached versions of educational resources; Access Servers only use this space to hold cached versions of educational resources

Access Servers

Access Servers load-balance high-traffic delivery of educational resources over the world-wide web. Access Servers do not require a MySQL database and do not contain Linux user accounts. Several of the active directories on Library Servers are not needed on an Access Servers.