SUU-eLearning HelpDesk: System Requirements

System Requirements::

Introduction

This is a list of the basic requirements to use eLearning, however it is recommended to use higher versions, better connections, more ram, etc. eLearning will function at these minimum levels but there is no guarantee that it will work well - for example the time to open a page will increase with weaker internet connections. Requirements for Graduate and Undergraduates vary. Requirements are subject to change based on system requirements for applications used to view and manufacture learning objects. Consult your course syllabus for specific requirements needed for each course.

	Macintosh		Windows [PC]
	Recommended	Minimum	Recommended	Minimum
Hardware	1 GHz Power PC G4 or Intel Core Duo 1.83GHz or faster processor 256MB of RAM 64MB of VRAM	PowerPC G3 500MHz or Intel Core Duo 1.33GHz or faster processor 128MB of RAM 1 GB free hard drive space	Intel Pentium 4 3GHz processor (or equivalent) 128MB of RAM 64MB of VRAM	500 MHz CPU or faster processor 128 MB RAM 2 GB free hard drive space
		(Configurations may vary results)		(Configurations may vary results)
	Note: Some courses may require the use of Scanners and other peripherals.
For "Breeze" sections using Adobe Connect Pro	iSight or Firewire Webcam (Instructor's digression) Microphone (in headset or webcam) [Required] Headphones (PC speakers cannot be used) [Required]		USB Webcam Microphone (in headset or Webcam) [Required] Headphones (PC speakers cannot be used) [Required]
Operating Systems	Macintosh OS X Version 10.5.1 (Leopard)	Macintosh OS X v10.1 (PowerPC) v10.4.x (Intel)	Windows XP Windows Vista*	Microsoft Windows 2000 Second Edition
	*The new Microsoft Vista operating system has not been validated for use with eLearning, and attached files created in Vista may not be downloadable in eLearning.
	!! Older systems and other configurations may work however, browsers, plug-ins, document viewers and applications may not be compatible with all components used in a course. !!
Web Browsers	Firefox +2.x (OS X only) Safari +3.04	Firefox 1.0.x (OS X only) Safari 1.2, 1.3, 2.x; and 2.x for Intel x86 platform	Firefox +2.0 Internet Explorer +7	Internet Explorer 6.0 SP1; 6.0 SP2; Netscape 7.2 AOL 9.0 Firefox 1.0.x, 1.5.x, 2.0 (SP1 Hotfix 2)
	Faculty and Staff with Section Designer and Instructor roles are asked to use Firefox +2.0. Internet Explorer currently has display issues while using the Build and Teach tabs.
	==== Please read Browser Configuration and Java sections ====
Internet Connectivity	150kpbs connectivity speed from one of the following: DSL +150kpbs (min) Cable modem Microwave LAN or equivalent	Graduate: +150 kpbs connectivity (required)	150kpbs connectivity speed from one of the following: DSL +150kpbs (min) Cable modem Microwave LAN or equivalent	Graduate: +150 kpbs connectivity (required)
		Undergraduate: 56 kpbs dial-up modem or better speeds.		Undergraduate: 56 kpbs dial-up modem or better speeds.
Additional Software & Plug-ins:	Note: This is a basic list of software used by faculty in their courses. Not all software needed is listed here. Please consult your instructor's syllabus for information on additional software applications needed.
	General requirement for both PC and MAC platforms
	MS Office 2007 (MSWord and Power Point) [older versions have compatibility issues] Adobe Acrobat Reader Windows Media Player		RealPlayer QuickTime Shockwave / Flash Player

Browser Configuration

All browsers must be configured to work properly with eLearning. Some issues that students encounter, such as login failures or course tools not working properly, can be traced to browser configuration. Your web browser must be configured so that:

Java and JavaScript are enabled

Cache is set to reload the page each time

Cookies are enabled

Pop-up blockers are disabled

eLearning can check your browser configuration. To do this (when you are on the login page) click Check Browser Compatibility. If any there are any problems, options should be provided to fix them. When everything is configured properly you will be ready to log in and begin your classes.

To troubleshoot any potential browser issue for eLearning click Browser Tune-up Page (on screen that appears after clicking Check Browser Compatibility). This will provide some options for browser support.

Java

Java is a program that allows many of the tools in eLearning to function. You may already have one or more versions of Java on your computer. In eLearning, it is critically important that you:

have the recommended version of Java installed

remove any other versions of Java

enable Java and JavaScript

turn off any automatic updates of Java

To find out which version of Java you are running, click on the Start button, then click Settings and Control Panel. Look for Java on the list and double-click it for details. J2SE Runtime Environment 5.0 Update 7 is recommended. If you do not have the recommended version, click here.

Mac Users: The Mac OS X operating system comes with the correct version of Java installed.

It is not recommended to have more than one version of Java on your computer. Click on the Start button, then click on Settings and Control Panel. Double-click Add or Remove Programs and delete any previous versions of Java.

Once you have installed the recommended version of Java and removed other versions, you must make sure that Java and JavaScript are enabled. See the directions above under Browser Configuration to complete the Browser Tune-up and to perform the steps for your browser.

From the Start menu, click Settings and Control Panel.
Double-click Java (or Java Plug-in).
Click the Update tab.
Make sure the uncheck Check for Updates Automatically.
Click Apply.

Pop-up Blockers

The eLearning System sometimes uses small browser windows to deliver requested content. Some pop-up blockers incorrectly interpret these small windows as pop-ups and block them. If you have installed a pop-up blocker, turn it off while using the eLearning System. While these programs serve a useful purpose in blocking unwanted advertisements, they also prevent many of the eLearning tools from working, especially the Mail, Discussion and Quiz tools.

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