SAGE Secure Browser Frequently Asked Questions How often will there be auto-updates to the secure browser? Our goal is that the secure browser will continue to be updated once a year. However, updates to the secure browser may need to be pushed out during the year due to updates to operating systems, such as Windows or OS X, which the current secure browser is not compatible with or have serious security and/or other issues. How and when will I be notified that an auto-update is coming? Notice of auto-updates will be posted under the announcements section of the SAGE portal. For auto-updates that occur on a yearly planned basis, USOE will provide notice regarding the planned date for releasing the update. For emergency auto-updates, for example if a security issue is discovered that requires an immediate update to the secure browser, an expedited alert may be sent. How will the auto-update process work? We will send out advance notice if there is going to be an auto-update to the secure browser. The advance notice will tell you when the update will be available and you will be asked to leave all computers turned on overnight with the secure browser open to the sign in page. The auto-update software will check to see if anyone is actively using the computer. If they are not, a message will be sent out saying that the computer wants to install an auto-update and asking anyone working on the computer to click a box if it is not a convenient time. If no one clicks the box, the auto-update will install. As part of the installation process, the secure browser will automatically restart. The auto-update software will check to make sure that no one is using the computer before restarting. Our expectation is that the auto-update process will take approximately 10 minutes, including rebooting the secure browser. However, that time is dependent on the speed of your internet connection. The time frame for an auto-update will be between 4pm and midnight. What if I don t get the message about the auto-update or I forget to leave the computers in my school turned on overnight? If you do not leave the computers in your school turned on the evening that an auto-update is scheduled, the auto-update software will continue checking on subsequent nights until the update can be installed. For each update, AIR and USOE will determine if the update is optional or required. If the update is required, you will be informed that you have a designated period of time during which the update must be installed. If a required update is not installed during that timeframe students will not be able to log in and test with the secure browser.
How long will I have to install a required update? Based upon the nature of the update, schools should expect the auto-update to occur between the hours of 4pm and midnight. You will be notified of the time period you have to install a required update at the same time you are notified that the update is available. The auto-update software will continue to attempt to install the update on a nightly basis even if you do not install it by the required date. However, after the designated installation time period has closed, students will be prevented from testing using the secure browser until the update is installed. Will auto-updates interrupt student testing or other student activity on the computer? Auto-updates will be scheduled between the hours of 4pm and midnight and advance notice will be provided. The auto-update software will check to make sure that no one is actively using a computer before pushing out an update. Will updates be distributed exclusively through the auto-update feature or will I be able to download updates as I did previously? Any updates to the secure browser will also be posted on the SAGE portal for schools that choose not to use the auto-update feature or are unable to use the auto-update feature. Do I need to manually install the 2015-2016 secure browser or can I use the auto-update process to update the 2014-2015 secure browser? The 2015-2016 secure browser will need to be manually installed on all computers used for student testing because the auto-update feature was not built into the 2014-2015 secure browser. We use Deep Freeze to image our computers. How will the auto-update feature work with Deep Freeze? The secure browser auto-update works like other software updates. If you use Deep Freeze you will need to re-image your computer after the secure browser is updated in order to keep the latest version. All secure browser updates will continue to be posted on the portal, so you may want to turn off the auto-update feature on your computers and manually install any secure browser updates as you have done in the past. You will need to re-image your computers after doing this. Alternatively, you can temporarily turn off Deep Freeze and then re-image the computers after the auto-update is installed. Our expectation is that updates to the secure browser will generally occur only once a year (see FAQ 1) and we will provide advance notice of all updates so that you can decide the best way for your school or district to install them.
