Transcript TestNav Installation Best Practices

PearsonAccess™ Technology Training
Online Test Configuration
Page
Agenda
- Introduction to Pearson’s On-Line Testing Solution
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Administrative Site
TestNav™
Proctor Caching
Online Resources and other Support Information
- Technology Configuration for On-Line Testing
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Proctor Caching
Test Delivery
Wireless Networks Best Practices
TestNav Installation Best Practices
Firewalls/Content Filters
Issues/Special Considerations
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and/or one or more of its direct or indirect affiliates.
All rights reserved.
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Online Testing Components
Administrative Web Site
• http://www.pearsonaccess.com/va/
• Used by Test Coordinators, Test Administrators, etc.
• Manage Student Data
• Create, Modify, Monitor Online Test Sessions
• Resolve Student Data Alerts
• Access Reports
• Manage User Accounts & Security
TestNav
• Used by Students to Take Tests
• Java Based Client that Looks Like a Browser
Proctor Caching
• Stores test content locally
• Reduces the burden on your network and ISP
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and/or one or more of its direct or indirect affiliates.
All rights reserved.
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Online Resources
Resources Page
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TestNav Technology Guidelines
PearsonAccess Technology Guidelines
Proctor Caching User’s Guide
TestNav Early Warning System Reference Manual
Support Information
• Toll free Pearson Support Center number (1-866-650-9425)
• [email protected]
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Proctor Caching – Network Diagram
Pearson
Test Content
Test Content
ISP
Student
Workstations
WAN
Admin
Workstation
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Proctor Caching – How Does it Help?
• Proctor Caching allows you to pre-cache test content to
your local network before the test
• Reduces burden on your ISP by eliminating redundancy
in requests for test content
• Stores an encrypted local copy of all pre-cached tests.
• A caching solution is required for the best online testing
experience and must be used for audio testing
• Audio content is large (1 Mb) and is not retrieved until
needed. TestNav can transfer audio content much
quicker via a local network rather than downloading
through an ISP
• Proctor Caching example: Non-audio tests require
6kb/sec of ISP bandwidth per student when not using
proctor caching. Using proctor caching that drops to
2kb/sec.
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Proctor Caching – Misc.
• Runs on both Windows and Mac OS X
• Does not require an underlying server-based operating system
• TestNav must be configured through the installer or editing the
proxysettings.properties file to communicate through Proctor
Caching.
• If all internet traffic must pass through an upstream proxy server,
Proctor Caching will need to be configured to communicate
through that device.
• TestNav requests test content from Proctor Caching on port 4480.
• Pre-Caching a Test
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Pre-cache before students test
Change browser settings
Confirm you are contacting proctor caching using a non-Pearson address
Pre-cache test content
Change browser settings back
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Proctor Caching – Misc.
• Cache Directories
 Windows: C:\Program Files\NCSPearson\Proctor
Caching\CACHE
 Mac: /private/var/run/proxy/
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Test Delivery – Local Installation
• Download and install TestNav on each workstation used
for Test Delivery
• Configure each machine to communicate with the
Proctor Caching server (proxy settings.properties file)
• More challenging to manage than a server installation
• System automation tools like SMS (Windows) and
Apple Remote Desktop (Mac) make local installs much
more practical.
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Test Delivery – Server Installation
Server
Workstations
• Download and install TestNav on a server
• Configure the server installation to communicate with the
Proctor Caching server (proxy settings.properties file)
• Create a shortcut to the server installation of TestNav on
each workstation used for Test Delivery
• Easier to manage than a local installation
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TestNav Installation Best Practices
• TestNav Software is entirely self-contained. This allows you to
copy the TestNav folder to another client machine; there is no
need to run the Installer on each machine.
• The TestNav proxysettings.properties file is the only
configurable settings file. This file can be edited with Notepad
or TextEdit.
• Editable variables in proxysettings.properties
 Proxy_Host - Designates a proctor caching or proxy server IP address
 Proxy_Port - Designates a proctor caching or proxy server port number
 Primary_Save_Location & Alternate_Save_Location - Designates the
Early Warning save locations
• Student machine logins will need full access to these directories
 TestNav/temp
 TestNav/Logs
 Early Warning Save Locations
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TestNav Installation Best Practices
• Local Installation - If you use hard drive imaging tools like
Deep Freeze you must exclude the TestNav/Logs and Early
Warning System save locations
• Network Installation
 Do not run the TestNav installer on the File Server itself.
 Run the installer on a client workstation and then copy the client's TestNav folder
to a mapped network drive.
 Once copied to the network drive, edit the proxysettings.properties file to have
valid file paths for the save locations.
 Use mapped drives for all paths.
• TestNav 6.9 update
 Introduces compatibility with Mac OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard
 Must be installed prior to administering an online test in Fall 2009
• Wireless Networks
 DO NOT overload access points with too many clients
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Firewalls/Content Filters
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The following domains and ports must be allowed to
pass through your Internet firewall or proxy system.
Domain
etest.pearson.com
www8.etest.pearson.com
www9.etest.pearson.com
launcher.etest.pearson.com
www.pearsonaccess.com
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Port
80
443
80
80
80, 443
Port 443 is for admin access only
Student level traffic is port 80
Hash encryption can inadvertently form a word
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Issues/Special Considerations
Disable Popup Blocking Software (Administrative Site)
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A pop-up blocker will block the login screens from opening on
administrative workstations
Applications that launch automatically
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Any applications that may automatically launch on a computer
should be configured not to launch during testing sessions.
Common applications that may launch automatically include:
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Anti-virus software performing automatic updates
Power management software on laptops warning of low batteries
Screen Savers
Email with Auto message notification
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Issues/Special Considerations
Screen resolution
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All tests are authored to a screen resolution of 800 x 600 so make
sure that your testing machines are capable of 800 x 600
resolution
Screen Resolutions below this setting will cause an error as
TestNav tries to load the test
Screen Resolutions above this setting will cause the test to appear
smaller than the available screen size.
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Support Calls
Information needed to diagnose technical issues
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Session Details
 Test Administration name?
 Session Name?
 Affected student name?
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Error messages/numbers?
What were you doing when the error occurred?
Do you have a log file?
Basic network configuration
 Are you using proctor caching? IP address?
 Do you use a proxy server? IP address?
 Firewalls/content filters?
Confidential
Copyright © 2007 Pearson Education, Inc.
and/or one or more of its direct or indirect affiliates.
All rights reserved.
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