CBE system requirements

Transcription

1 CBE system January 2012

2 minimum system The following tables detail the minimum hardware and software that must be met before applying for a CBE licence. Note: During the course of the 2012/13 licence period; new CBE software will be deployed to licensed centres. The minimum technical will change with the introduction of the. The tables below detail the for the along side those for the. Where the minimum change as a result of the introduction of the new supplier these have been highlighted; the highest specification is shown in red. It is important that you familiarise yourself with the and ensure that you can meet both sets if you wish to continue to operate CBE s seamlessly throughout the year. administration machines Processor 700MHz Pentium 4 or equivalent RAM Local admin rights required 3rd party applications (type and version) Framework (Y/N) if Y list (ie.net) XP Professional: 500MB Vista Business: 1GB Windows 7 Business: 1GB, for installation. It is recommended that UAC be off XP Professional (SP3), Vista Business, Windows 7 None,.NET 4.0 (will automatically install if not present) Hard drive access Hard drive free space With file server: 256MB W/O file server (if admin machine is used as a server): 1GB Minimum video resolution 1024 x x bit color depth or higher required 100MB over and above other apps running concurrently, for installation. In Windows 7 or Vista, if UAC is on an administrator must run the software XP Professional Vista (any edition) Windows 7 (any edition) Windows 2000 Note: latest service pack on all With file server: 50MB above other apps running concurrently W/O file server: 1GB above other apps running concurrently 256 color required, 256 color video card The new will be slightly higher (Microsoft recommended) The new recommend that UAC must be off Windows 2000 will not be supported under the new This is not a new requirement as such as it will automatically install With file server the new are higher Without file server the are the same Minimum monitor size required monitors are recommended under the new Display properties required (Y/N), If Y minimum internet connection speed 96 DPI only, 1Mbps, broadband. Upload speed must be at least 2KB/sec per student Web browser type and version IE 7.0 or greater IE 7.0 or greater, Netscape, Firefox, Opera, Chrome, Safari Network printer required External mouse and keyboard Mapping to file server (content server) Network card (English keyboard and twobutton mouse), with single connection to, with single connection to Please note the difference from 2 KB per second per student to 1Mbps Only IE 7.0 or higher will be supported under the new Please note the specific requirement for English keyboard and two-button mouse under the new

3 candidate machines Candidate workstation Exams must only be run on desktop PCs exams must not take place on laptops Exams must only be run on desktop PCs exams must not take place on laptops Processor 700MHz Pentium 4 or equivalent RAM Local admin rights required 3rd party applications (type and version) Framework (Y/N) if Y list (ie.net) XP Professional: 500MB Vista Business: 1GB Windows 7 Business: 1GB, for installation. It is recommended that UAC be off. XP Professional (SP3), Vista Business, Windows 7 None,.NET 4.0 (will automatically install if not present) Hard drive access 100MB over and above other apps running concurrently, for installation XP Professional Vista (any edition) Windows 7 (any edition) Windows 2000 Note: latest service pack on all Hard drive free space 256MB 250MB above other apps running concurrently Minimum video resolution 1024 x x bit color depth or higher required The new will be slightly higher (Microsoft recommended) The new recommend that UAC must be off Windows 2000 will not be supported under the new This is not a new requirement as such as it will automatically install Please note the slight increase under the new Minimum monitor size required monitors are recommended under the new Display properties required (Y/N), If Y minimum internet connection speed 96 DPI only, 1Mbps No Please note the new requirement for internet connection on candidate machines Web browser type and version IE 7.0 or greater Only IE 7.0 or higher will be supported under the new Network printer required External mouse and keyboard Mapping to file server (content server) Network card (English keyboard and twobutton mouse), with single connection to, with single connection to Please note the specific requirement for English keyboard and two-button mouse under the new

4 file server (content server) Processor 500MHz This is a new requirement RAM 500MB This is a new requirement Windows 2000 or Windows Server 2000 or higher Hard drive access Hard drive free space 1GB 1GB User connections Network printer required Unlimited where file server is used. A maximum of five PCs is recommended if using the admin PC as the server, LaserJet colour networked printer Only Windows-based networks may be used (Microsoft file server 2000, 2003 or 2008 Unlimited where file server is used. Maximum of five PCs if using the admin PC as the server There is a new requirement for a default mapped printer on the LAN that can be accessed from the file server network Installation locations and ports The student workstations running the Launcher and the test driver must all be able to communicate over a network in the same domain The dedicated administrative workstation running the SCAS (Secure Channel Administrative System) must be on the same network in the same domain as the student workstation The student workstations running ACCA Examiner, SNA and the File Server must all be able to communicate over a network in the same network domain Examiner and SNA must be able to communicate across the network using TCP-IP on port This port must be open and available in the network. Please note port will no longer be required This workstation requires fast, permanent Internet access through port 443 (SSL) The Updater application can be installed anywhere on the network in the dedicated domain above. It is recommended that it be installed on the administrative workstation The online administration workstation requires fast, permanent Internet access through port 443 (SSL) Host name resolution The network has to be capable of resolving host names to the corresponding IP addresses The network has to be capable of resolving host names to the corresponding IP addresses Shared installation directory The shared installation directory must be available to the workstations running the Launcher and the Updater with permissions specified in the installation instructions, which will be provided to you The shared installation directory on the File Server must be available to the workstations running Examiner and SNA with permissions specified in the installation instructions which will be provided to you The workstation running SCAS, Updater, and the Launcher requires fast, permanent broadband Internet access while SCAS is running on port 443 (SSL). Permanent is defined as a fast (non dial-up) access, which reliably stays open, eg broadband (1Mbps) The workstation running SNA requires fast, permanent broadband Internet access while SNA is running on port 443 (SSL). Permanent is defined as a fast (non dial-up) access which reliably stays open, eg broadband (upload speed must be at least 2KB/sec per student) Please note the difference from 2KB per second per student to 1Mbps LAN speed The LAN (Local Area Network) should be 100Mbps for users. A LAN with a speed of 1000Mbps (1Gbps) is recommended for more than 100 simultaneous students taking exams Please note the explicit LAN speed requirement (although this is assumed under the current )

5 network (continued) Wireless Wireless is not supported Whilst wireless networks can be used, exams cannot be guaranteed to run without interruptions if the wireless network is not stable (which can be the case). The exam software constantly monitors the network connection and logs any irregularities. If any interruptions occur, the exam is terminated (but can resume when the network problem has been corrected) Browser type Virus protection Printer access Single installations Compression software The online administration program is accessed via Microsoft Internet Explorer Version 7 or above Adequate firewall and virus protection must be in place and be updated regularly Student workstations require printer access via the network to allow them to print results notifications immediately after the exams. The results notifications will be printed to the default printer Please note that you are permitted only one installation of the Updater per test centre No requirement for compression software The online administration program is accessed via a standard web browser (preferably Microsoft Internet Explorer Version 6 or above. Netscape, Firefox, Opera, Chrome and Safari are also acceptable) Adequate firewall and virus protection must be in place and must be updated regularly Students require printer access via the network to allow them to print results notifications immediately after the exams. The results notifications will be printed to the default printer Please note that you are permitted only one installation of ACCA s Secure Network Administrator program In order to download the CBE software from the online administration system, you must have one of the following programs: WinZip 8.0 or above; or Windows XP or Windows Vista compression facility; or Stuffit Expander 9.5 for Windows; or Winrar Wireless is not supported under the new Only IE 7.0 or higher will be supported under the new