Who cannot use the auto-update feature? The auto-update feature is not available if the secure browser is installed in a non-standard location such as on a network drive or for computers that use a thin-client configuration. LEAs may also elect to disable the auto-update feature when installing the secure browser. The Secure Browser Installation Manual includes instructions for disabling and enabling the auto-update feature. By default, the auto-update feature is enabled when the secure browser is installed, so you will only need to enable the auto-update feature if you previously chose to disable it. Is the use of a secure browser required? Yes. USOE requires that all students use the secure browser for SAGE testing. The correct secure browser must be installed on each student machine that will be used for testing. Can the Student Testing Site be accessed without a secure browser? No. SAGE assessments cannot be accessed without the use of a secure browser. My school still has the secure browsers used last school year (2014 2015). Can we use these for testing? We strongly recommend that everyone downloads and/or upgrades to the secure browser as soon as they are able. Students will be able to use the 2014-15 version until January 4, 2016. The new version of the secure browser is specifically designed for the 2015-2016 test administration. Please refer to the Secure Browser Installation Manual for more details. Where can I find installation instructions for the secure browser? The Secure Browser Installation Manual contains instructions for installing the secure browser on computers and tablets that will be used for testing. This manual contains instructions for both individual and network installation options. When should the secure browsers be installed at my school? The secure browsers for the 2015 2016 test administration should be installed and tested well in advance to verify successful installation and identify potential issues with network configuration or security settings. Does the pop-up blocker need to be disabled on the secure browser? No. Due to the nature of the secure browser, no modifications or preferences (including disabling the pop-up blocker) need to be made.
How can I verify that the secure browser was successfully installed? After running the installation on individual computers, open the secure browser. The browser should fill the entire screen and automatically open to the student login screen. (On tablets and Chromebooks, the mobile launch pad screen will display. Select your state and assessment program and the student login screen will display.) The Test Delivery System contains a diagnostic tool that enables users to view details about a computer s operating system, Internet connection, and browser version. The diagnostic tool can be accessed from the Practice Test login screen by clicking the [Run Diagnostics] link. Why did I receive the following error message when accessing the secure browser: Unable to establish a connection with the Test Delivery System (TDS)? If the connection fails to connect, verify the following and try again: 1. Ensure your network cable is plugged in OR your Wi-Fi connection is active and strong. 2. Open another web browser (e.g., Internet Explorer, Firefox, Chrome, or Safari) and try connecting to a website on the Internet. If the site successfully loads, move to the next step. 3. Ensure your network firewall is open to the TDS whitelist address (ut.tds.airast.org). (Please refer to your school s network administrator for help with firewall issues.) Why do I see a white screen when I launch the secure browser? You may see a white screen when you open the secure browser because the computer has not finished loading all of the required applications. After logging on to a computer, please allow the computer enough time to start the necessary resources before opening the secure browser. If this problem persists, contact the SAGE Help Desk. Will AIR provide support for updates to operating systems? AIR may provide updated secure browsers as new updates are made to supported operating systems. Major version upgrades to an operating system that are released after May 1 st will not be supported until a full year following the release. USOE will notify LEAs of any available secure browser updates. How can the secure browsers be installed on individual machines from the network? Installing the secure browser on individual computers via a network can be done in one of two ways: Copying the secure browser files from the network to individual computers
Using third-party programs to run the installers on multiple client machines over a network (e.g., Apple Remote Desktop) The method for installing over network is very specific to the network on which the browser is being installed and the software used for the installation. While AIR can try to provide support on the network setup process, its ability to support certain networks and third-party software is limited. For more information on network installation, refer to the Secure Browser Installation Manual. Can students access the secure browser from a shared network drive? In order for the secure browser to be accessible from a network drive, the extracted secure browser files must exist on the shared network. For some operating systems (primarily Windows and Mac OS X), the secure browser must first be installed on a local computer. The secure browser files are then copied to the shared network drive where they can be accessed by users on the network. If the secure browser is installed on a network drive, you will not be able to use the auto-update feature. All updates will need to be installed manually. For more information, refer to the Secure Browser Installation Manual. Can I use Apple Remote Desktop (ARD) to install the Mac OS X secure browser on multiple machines? Yes. The Mac OS X secure browser uses drag-and-drop installation, so you can use the File Copy feature for installation on the client computer. I installed the AIRSecureTest Mobile Secure Browser app on my ipad or Android tablet last year. Do I need to install a new app this year? As with other mobile apps, you do not need to uninstall the AIRSecureTest mobile secure browser app on ipads, Android tablets, and Chromebooks before updating to a new version. If an update becomes available for the ios, Android, or Chrome OS mobile secure browser, an announcement will be sent from USOE and posted to the portal. Simply update the app on your device, either locally or via your Mobile Device Management software.